Morphological and nest notes of Ruptitermes arboreus (Emerson), an Amazonian soldierless termite

João Rafael Alves-Oliveira; Valéria Barbosa Rodrigues; Agno Nonato Serrão Acioli; Renato Almeida de Azevedo; Elizabeth Franklin; José Wellington de Morais

doi:10.12741/ebrasilis.v15.e1006

Authors

João Rafael Alves-Oliveira Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2300-8780
Valéria Barbosa Rodrigues Instituto de Desenvolvimento Agropecuário e Florestal Sustentável do Estado do Amazonas (IDAM), Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0023-5240
Agno Nonato Serrão Acioli Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM), Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8482-0932
Renato Almeida de Azevedo Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6495-8603
Elizabeth Franklin Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9384-7467
José Wellington de Morais Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3801-7054

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12741/ebrasilis.v15.e1006

Keywords:

Ant-termite association, Behavior, Dehiscence, Inquilinism, Termitarium

Abstract

Ruptitermes arboreus (Emerson) is a litter-feeder soldierless termite that builds arboreal cartonated nests. In this paper, we describe and illustrate arboreal nests of R. arboreus, while also describing a fully clayish nest built upon the trunk of a fallen tree. Additionally, we provided physical and populational parameters for two nests. We also illustrate all castes except alates and record two termitophilous species occurring inside the nests.

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