Material components utulized in the nest construction of "mound termite" (isoptera: Termitidae)

Abstract

This paper shows the chemical and textural analysis of the termite nest and the soil near the nest. The samples of the nest structure and the soil were taken from diferent parts and different distances (0.3, 1.0 and 2.0 m) in relation to the nest in three different depths (superficial, 10 and 30cm) for each distance. The results obtained indicate that: 1) the nest material, especially the cartoon is richer in soil nutrients than the local soil; 2) all the external stratum of the nest is richer in clay.