The sand termite Psammotermes allocerus is widely distributed in southern Africa. To investigate the genetic diversity of this species 113 samples were collected arid regions South Africa, Namibia and Angola fairy circles also landscapes without circles. mitochondrial markers COI COII selected to perform Bayesian Inference analysis. phylogenetic tree composed eight well-supported groups within ...

Deciphering the timing and tempo of lineage diversification organisms has greatly benefited from advances in Bayesian phylogenetic analyses using morphological data. Those advances, however, have not been used for termites despite a rich fossil record. Here, we estimate divergence times living fossilized birth–death (FBD) process on previously published matrix expanded with two new fossils that...

Abstract The entomopathogenic genus Ophiocordyceps includes a highly diverse group of fungal species, predominantly parasitizing insects in the orders Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera . However, other insect are also parasitized by these fungi, for example Blattodea (termites cockroaches). Despite their ubiquity nearly all environments occur, blattodeans rarely found infected ...

Experimental efforts to determine how insects influence terrestrial wood decomposition are few, especially in temperate regions. To address this need, a five-year exclusion study was conducted in northern Mississippi, U.S.A., to quantify insect contributions to wood decay using one-meter loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) bolts. The study included three treatments: (1) ‘‘partially protected’’ bolts...

Studies were conducted on the enhancement of pathogenicity of Bacillus thuringiensis by 1% boric acid against various species of termites. The increase in virulence of Serratia marcescens by 1% Potassium chloride or 1% Sodium citrate against the workers of M. championi has also been established. The increase in virulence is confirmed by the enhancement ratios, which are ranging from about 1.5 t...

Managing urban pests with “environmentally-friendly” compounds has gained importance in recent years with the global deregistration of persistent organochlorine insecticides. Boron compounds, especially boric acid, zinc borate, and disodium octaborate tetrahydrate, are considered excellent options for preserving lumber from insect attack as well as decay by fungi and bacteria. Remedial borate a...

The effects of three slow acting non-repellent insecticides on the behavior of the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Koller) was investigated in a continuous exposure study. Abnormal behaviors of fipronil and indoxicarb treated termites were similar; incipient intoxication (disorientation), followed by ataxia (uncoordinated movements), and morbundity (lack of ability to wal...

White rot fungi produce extracellular phenoloxidases and can decompose lignin efficiently. Elfvingia applanata has been successfully applied for the bioconversion of bisphenol A, suggesting the usefulness of white rot fungi for bioremediation. In order to attain real bioremediation, the recycling of ecomolecules in the ecosystem is important. The sophisticated symbiotic system of white rot fung...

We studied the foraging and predatory behaviors of the invasive African myrmicine ant, Pheidole megacephala (F.) in its native range. Workers can singly capture a wide range of insects, including relatively large prey items. For still larger prey, they recruit at short range those nestmates situated within reach of an alarm pheromone and together spread-eagle the insect. These behaviors are com...