Colony composition and biomass of Macrotermes gilvus Hagen (Blattodea: Termitidae) in Indonesia

Abstract

There is no study conducted to investigate the composition and biomass of Macrotermes gilvus Hagen in natural forest ecosystem. This study aimed to analyze the colony composition and biomass of M. gilvus Hagen colony in natural forest and to evaluate the need of food of the species as well as factors affecting it. Research was conducted in Yanlappa Sanctuary, Bogor, West Java. Termites were surveyed by collecting individual M. gilvus Hagen from different colony at different size of mound, small (0 - 0.99 m), medium (1- 1.99 m), large (≥ 2 m) and then were measured the number of individuals, wet and dry body mass, ratio of dry or wet body mass, and the average of biomass. Results indicated that the small mount was dominated by workers, whereas the medium and the large nest was dominated by nymph. Mean of the termite biomass was 936 kg/ha2. Average of termite biomass collected from large mount was 949.8 kg/km2, medium mount was 605.2 kg/ha2 and small mount was about 537.5 kg/ha2. Factor affecting the biomass of subterranean termite M. gilvus Hagen are food source, energy efficiency, predators, and environment. The presence of termite mounds influences natural ecosystem, but that the type of mound plays a crucial role in determining the nature of the effects.