Composição Faunística e Hábitos de nidificação de termitas (Insecta: Isoptera) em floresta de terra firme da Amazônia Central

Abstract

The faunal composition, nesting habitats and cohabitation of termites in tropical humid terra firme fl owers of central Amazonia were studied. Ninety species of termites, belonging to 43 genera in seven subfamilies and three families, were found for a sample area of ​​1 ha. The termitofauna was characterized by the abundance of termitidae in number of species (especially Natsutitermitinae), by the low diversity of Rhinotermitidae and scarcity of Kalotermitidae. Termites inhabit almost all strata of the forest. There are 123 nests, of which 61 are epigean, 50 are arboreal and 12 are “intermediate”; however, occurrence in wood was the most common. Cohabitation of termites in the same nest was frequent, occurring in about 31.7% of the sampled nests. Tenants were generally humivorous termitinae, which usually did not exhibit constructive behavior or chemical defense. A great diversity of ants (and other insects), in addition to arachnids, cohabited with termites in their nests.