FORAGING, NESTING AND DAMAGE CAUSED BY MICROTERMES SUBHYALINUS (ISOPTERA, TERMITIDAE) IN A SUGARCANE PLANTATION IN THE CENTRAL-AFRICAN-REPUBLIC

The ecology of Microtermes subhyalinus Silvestri in savanna and an adj oining sugarcane plantation in the Central African Republic is describ ed. Other species of termites were associated with savanna and sugarca ne but M. subhyalinus was the most prevalent and the only one causing damage to sugarcane. Damage to the crop by M. subhyalinus was assessed throughout the year. Termite attacks were confined initially to the r oot system just after cutting but as the cane matured and growth cease d, termites tunnelled up into the above-ground stems. Losses accounted for 5-10% of total annual production. The nesting and foraging behavi our of this species altered with the change from natural savanna to su garcane cultivation. The vertical distribution of M. subhyalinus fungu s combs in soil under savanna and sugarcane over different seasons was analysed. There was a linear relationship between monthly rainfall an d foraging activity in savanna while in sugarcane no relationship was observed.