Description

A detailed study on developmental pathways, feeding preferences, responses to insecticides and swarming behaviour of Microcerotermes championi (Snyder) is documented.As the soldier caste in the nest population is very poorly represented, it was almost a quagmire to find out the larval stage from which the soldier caste develops. Detailed studies on caste differentiation of the field colony of M. championi revealed that soldiers develop from first instar large worker, which after two moults changes into the soldier.Sexual dimorphism is present in workers. Females are larger than males. Large worker is preceded by two larval instars (first instar larva and second instar large larva) followed by four successive moults, to become a large mature worker. On the other hand, small worker is also preceded by two larval stages (first instar larva and second instar small larva) followed by three successive moults to transform into a mature small worker. The alate originates from first instar larva and passes through five nymphal instars (defined as such by the presence of wing buds) to become an alate.Based on the feeding propensity, the woods are arranged in descending order of preference.