bioben2023's Favorites

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281286570_Radiocarbon_dating_of_large_termite_mounds_of_the_miombo_woodland_of_Katanga_DR_Congo

==============

. Large conical termite mounds are found regularly
distributed throughout the miombo, with a spatial density of
3.2 mounds ha−1
, and with 5.05 m mean height, 14.88 m mean diameter, and 256 m3 mean volume (Malaisse, 2010). M. falciger is thought to
be the original builder species, but currently inhabits only one mound
out of ten in primary miombo. In the degraded woodlands of the periurban zone around Lubumbashi, the occupancy rate is even lower, depending on the level of disturbance and food availability (Mujinya
et al., 2014). The mounds are conical to dome-shaped
https://ees.kuleuven.be/eng/africa-in-profile/dig-deeper/soil-forming-factors/Erens2015(TermiteProperties).pdf

=================

Their greatest development is attained
on well-drained plateau surfaces covered by Miombo woodland. Their
occurrence coincides with the distribution pattern of Macrotermes falciger
(Ruelle, 1970), which is thought to be the original builder species in the
Lubumbashi area (Malaisse, 1978). T
https://ees.kuleuven.be/eng/africa-in-profile/dig-deeper/soil-forming-factors/Erens2015(Dating%20C14).pdf

https://archive.org/details/dli.zoological.fi.027/page/n223/mode/1up

Here we have some Thoracotermes macrothorax (apparently a genus and species still missing from Inat since it does not let me add its name in the title), a large and beautiful soil-feeding termite of the Cubitermitinae family. This genus and species are named after the highly expanded pronotum of the soldiers, which along their conspicuous size and robust build make them rather impressive critters! In the first pic you can see soldiers and workers, in the second there is also a presoldier (the white individual on the bottom left) and the third shows a majestic mature mound of the species.

Note: the date is rounded up, and may be inaccurate by a few days at most.

Here we have an interesting soldiered Apicotermitinae from the humid forest of central Africa: Coxotermes boukokoensis! Sadly not much is known about these soil-feeding termites (which i found by excavating and breaking up soil under large trees) beside being closely related to the even more impressive Heimitermes and sporting the most complex enteric valve of any termite know. Personally i find their soldiers very cool!
In the first pic you can see one of said soldiers, while in the second there is a worker aswell.

Note that the date is rounded up, and may be off by a few days at worst.

Here we have one of my favorite termites from the Macrotermitinae subfamily: Pseudacanthotermes spiniger! While slightly smaller than its congener P. militaris i personally find these more interesting, especially for the very peculiar morphology of the minor soldier: very fast, long-legged, darkly colored and with huge antennae it almost look and move more like an ant than a termite. They strongly contrast with the more "traditional-looking" major soldiers, who in this species sport especially distended abdomens in order to accomodate copious quantities of defensive secretion (note that having being disturbed during collecting, several of those in the pics already largely exuded said secretion).

Note that the date is rounded up and might be off by a few days at most.

Drama. These guys all normally get along pretty well, but here a squirrel decided to start something and nearly got kicked in the head as reward. Moments later they were back to munching sunflower seeds side-by-side again.

These are very grumpy meat balls on 4 legs: spending most of their lives underground, then emerging to feast on swarming termites with the first heavy rains before going underground again (well, with a little reproductive activity in-between).

We first discovered 2 frogs on a sandy dirt road, but a few metres onwards there were dozens of them!

Found them in a log. Workers and soldiers are dimorphic. I was only able to take pictures of major and minor workers and minor soldiers. I also found some Big-headed ants in the same log.(see previous observation)

Dead soldier. Photo 6 shows the soldier(at the bottom) compared to different worker castes of one of it’s species’ greatest enemies, the Asian marauder ant. Photo7 shows it compared to a tiny cockroach nymph. Photo 8 shows it compared to the head of a soldier of a tiny species of termite.