Swarming, Egg-Laying and Hatching in the Indian Desert Harvester Termite, Anacanthotermes Macrocephalus (Hodotermitidae)

Abstract

Swarming occurs at night (8,30 to J1 PM) in the Indian Desert in the first three weeks of August; alates are strongly attracted to light. After a short flight the alates descend to the. ground and immediately undergo dealation. The dealates form groups which g!> underground and hide in crevices or under stones; there is no separation into pairs and no tandem coupling behaviour. The first oviposition occurs 10-16 days after swarmins and a small number of eggs (5-18) laid. This is often quickly followed, within 2-7 days, by a second oviposition (also with few eggs, about 13). Then follows a long rest period of atleast 25-32 days during which no eggs are laid. Eggs are gathered together in large masses, and brood-care is communal. Eggs increase in size during development. presumably by the imbibition of external water. The incubation period is 17-26 days. Hatching occurs during the second half of September and is achieved by body peristalsis aided by long hatching spines on the head and thorax. The first instar larva is whitish, ca 2. 5-3 mm. long and has 13-segmented antennae.