ECOLOGICAL STUDIES ON TILE SYMBIOSIS OF TER ITOMYCES ...

2.3-2 SPECIES OF TMtITES STUDIED
Ancistrotermes cavithorax
The ne., As of this species aro subterranean and polycalic with
fungus combs in individual chambers. In Babba the nests w(, re some-
times associated with old Cubitermes mounds.
The fungus combs are fairly small
(3-5 cm long)l and are eaten
away at the bottom which is the oldest partl and are built up on the
top and sideso They are Oencrally round in shape with a domed surface
and flattened base, They sit in the chambers on projections of the
fungus comb. They are fissured, brain-like structures, some of the
rounded fissures penetrating through the whole comb. The mycotZtes
sit within the fissures. The newer parts of the comb are lighter in
colour than the older (Plate 2.3.2).
A. cavithorax has both dimorphic soldiers nnd workers* They are
a small specics, the major soldiers head width being around I mm
Ofarris 1966).
They are ca=xm in the forest at Rabba and in primary savanna
woodlande Continuous cultivation results in their loss (Wood,, Johnson
and Chiagu 1977).
They feed on dead wood and plant litter and the outer bark of
living trees and forage in rumays and under shoots of sub-soil* It
forages most during the wet season but has more dry season activity
than Microtermns (Collins 1977).
The alates fly around 7*30 pm. the day after raing on several
Occagions early in the rainy season.
50.