Termites vs twig: Microhodotermes at work

[ItalianTermiteMan]

Here we have two workers of the harvester termite Microhodotermes viator cooperating to cut a twig to be brought back to their colony for food. Note their higher degree of cuticle sclerotization than most other termites and the presence of fully functional compound eyes, both adaptation to their open-foraging habits.

These interesting termites hail from the surprisingly very basal Hodotermitidae family, which contain only three genera: Microhodotermes (found only in Africa), Hodotermes (again, strictly African) and Anacanthotermes (this time stretching from western north Africa all the way east to northern India). All these three genera forage in an unique way for termites, with workers spreading out to forage unaccompanied by their robust soldiers, which only guard the immediate surroundings of the holes the formers emerge from (beside obvioulsy their nests and underground tunnel systems).

Pic by Jessica Myburg (https://uk.inaturalist.org/people/hyperolius), Attribution-NonCommercial CC licence.
Stellenbosch, South Africa.

 

[The Snark]

@ItalianTermiteMan I'd love to get you out here (bring that camera). Our entire area - and most of the surrounding land for miles in all directions, termite tunnels. A branch fallen from a tree in the afternoon monsoon is solid termite cement coated come dawn. Right now I have a stack of cardboard boxes in the carport. Ground to old wooden shelves to boxes, in 24 hours extensive termite infestation in the boxes. 4-6 inch thick hardwood branches turns into scattered piles in a few months. We throw all yard trimming over the river bank to help stabilize it and expand our yard. Wishful thinking. Termites get the wood before it gets a chance to build compost. And they eat the leaves from all vegetation after it has desiccated a few days.

 

[ItalianTermiteMan]

@ItalianTermiteMan I'd love to get you out here (bring that camera). Our entire area - and most of the surrounding land for miles in all directions, termite tunnels. A branch fallen from a tree in the afternoon monsoon is solid termite cement coated come dawn. Right now I have a stack of cardboard boxes in the carport. Ground to old wooden shelves to boxes, in 24 hours extensive termite infestation in the boxes. 4-6 inch thick hardwood branches turns into scattered piles in a few months. We throw all yard trimming over the river bank to help stabilize it and expand our yard. Wishful thinking. Termites get the wood before it gets a chance to build compost. And they eat the leaves from all vegetation after it has desiccated a few days.

I've been in south-east Asia, and indeed enjoyed the local fauna!