Macrotermes natalensis
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Author(s): Soohyun Um et al.
Source: Scientific Reports (2013) 3, art. 3250
Macrotermes natalensis (Haviland, 1898)
This species is a fungus-growing termite in southern Africa. It causes damage to forest trees and establishing Eucalyptus or Acacia plantations can be difficult with the termite present. Crop damage has been also reported. The termites mainly feeds on dead plant material and wood. This is used to prepare a suitable substrate for the fungus garden and the culture of the symbiotic fungus Termitomyces, the actual food of the termites.
The termite colony constructs a nest consisting of a mound rising above the surface and an underground part. Typically the mounds grow to a height of around 1 m, but taller mounds up to 5 m have been also recorded. Larger mounds might contain 100,000 or more individual termites.
