Summary
Observations of putative drinking behaviour at soil surfaces by major workers ofMacrotermes subhyalinus andM. bellicosus suggested that unidirectionally arranged trichomes on the anterior hypopharynx exert capillarity on water in soil pores. To test this hypothesis thirsty major workers were placed on soil of relatively low water content. From the soil types tested we determined soil-moisture retention curves which represent graphically the water content of the soil and its corresponding capillary potential. The termites were able to obtain water from different types of clay soil against potentials in the range − 1.6 to − 1.9 bar. On sandy soil the capillary potential was found to be much higher (− 0.18 bar), i.e. closer to zero. Sandy soil has a very unfavourable water retention capacity, i.e. its water content is very low at low capillary potential, whereas clay soil retains much more water at low capillary potential. The ability of the termites to gain water from soils with relatively low water content is an important adaptive feature for survival in semi-arid areas.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bodot, P., 1967. Etude écologique des termites des savannes de Basse Côte d'Ivoire.Ins. Soc. 14:229–258.
Collins, M. S., 1969. Water relations in termites. In:Biology of termites, Vol I. (K. Krishna, F. M. Weesner, Eds.) Academic Press, New York, London, 433–458.
Dunbar, B. S. and P. W. Winston, 1975. The site of active uptake of atmospheric water in larvae ofTenebrio molitor.J. Insect Physiol. 21:495–500.
Grassé, P. P., 1984.Termitologia, Vol. II. Masson, Paris.
Grassé, P. P. and C. Noirot, 1948. La climatisation de la termitière par ses habitants et le transport de l'eau.C. R. Acad. Sci. 227:869–871.
Hillel, D., 1980.Fundamentals of soil physics. Academic Press, New York, London.
Lee, K. E. and T. G. Wood, 1971.Termites and soils. Academic Press, New York, London.
Lüscher, M., 1961. Air-conditioned termites nests.Sci. Americ. 205:138–145.
Lys, J. A. and R. H. Leuthold, 1991a. Morphology of the gallery system around the nest and gallery development under experimental conditions in the termiteMacrotermes bellicosus (Smeathman).Ins. Soc. 38:63–76.
Lys, J. A. and R. H. Leuthold, 1991b. Task-specific distribution of the two worker castes in extranidal activities inMacrotermes bellicosus: Observation of behaviour during food acquisition.Ins. Soc. 38:161–170.
Noble-Nesbitt, J., 1970. Water uptake from subsaturated athmospheres: its site in Insects.Nature 225:753–754.
Noirot, C., 1970. The nests of termites. In:Biology of termites, Vol. II. (K. Krishna, F. M. Weesner, Eds.) Academic Press, New York, London, 73–125.
O'Donell, M. J., 1976. The site of water vapour absorption inArenivaga investigata. In:Comparative physiology — water, ions and fluid mechanics (K. Schmidt-Nielsen, L. Bolés, S. R. H. Madrell, Eds.), Cambridge Univ. Press, London, 115–121.
Richard, F., 1981.Bodenphysik. Vorlesung über physikalische Eigenschaften des Bodens. ETH Zürich.
Sieber, R. and R. H. Leuthold, 1981. Behavioural elements and their meanings in incipient laboratory colonies of the fungus-growing termiteMacrotermes michaelseni.Ins. Soc. 28:371–382.
Sieber, R. and E. Kokwaro, 1982. Water intake by the termiteMacrotermes michaelseni.Ent. Exp. Appl. 31:147–153.
Watson, J. P., 1972. Some observation on the water relation ofMacrotermes natalensis (Haviland) Fuller.Ins. Soc. 19:87–93.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lys, J.A., Leuthold, R. Forces affecting water imbibition inMacrotermes workers (Termitidae, Isoptera). Ins. Soc 41, 79–84 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01240575
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01240575