''Odontotermes'' is a

termite Termites are a group of detritivore, detritophagous Eusociality, eusocial cockroaches which consume a variety of Detritus, decaying plant material, generally in the form of wood, Plant litter, leaf litter, and Humus, soil humus. They are dist ...

genus belonging to subfamily

Macrotermitinae The Macrotermitinae, the fungus-growing termites, constitute a subfamily of the family Termitidae that is only found within the Old World tropics. This subfamily consists of 12 genera and about 350 species and are distinguished by the fact that ...

(fungus-growing termites), which is native to the

Old World The "Old World" () is a term for Afro-Eurasia coined by Europeans after 1493, when they became aware of the existence of the Americas. It is used to contrast the continents of Africa, Europe, and Asia in the Eastern Hemisphere, previously ...

. They are most destructive in wooden homes, and are agricultural pests in the tropics and subtropics of Africa and Asia. It is the most diverse termite genus in Africa, with 78 species recorded (as of 2002).

Nests

Their underground nests form a slight mound above ground, which may be covered in grass. In large colonies, the mounds may be up to in diameter, and may be covered by shrubs and trees. Some species construct open chimneys or vent holes that descend into the mound. The fungal garden is enveloped by a thick layer of clay.

Castes

The queen lives in a clay cell in the midst of the fungal garden at the center of the hive. The African species have a single soldier caste, unlike the related genus ''

Macrotermes ''Macrotermes'' is a genus of termites belonging to the subfamily Macrotermitinae and widely distributed throughout Africa and South-East Asia. Well-studied species include ''Macrotermes natalensis'' and '' M. bellicosus.'' Like other genera in ...

''. Alarmed soldier termites of ''Odontotermes badius'' Haviland 1898 expel an odoriferous brown defensive secretion between their mandibles that becomes sticky and rubbery on exposure to air. The secretion is a mixture of benzoquinone and protein.

Food

Their only food is the fungus grown in the fungal garden at the center of the nest. The fungus is cultivated on a substrate of

wood Wood is a structural tissue/material found as xylem in the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants. It is an organic materiala natural composite of cellulosic fibers that are strong in tension and embedded in a matrix of lignin t ...

bark Bark may refer to: Common meanings * Bark (botany), an outer layer of a woody plant such as a tree or stick * Bark (sound), a vocalization of some animals (which is commonly the dog) Arts and entertainment * ''Bark'' (Jefferson Airplane album), ...

leaf litter Plant litter (also leaf litter, tree litter, soil litter, litterfall, or duff) is dead plant material (such as leaves, bark, needles, twigs, and cladodes) that has fallen to the ground. This detritus or dead organic material and its constituen ...

, dry dung, and dead grass. These are plastered with

cement A cement is a binder, a chemical substance used for construction that sets, hardens, and adheres to other materials to bind them together. Cement is seldom used on its own, but rather to bind sand and gravel ( aggregate) together. Cement mi ...

where they are obtained, which facilitates diurnal foraging. ''Odontotermes'' species are major contributors to litter decomposition. The fungus '' Termitomyces reticulatus'' is found in association with '' O. badius'' and '' O. transvaalensis'' in Africa.

Species

Species include: * '' Odontotermes assmuthi'' Holmgren, 1913 – South Asia * '' Odontotermes badius'' (Haviland, 1898) – Africa * '' Odontotermes ceylonicus'' (Wasmann, 1902) – South Asia * '' Odontotermes escherichi'' Holmgren, 1911 – South Asia * '' Odontotermes feae'' (Wasmann, 1896) – South Asia * '' Odontotermes formosanus'' (Shiraki) – South Asia * '' Odontotermes globicola'' (Wasmann, 1902) – South Asia * '' Odontotermes horni'' (Wasmann, 1902) – South Asia * '' Odontotermes koenigi'' (Desneux, 1906) – South Asia * '' Odontotermes latericius'' (Haviland, 1898) – Africa * ''

Odontotermes obesus ''Odontotermes obesus'' is a species of termite in the family Termitidae. It is native to tropical southwestern Asia. This termite cultivates a symbiotic fungus in a special chamber in the nest. Workers gather vegetable detritus which they bring ...

'' (Rambur) – South Asia * '' Odontotermes preliminaris'' (Holmgren, 1911) – South Asia * '' Odontotermes redemanni'' (Wasmann, 1893) – South Asia * '' Odontotermes taprobanes'' (Walker, 1853) – South Asia * ''

Odontotermes transvaalensis ''Odontotermes'' is a termite genus belonging to subfamily Macrotermitinae (fungus-growing termites), which is native to the Old World. They are most destructive in wooden homes, and are agricultural pests in the tropics and subtropics of Africa ...

'' (Sjöstedt, 1902) – Africa * ''

Odontotermes wallonensis ''Odontotermes'' is a termite genus belonging to subfamily Macrotermitinae (fungus-growing termites), which is native to the Old World. They are most destructive in wooden homes, and are agricultural pests in the tropics and subtropics of Africa ...

'' Wasmann – South Asia

Gallery

Odontotermes badius, werkerkaste, Pretoria, a.jpg, ''O. badius'' worker Odontotermes badius, sement op boombas, Waterberg.jpg, Cement plastered over tree bark Odontotermes badius, werkerkaste, Skeerpoort, b.jpg, Workers foraging on tree bark under cement Odontotermes badius, in oop ventilasietonnel, Skeerpoort, e.jpg, Workers in ventilation tunnel

References

{{Authority control Termite genera Insects of Africa Insects of Asia Insect pests of millets