Hodotermes: Difference between revisions

Hodotermes
	H. mossambicus workers cutting dry grass at dusk, and a soldier defending workers at the unobtrusive nest entrance, South Africa
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Blattodea
Infraorder:	Isoptera
Family:	Hodotermitidae
Genus:	Hodotermes; Hagen, 1853
Species
	H. erithreensis Sjöstedt, 192; H. mossambicus (Hagen, 1853);
	Core range of H. mossambicus

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Hodotermes (from Greek ὁδός (hodós), travelling; Latin termes, woodworm) is a genus of African harvester termites in the Hodotermitidae. They range from Palaearctic North Africa, through the East African savannas to the karroid regions of southern Africa.^[2]^[3] As with harvester termites in general, they have serrated inner edges to their mandibles, and all castes have functional compound eyes.^[3] They forage for grass at night and during the day, and their pigmented workers^[4] are often observed outside the nest.^[3]

Nests

They nest by excavating in the soil,^[3] and the diffuse subterranean system of H. mossambicus may contain several spherical hives which may be 60 cm in diameter. They are interconnected by galleries and are located from near the surface to more than 6 m deep.^[3]^[4] Loose particles of excavated soil are brought to the surface and dumped at various points around the nest.^[3]

Diet

The diet of H. mossambicus consists primarily of ripe and/or frost- or drought-killed grass, though tree and shrub material is consumed to a lesser degree. In a stable isotope study of H. mossambicus, the grass component was found to constitute upwards of 94% of their food intake.^[5] In this species, the sixth instar larvae digest and distribute food within the colony^[5] by means of stomodeal trophallaxis. The mutual feeding also reinforces the colony's integrity, as the feeders discriminate against individuals with unfamiliar intestinal microbiota.^[6]

Castes and activity patterns

H. mossambicus

Worker in the Kalahari Desert

Soldier

The foraging worker caste of H. mossambicus consists of two types, named "small" and "large",^[7]^[8] and the larger workers are characterized by very large flattened heads.^[9] Soldiers of the genus stay near the nest, and are not known to accompany workers on their expeditions.^[9] H. mossambicus is known to exhibit a seasonal cycle in its activities, which involves intensive diurnal winter surface foraging followed by a shift to sporadic nocturnal foraging at the beginning of the rainy season.^[10]^[11]^[12] With the advent of spring a shift from a diurnal to a nocturnal foraging pattern is evident.^[13]

Breeding

Some three to five days after the first major rains,^[14] swarms of flying termites, alates (winged reproductives) emerge from their underground nests during summer evenings. When sufficiently distant from the parent nest, they land, shrug off their wings, and scout about for a mate. The pair then excavates a burrow to start a new colony. A week after swarming, the female lays her first eggs, which are tended by the couple, a task soon taken over by the maturing workers. After some four months, the nest is sufficiently developed to send foraging workers to the surface. For the next few years, most of the eggs develop into workers and a small number of soldiers. When the nest is sufficiently large, winged reproductives again develop.^[15]

Predators

Harvester termites in general form the main component in the diet of the diurnal bat-eared fox in east and southern Africa.^[16] For this unusual diet, these foxes have 48 small teeth compared to the 42 teeth of all other dogs. They also have large ears to hear the insects in their underground chambers, before they are dug up. Though the aardwolf is a specialized predator of certain Trinervitermes, they may assume a partially diurnal habit in winter to obtain harvester termites.^[17] The worker castes present the dominant, and seasonally the exclusive food item of some Chondrodactylus, Pachydactylus and Ptenopus gecko species. Ptenopus females especially, seem to gorge on nocturnal foraging congregations in spring to supplement their vitellogenic requirements.^[9]

Economic impact

They can deplete grass in pastures and contribute to soil erosion, but are less effective when grasslands are not overgrazed or disturbed.^[3]^[4] Over the long term, however, their decomposing and recycling of plant material contribute to soil fertility and the global cycling of carbon, nitrogen, and other elements.^[5]

References

^ " Hodotermes Hagen, 1853". Isoptera. biolib.cz. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
^ Abe, Takuya; et al. (2000–2002). Termites: Evolution, Sociality, Symbioses, Ecology. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers. pp. 35–36. ISBN 978-0-7923-6361-3.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Scholtz, Clarke H.; et al. (1985). Insects of Southern Africa. Durban: Butterworths. p. 57. ISBN 978-0409-10487-5.
^ ^a ^b ^c Picker, Mike; et al. (2004). Field Guide to Insects of South Africa. Cape Town: Struik Publishers. p. 176. ISBN 978-1-77007-061-5.
^ ^a ^b ^c Symes, Craig T.; Woodborne, Stephan (1 April 2011). "Estimation of food composition of Hodotermes mossambicus (Isoptera: Hodotermitidae) based on observations and stable carbon isotope ratios". Insect Science. 18 (2): 175–180. Bibcode:2011InsSc..18..175S. doi:10.1111/j.1744-7917.2010.01344.x.
^ Minkley, Nina; et al. "Nestmate discrimination in the harvester termite Hodotermes mossambicus". IUSSI. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
^ Hegh, E. 1922. Les Termites. Imprimerie Industrielle et Financiere, Bruxelles
^ Watson, J. A. L. 1973. The worker caste of the hodotermitid harvester termites. Insects Sociaux 20: 1-20
^ ^a ^b ^c Bauer, A. M.; Russell, A. P.; Edgar, B. D. (2 October 2015). "Utilization of the termite (Hagen) by gekkonid lizards near Keetmanshoop, South West Africa". South African Journal of Zoology. 24 (4): 239–243. doi:10.1080/02541858.1989.11448159.
^ Sands, W. A. 1965. Mound population movements and fluctuations in Trinervitermes ebenerianus Sjöst. (Isoptera, Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae). Insects Sociaux 12: 49-58
^ Nel, J. J. C. 1968. Distribution of the foraging holes and soil temperatures of the harvester termite Hodotermes mossambicus (Hagen). S. Afr. J. Agric. Sci. 11: 173-182
^ Coaton, W. G. H.; Sheasby, J. L. 1975. National survey of the Isoptera of Southern Africa. 10. The genus Hodotermes Hagen (Hodotermitidae). Cimbebasia, Ser. A. Vol. 3: 105-138
^ Coaton, W. G. H. 1958. The hodotermitid harvester termites of South Africa. Dept. Agri. Sci. Bull., S. Afr., Entomol. Ser. 375: 1-112
^ Nel, J. J. C.; Hewitt, P. H. 1978. Swarming in the harvester termite Hodotermes mossambicus (Hagen). J. Entom. Soc. South Afr. 41: 195-198
^ Bell, R. A. (1999). "Insect Pests: Harvester Termites". Veld in KwaZulu-Natal 11.1. KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs. Archived from the original on 10 January 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
^ Ewer, R. F. (1973). The Carnivores. New York: Cornell University Press. p. 161. ISBN 978-0-8014-0745-1.
^ Holekamp, Kay E.; et al. "Aardwolf: Diet and Foraging". The extant (living) hyaena species. IUCN, Hyaena Specialist Group. Archived from the original on 15 April 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2012.

External links

Wolf spider's termite hunt goes wrong, Earth Touch, 2011, YouTube

[biolib-1] " Hodotermes Hagen, 1853". Isoptera. biolib.cz. Retrieved 5 February 2013.

[evol-2] Abe, Takuya; et al. (2000–2002). Termites: Evolution, Sociality, Symbioses, Ecology. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers. pp. 35–36. ISBN 978-0-7923-6361-3.

[isa-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Scholtz, Clarke H.; et al. (1985). Insects of Southern Africa. Durban: Butterworths. p. 57. ISBN 978-0409-10487-5.

[fg-4] Picker, Mike; et al. (2004). Field Guide to Insects of South Africa. Cape Town: Struik Publishers. p. 176. ISBN 978-1-77007-061-5.

[est-5] Symes, Craig T.; Woodborne, Stephan (1 April 2011). "Estimation of food composition of Hodotermes mossambicus (Isoptera: Hodotermitidae) based on observations and stable carbon isotope ratios". Insect Science. 18 (2): 175–180. Bibcode:2011InsSc..18..175S. doi:10.1111/j.1744-7917.2010.01344.x.

[nest-6] Minkley, Nina; et al. "Nestmate discrimination in the harvester termite Hodotermes mossambicus". IUSSI. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 18 October 2012.

[hegh-7] Hegh, E. 1922. Les Termites. Imprimerie Industrielle et Financiere, Bruxelles

[wats-8] Watson, J. A. L. 1973. The worker caste of the hodotermitid harvester termites. Insects Sociaux 20: 1-20

[bauer-9] Bauer, A. M.; Russell, A. P.; Edgar, B. D. (2 October 2015). "Utilization of the termite (Hagen) by gekkonid lizards near Keetmanshoop, South West Africa". South African Journal of Zoology. 24 (4): 239–243. doi:10.1080/02541858.1989.11448159.

[sands-10] Sands, W. A. 1965. Mound population movements and fluctuations in Trinervitermes ebenerianus Sjöst. (Isoptera, Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae). Insects Sociaux 12: 49-58

[nel68-11] Nel, J. J. C. 1968. Distribution of the foraging holes and soil temperatures of the harvester termite Hodotermes mossambicus (Hagen). S. Afr. J. Agric. Sci. 11: 173-182

[coat75-12] Coaton, W. G. H.; Sheasby, J. L. 1975. National survey of the Isoptera of Southern Africa. 10. The genus Hodotermes Hagen (Hodotermitidae). Cimbebasia, Ser. A. Vol. 3: 105-138

[coat58-13] Coaton, W. G. H. 1958. The hodotermitid harvester termites of South Africa. Dept. Agri. Sci. Bull., S. Afr., Entomol. Ser. 375: 1-112

[nel78-14] Nel, J. J. C.; Hewitt, P. H. 1978. Swarming in the harvester termite Hodotermes mossambicus (Hagen). J. Entom. Soc. South Afr. 41: 195-198

[bell-15] Bell, R. A. (1999). "Insect Pests: Harvester Termites". Veld in KwaZulu-Natal 11.1. KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs. Archived from the original on 10 January 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2012.

[tc-16] Ewer, R. F. (1973). The Carnivores. New York: Cornell University Press. p. 161. ISBN 978-0-8014-0745-1.

[iucn-17] Holekamp, Kay E.; et al. "Aardwolf: Diet and Foraging". The extant (living) hyaena species. IUCN, Hyaena Specialist Group. Archived from the original on 15 April 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2012.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Genus of termites}}
-{{italic title}}{{Taxobox
+{{Automatic taxobox
-| name = ''Hodotermes''
-| image = Hodotermes mossambicus, op droë gras, a, Voortrekkerbad.jpg
+| image = Hodotermes mossambicus, soldaat by nesingang, Arcadia, b.jpg
-| image_caption = <small>''[[Hodotermes mossambicus|H. mossambicus]]'' workers gnawing dry grass at dusk, in [[Limpopo]], South Africa</small>
+| image_caption = ''[[Hodotermes mossambicus|H. mossambicus]]'' workers cutting dry grass at dusk, and a soldier defending workers at the unobtrusive nest entrance, [[South Africa]]
-| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
+| taxon = Hodotermes
+| authority = <small>[[Hermann August Hagen|Hagen]], 1853</small>
-| phylum = [[Arthropod]]a
+| subdivision_ranks = Species
-| classis = [[Insect]]a
+| subdivision_ref = <ref name=biolib>{{cite web|title='' Hodotermes'' Hagen, 1853 |url=https://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id128553/ |work=Isoptera |publisher=biolib.cz |accessdate=5 February 2013}}</ref>
-| ordo = [[Termite|Isoptera]]
+| subdivision = * ''[[Hodotermes erithreensis|H. erithreensis]]'' <small>[[Bror Yngve Sjöstedt|Sjöstedt]], 192</small>
-| familia = [[Hodotermitidae]]
+* ''[[Hodotermes mossambicus|H. mossambicus]]'' <small>(Hagen, 1853)</small>
-| genus = '''''Hodotermes'''''
-| genus_authority = <small>[[Hermann August Hagen|Hagen]], 1853</small>
-| subdivision_ranks = [[Species]]<ref name=biolib>{{cite web|title='' Hodotermes'' Hagen, 1853 |url=http://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id128553/ |work=Isoptera |publisher=biolib.cz |accessdate=5 February 2013}}</ref>
-| subdivision =
-* ''[[Hodotermes erithreensis|H. erithreensis]]'' <small>[[Bror Yngve Sjöstedt|Sjöstedt]]</small>
-* ''[[Hodotermes mossambicus|H. mossambicus]]'' <small>(Hagen)</small>
 | range_map = Bat-eared Fox area.png
-| range_map_caption = Core range of ''H. mossambicus''
+| range_map_caption = {{legend0|#45a100|&nbsp;Core range of ''H. mossambicus''}}
 }}
-'''''Hodotermes''''' is a genus of African '''harvester termites''' in the [[Hodotermitidae]].  They range from Palaearctic North Africa, through the East African savannas to the [[Karoo|karroid]] regions of southern Africa.<ref name=evol>{{cite book|last=Abe |first=Takuya|title=Termites: Evolution, Sociality, Symbioses, Ecology |year=2000–2002 |publisher=Kluwer Academic Publishers |location=Dordrecht, The Netherlands |isbn=0-7923-6361-2 |pages=35–36|display-authors=etal}}</ref><ref name=isa>{{cite book|last=Scholtz |first=Clarke H.|title=Insects of Southern Africa |year=1985 |publisher=Butterworths |location=Durban |isbn=0409-10487-6 |page=57|display-authors=etal}}</ref> As with harvester termites in general, they have serrated inner edges to their mandibles, and all castes have functional compound eyes.<ref name="isa"/> They forage for grass at night and during the day, and their pigmented workers<ref name=fg>{{cite book|last=Picker |first=Mike|title=Field Guide to Insects of South Africa |year=2004 |publisher=Struik Publishers |location=Cape Town |isbn=978-1-77007-061-5 |page=176|display-authors=etal}}</ref> are often observed outside the nest.<ref name=isa/>
+'''''Hodotermes''''' (from [[Greek language|Greek]] ὁδός (hodós), travelling; [[Latin]] ''[[wikt:termes|termes]]'', woodworm) is a genus of African '''harvester termites''' in the [[Hodotermitidae]].  They range from Palaearctic North Africa, through the East African savannas to the [[Karoo|karroid]] regions of southern Africa.<ref name=evol>{{cite book|last=Abe |first=Takuya|title=Termites: Evolution, Sociality, Symbioses, Ecology |year=2000–2002 |publisher=Kluwer Academic Publishers |location=Dordrecht, The Netherlands |isbn=978-0-7923-6361-3 |pages=35–36|display-authors=etal}}</ref><ref name=isa>{{cite book |last=Scholtz |first=Clarke H. |title=Insects of Southern Africa |year=1985 |publisher=Butterworths |location=Durban |isbn=978-0409-10487-5 |page=57|display-authors=etal}}</ref> As with harvester termites in general, they have serrated inner edges to their mandibles, and all castes have functional compound eyes.<ref name="isa"/> They forage for grass at night and during the day, and their pigmented workers<ref name=fg>{{cite book|last=Picker |first=Mike|title=Field Guide to Insects of South Africa |year=2004 |publisher=Struik Publishers |location=Cape Town |isbn=978-1-77007-061-5 |page=176|display-authors=etal}}</ref> are often observed outside the nest.<ref name=isa/>
 ==Nests==
@@ Line 23: / Line 19: @@
 ==Diet==
-The diet of ''H.&nbsp;mossambicus'' consists primarily of ripe and/or frost- or drought-killed grass, though tree and shrub material is consumed to a lesser degree. In a stable isotope study of ''H. mossambicus'', the grass component was found to constitute upwards of 94% of their food intake.<ref name=est>{{cite journal |last=Symes |first=Craig T. |author2=Woodborne, Stephan |title=Estimation of food composition of Hodotermes mossambicus (Isoptera: Hodotermitidae) based on observations and stable carbon isotope ratios |journal=Insect Science |date=1 April 2011 |volume=18 |issue=2 |pages=175–180 |doi=10.1111/j.1744-7917.2010.01344.x |url=http://researchspace.csir.co.za/dspace/handle/10204/5993 }}</ref> In this species, the sixth instar larvae digest and distribute food within the colony<ref name=est/> by means of [[Trophallaxis|stomodeal trophallaxis]]. The mutual feeding also reinforces the colony's integrity, as the feeders discriminate against individuals with unfamiliar intestinal microbiota.<ref name=nest>{{cite web|last=Minkley |first=Nina |title=Nestmate discrimination in the harvester termite Hodotermes mossambicus | publisher = IUSSI |url=http://www-evolution.uni-regensburg.de/iussi/eu/abstracts.html |accessdate=18 October 2012|display-authors=etal}}</ref>
+The diet of ''H.&nbsp;mossambicus'' consists primarily of ripe and/or frost- or drought-killed grass, though tree and shrub material is consumed to a lesser degree. In a stable isotope study of ''H. mossambicus'', the grass component was found to constitute upwards of 94% of their food intake.<ref name=est>{{cite journal |last=Symes |first=Craig T. |author2=Woodborne, Stephan |title=Estimation of food composition of Hodotermes mossambicus (Isoptera: Hodotermitidae) based on observations and stable carbon isotope ratios |journal=Insect Science |date=1 April 2011 |volume=18 |issue=2 |pages=175–180 |doi=10.1111/j.1744-7917.2010.01344.x |bibcode=2011InsSc..18..175S |url=http://researchspace.csir.co.za/dspace/handle/10204/5993 }}</ref> In this species, the sixth instar larvae digest and distribute food within the colony<ref name=est/> by means of [[Trophallaxis|stomodeal trophallaxis]]. The mutual feeding also reinforces the colony's integrity, as the feeders discriminate against individuals with unfamiliar intestinal microbiota.<ref name=nest>{{cite web |last=Minkley |first=Nina |title=Nestmate discrimination in the harvester termite Hodotermes mossambicus |publisher=IUSSI |url=http://www-evolution.uni-regensburg.de/iussi/eu/abstracts.html |accessdate=18 October 2012 |display-authors=etal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513095543/http://www-evolution.uni-regensburg.de/iussi/eu/abstracts.html |archive-date=13 May 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
+==Castes and activity patterns==
-==Breeding==
 {{multiple image
-| align     = left
+| direction         = vertical
+| align             = left
-| direction = vertical
+| caption_align     = center
-| header    = '''''H. mossambicus'''''
+| width             = 210
-| header_align = center
+| header            = '''''H. mossambicus'''''
-| image1    = Hodotermes mossambicus.jpg
+| image1            = Northern Harvester Termite (Hodotermes mossambicus) (6856939924).jpg
-| alt1      =
+| alt1              =
+| caption1          = Worker in the [[Kalahari Desert]]
-| width1    = 210
+| image2            = Hodotermes mossambicus, soldaat-kaste, Arcadia, d.jpg
-| caption1  = <center>Worker in Namibia
+| alt2              =
+| caption2          = Soldier
-| image2    = Hodotermes mossambicus, alaat in water.jpg
-| alt2      =
+| image3            =
-| width2    = 210
+| alt3              =
+| caption3          =
-| caption2  = <center>Alate trapped on water surface
+| image4            =
+| alt4              =
-| image3    = Hodotermes mossambicus, nesingang, Voortrekkerbad.jpg
-| alt3      =
+| caption4          =
-| width3    = 210
-| caption3  = <center>Workers and soldier at nest entrance
-| background color=;border:none;
 }}
+The foraging worker caste of ''H. mossambicus'' consists of two types, named "small" and "large",<ref name = hegh>Hegh, E. 1922. Les Termites. ''Imprimerie Industrielle et Financiere'', Bruxelles</ref><ref name = wats>Watson, J. A. L. 1973. The worker caste of the hodotermitid harvester termites. ''Insects Sociaux'' 20: 1-20</ref> and the larger workers are characterized by very large flattened heads.<ref name="bauer"/> Soldiers of the genus stay near the nest, and are not known to accompany workers on their expeditions.<ref name="bauer"/> ''H. mossambicus'' is known to exhibit a seasonal cycle in its activities, which involves intensive diurnal winter surface foraging followed by a shift to sporadic nocturnal foraging at the beginning of the rainy season.<ref name = sands>Sands, W. A. 1965. Mound population movements and fluctuations in ''Trinervitermes ebenerianus'' Sjöst.
-Soon after rain showers, swarms of flying termites, [[alate]]s (winged reproductives) emerge from their underground nests during summer evenings. When sufficiently distant from the parent nest, they land, shrug off their wings, and scout about for a mate. The pair then excavates a burrow to start a new colony. A week after swarming, the female lays her first eggs, which are tended by the couple, a task soon taken over by the maturing workers. After some four months, the nest is sufficiently developed to send foraging workers to the surface. For the next few years, most of the eggs develop into workers and a small number of [[Termite#Soldiers|soldiers]]. When the nest is sufficiently large, winged reproductives again develop.<ref name=bell>{{cite web |last=Bell |first=R. A. |title=Insect Pests: Harvester Termites |url=http://agriculture.kzntl.gov.za/publications/production_guidelines/veld_in_natal/veld_11.1.htm |work=Veld in KwaZulu-Natal 11.1 |publisher=KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs |year=1999 |accessdate=21 October 2012}}</ref>
+(Isoptera, Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae). ''Insects Sociaux'' 12: 49-58</ref><ref name = nel68>Nel, J. J. C. 1968. Distribution of the foraging holes and soil temperatures of the harvester termite ''Hodotermes mossambicus'' (Hagen). ''S. Afr. J. Agric. Sci.'' 11: 173-182</ref><ref name = coat75>Coaton, W. G. H.; Sheasby, J. L. 1975. National survey of the Isoptera of Southern Africa. 10. The genus ''Hodotermes'' Hagen (Hodotermitidae). ''Cimbebasia'', Ser. A. Vol. 3: 105-138</ref> With the advent of spring a shift from a diurnal to a nocturnal foraging pattern is evident.<ref name =coat58>Coaton, W. G. H. 1958. The hodotermitid harvester termites of South Africa. ''Dept. Agri. Sci. Bull.'', S. Afr., Entomol. Ser. 375: 1-112</ref>
+==Breeding==
+Some three to five days after the first major rains,<ref name = nel78>Nel, J. J. C.; Hewitt, P. H. 1978. Swarming in the harvester termite ''Hodotermes mossambicus'' (Hagen). J. Entom. Soc. South Afr. 41: 195-198</ref> swarms of flying termites, [[alate]]s (winged reproductives) emerge from their underground nests during summer evenings. When sufficiently distant from the parent nest, they land, shrug off their wings, and scout about for a mate. The pair then excavates a burrow to start a new colony. A week after swarming, the female lays her first eggs, which are tended by the couple, a task soon taken over by the maturing workers. After some four months, the nest is sufficiently developed to send foraging workers to the surface. For the next few years, most of the eggs develop into workers and a small number of [[Termite#Soldiers|soldiers]]. When the nest is sufficiently large, winged reproductives again develop.<ref name=bell>{{cite web |last=Bell |first=R. A. |title=Insect Pests: Harvester Termites |url=http://agriculture.kzntl.gov.za/publications/production_guidelines/veld_in_natal/veld_11.1.htm |work=Veld in KwaZulu-Natal 11.1 |publisher=KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs |year=1999 |accessdate=21 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110065254/http://agriculture.kzntl.gov.za/publications/production_guidelines/veld_in_natal/veld_11.1.htm |archive-date=10 January 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 ==Predators==
-Harvester termites in general form the main component in the diet of the diurnal [[bat-eared fox]] in east and southern Africa.<ref name=tc>{{cite book|last=Ewer |first=R. F. |title=The Carnivores |year=1973 |publisher=Cornell University Press |location=New York |page =161}}</ref> For this unusual diet, these foxes have 48 small teeth compared to the 42 teeth of all other dogs. They also have large ears to hear the insects in their underground chambers, before they are dug up. Though the [[aardwolf]] is a specialized predator of certain ''[[Trinervitermes]]'', they may assume a partially diurnal habit in winter to obtain harvester termites.<ref name=iucn>{{cite web|last=Holekamp |first=Kay E. |title=Aardwolf: Diet and Foraging |url=http://www.hyaenidae.org/the-hyaenidae/aardwolf-proteles-cristatus/cristatus-diet-and-foraging.html |work=The extant (living) hyaena species |publisher=IUCN, Hyaena Specialist Group |accessdate=18 October 2012|display-authors=etal}}</ref>
+Harvester termites in general form the main component in the diet of the diurnal [[bat-eared fox]] in east and southern Africa.<ref name=tc>{{cite book|last=Ewer |first=R. F. |title=The Carnivores |url=https://archive.org/details/carnivores0000ewer |url-access=registration |year=1973 |publisher=Cornell University Press |location=New York |page =[https://archive.org/details/carnivores0000ewer/page/161 161]|isbn=978-0-8014-0745-1 }}</ref> For this unusual diet, these foxes have 48 small teeth compared to the 42 teeth of all other dogs. They also have large ears to hear the insects in their underground chambers, before they are dug up. Though the [[aardwolf]] is a specialized predator of certain ''[[Trinervitermes]]'', they may assume a partially diurnal habit in winter to obtain harvester termites.<ref name=iucn>{{cite web |last=Holekamp |first=Kay E. |title=Aardwolf: Diet and Foraging |url=http://www.hyaenidae.org/the-hyaenidae/aardwolf-proteles-cristatus/cristatus-diet-and-foraging.html |work=The extant (living) hyaena species |publisher=IUCN, Hyaena Specialist Group |accessdate=18 October 2012 |display-authors=etal |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130415013011/http://www.hyaenidae.org/the-hyaenidae/aardwolf-proteles-cristatus/cristatus-diet-and-foraging.html |archivedate=15 April 2013 }}</ref> The worker castes present the dominant, and seasonally the exclusive food item of some ''[[Chondrodactylus]]'', ''[[Pachydactylus]]'' and ''[[Ptenopus]]'' [[Gekkonidae|gecko]] species. ''Ptenopus'' females especially, seem to gorge on nocturnal foraging congregations in spring to supplement their [[Vitellogenesis|vitellogenic]] requirements.<ref name="bauer">{{cite journal |last1=Bauer |first1=A. M. |last2=Russell |first2=A. P.|last3=Edgar |first3=B. D. |title=Utilization of the termite (Hagen) by gekkonid lizards near Keetmanshoop, South West Africa |journal=South African Journal of Zoology |date=2 October 2015 |volume=24 |issue=4 |pages=239–243 |doi=10.1080/02541858.1989.11448159 |doi-access=free }}</ref>
 ==Economic impact==
@@ Line 58: / Line 54: @@
 ==References==
-{{reflist}}
+{{Reflist}}
+==External links==
+{{Commons|2=''Hodotermes''}}
+* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGBJJNVxVy0 Wolf spider's termite hunt goes wrong], ''Earth Touch'', 2011, YouTube
+{{Taxonbar|from=Q16575587}}
 [[Category:Termite genera]]
+[[Category:Taxa named by Hermann August Hagen]]