par Soki, Kue-Di-Kuenda;Josens, Guy 
Référence Sociobiology, 27, 1, page (11-28)
Publication Publié, 1996
Référence Sociobiology, 27, 1, page (11-28)
Publication Publié, 1996
Article révisé par les pairs
| Résumé : | Forty-nine mounds of Cubitermes speciosus (Sjöstedt) were sampled in a primary Gilbertiodendron deweurei forest in Central Zaire and completely sorted. Almost all of them sheltered mature societies; some were possibly senile. A linear correlation was observed between mound volume and above ground outer wall surface. The population density, as related to this surface, was independent of the mound volume, as were the percentages of all castes and stages but the soldier caste. The latter percentage correlated positively and significantly with the mound volume (and not with the mound surface). We suggest that the volume of a mound and the number of passageways between chambers might participate in regulating the number (and thus the percentage) of soldiers. The seasonal cycle of alate production was clear-cut, with swarms occurring in May, during the lesser rainy season. Annual alate production was in the range of 3-7% of the mound population. The seasonal cycle of sterile castes seems to be influenced by (a) rainfall from June to November and (b) reproductive brood development from December to May. |
