Plant consumption by termites in the Kuwait desert ecosystem

Abstract

The termite species Psammotermes hybosloma Desneux and Anacanthotermes vagans (Hagen) foraging in the desert ecosystem of Kuwait preferred to consume dried leaves of Tamarix apliylla (L.) and Rhanterium epapposium Oliv. over the other plant species tested. This preference varied with season. The termites consumed more food during summer than winter, with the highest consumption being recorded in September, the time of the year when the food plants dry up and can be readily cut into fragments which are carried by workers to the underground nest. These results indicate that the contribution of termites to the removal of desert vegetation is less than that of other soil fauna.Resume-De toutes les especes vegetales testees pour leur preference alimentaire par les termites, deux termites Psammotermes hybostoma Desneux et Anacantotermes vagans (Hagen) qui fouillent l'ecosysteme desertique du Koweit, preferaient consommer les feuilles seches de Tamarix apliylla (L.) et celles de Rhanterium epapposium Oliv.; et cette preference variait avec la saison. Les termites se nourrissaient plus en ete qu'en hiver et la plus grande consommation etait observee au mois de septembre. C'est au cours de cette periode de l'annee que les vegetaux se dessechent et s'appretent le mieux etre mis en menus morceaux qui sont emportes par les ouvriers dans galeries souterraines des termitieres. Ces resultats indiquent que dans le desert, la contribution des termites dans la destruction des vegetaux est minime, en comparaison avec celle effectuee par le reste de la faune terrestre.

Myiasis in Kuwait: Nosocomial Infections Caused by Lucilia Sericata and Megaselia Scalaris

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Checklist of insects- borne diseases in Iraq

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