Nests and Queen Migration in Schedorhinotermes actuosus (Hill), Schedorhinotermes breinli (Hill) and Coptotermes acinaciformis (Froggatt) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Abstract

A queen of the termite Schedorhinotermes actuosus was collected from a nest in a log at Gunn Point, N.T. There is evidence that the queen migrated to the log from some other nest site. S. actuosus does not appear to have either of the intermediate soldier forms known to exist in some other Schedorhinotermes spp. A nest series of S. breinli from Kakadu also provided evidence of colony migration. Queens of Coptotermes acinaciformes migrate seasonally within their mounds. It is suggested that migration of queens may be common and its occurrence in some other species is briefly discussed. Copyright © 1994, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved