Foraging territories of Macrotermes bellicosus and mutual territory dynamics between M-bellicosus and M-subhyalinus (Isoptera : Termitidae)

Territory areas and mound volumes of seven different nests of the termite M acrotermes bellicosus were measured over five sampling dates within four mo nths. There was only a weak correlation between territory size and mound vo lume. Territorial dynamics of M. bellicosus were examined together with the active foraging zone of the sympatric and ecologically similar species M, subhyalinus. It was found that the territories occupied by colonies of M. b ellicosus changed considerably in space and time in relation to the active foraging zone and foraging direction of surrounding colonies of M. subhyali nus, Both species seem to react to one another by adapting their foraging a rea according to the presence or absence of the other species in a given pl ace. This was in some cases connected with deadly interspecific conflicts. The foraging strategy applied by these two Macrotermes species was found to be similar to what has been described in ants as spatiotemporal territorie s,