Occurrence and diversity of termite species in <i>Eucalyptus</i> plantations in Afaka, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

Termites are one of the key pests attacking Eucalyptus species and also play important roles in ecological processes. A better understanding of the roles of termites in ecosystem processes requires information on termite diversity and could also provide useful information to identify noxious species. There is inadequate information on the termite diversity associated with Eucalyptus plantations in Nigeria. Therefore, occurrence and diversity of termite species in four Eucalyptus species plantations in Afaka, Nigeria was investigated. Termite samples were collected from E. camaldulensis, E. cloeziana, E. citriodora and E. tereticornis plantations in five micro-habitats: epigeal mound, leaf litters, wood litters, soil and under stem bark. The results showed that seven termite species, Macrotermes bellicosus, Macrotermes subhyalinus, Odontotermes obesus, Nasutitermes germinatus, Amitermes evuncifer, Microtermes sp., and Ancistrotermes sp., were identified from the four Eucalyptus plantations. All the identified termite species were distributed across E. cloeziana, E. citriodora and E. tereticornis plantations. Macrotermes subhyalinus, Nasutitermes germinatus, Amitermes evuncifer, Microtermes sp., and Ancistrotermes sp., were present in E. camaldulensis plantation while M. bellicosus and O. obesus were absent. All the termite species encountered in this study are soil dwellers while 85.71% occurred among the leaf litters. The percentage (57.14%) of the termite species in epigeal mounds, wood litter and under the stem bark was the same. Members of the sub-family Macrotermitinae represented 71.4% of the total termite species identified while members of the sub families Termitinae and Nasutermitinae each represented 14.3%.

Keywords: Occurrence, Diversity, Termite Species, Eucalyptus, Plantations