Seasonal wood degradation activity of Odontotermes spp. (Isoptera: Termitidae) in Bangalore urban district, India

Seasonal wood degradation activity of four species of Odontotermes viz., O. horni (Wasmann), O. feae (Wasmann), O. obeus (Rambur) and O. wallonensis (Wasmann) was studied at Nallal, in Bangalore Rural district of Karnataka, India for two years from November 2007 to October 2009. It revealed that wood degradation was most during April to June, moderate from July to October and least from November to March. The correlation of termite catch with climatic conditions indicated that the activity of O. obesus and O. horni and O. feae was significantly correlated with minimum temperature, maximum soil temperature, minimum relative humidity, total rainfall and number. of rainy days. Maximum soil temperature was negatively correlated with the termite catch. O. wallonensis showed non-significant positive correlation with maximum soil temperature and negative correlation with minimum relative humidity, total rainfall and number. of rainy days.