1Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural and Horticultural SciencesShivamogga-577 204, India
2Root and Soil Biology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Bharathiar University, Coinbatore-641 046, India
3Department of Chemistry, Kongunadu Arts and Science College, Coimbatore-641029, India
PG and Research Department of Zoology, Kongunadu Arts and Science College, Coimbatore-641 029, India
*E-mail: pkathireswari@kongunaducollege.ac.in
Online Published on 19 September, 2022.
Information on termites’ diversity and distribution in Palakkad district of Kerala was observed. In total, 50 species were recorded under two families. The family Termitidae dominated with 49 species while the other one was Rhinotermitidae. Different termites’ habitats were observed for the different sampling blocks. The damp wood and subterranean species were dominant and the epigeal and hypogeal mounds were frequently observed than arboreal mounds in the sampling blocks analysed. Moderate species diversity was also observed and species were rather similar in abundance. Of the total termite samples collected, 98% belonged to the single species O. obesus, which was the major detritivorous species of termites indicates the beneficial role of these termites as efficient decomposers of tropical ecosystem.
Termites, Isoptera, Palakkad, Diversity, Distribution, Habitat
