Humic acids in faecal matter, nest material and fungus comb of termites.
Mishra S. C., Sen-Sarma P. K.
Author Affiliation: Forest Entomology Branch, Forest Research Institute and College, Dehradun, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Bulletin of Entomology 21 : 122-125
Abstract : Termites are some of the most important agents in the biodegradation of wood in the field and play a significant part in the recycling of organic matter in the soil, notably humic acids which are contributory factors in soil fertility. As a result of studies in Uttar Pradesh, India, a table is presented showing the amounts of humic acids present in the faecal pellets, nest materials or fungus comb of 7 species of termites, together with their food-plants. These termites included both species already known as pests, such as Odontotermes obesus (Ramb.) (of which the fungus comb was analysed and found to contain the highest proportion of humic acids), and species found during the present studies attacking sound trees, such as Neotermes bosei (Snyder) on mango (faecal pellets analysed) and Coptotermes heimi (Wasm.) on Pinus roxburghii (nest material analysed).