Macrotermes gilvus

Macrotermes gilvus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Clade: Pancrustacea
Class: Insecta
Order: Blattodea
Infraorder: Isoptera
Family: Termitidae
Genus: Macrotermes
Species:
M. gilvus
Binomial name
Macrotermes gilvus
(Hagen, 1858)
Synonyms[1]

Termes (Termes) gilvus Hagen, 1858
Junior Synonyms

List
    • Termes azarelii Wasmann, 1896
    • Termes malayanus Haviland, 1898
    • Termes (Macrotermes) manilanus Oshima, 1914
    • Termes (Macrotermes) philippinae Oshima, 1914
    • Termes (Macrotermes) luzonensis Oshima, 1914
    • Termes (Termes) copelandi Oshima, 1914
    • Macrotermes gilvus padangensis Kemner, 1930
    • Macrotermes gilvus borneensis Kemner, 1933
    • Macrotermes gilvus latinotum Kemner, 1934
    • Macrotermes gilvus angusticeps Kemner, 1934
    • Macrotermes gilvus madurensis Kemner, 1934
    • Macrotermes gilvus kalshoveni Kemner, 1934

Macrotermes gilvus[2] is a species of large termites in the family Termitidae; current records of occurrence are from India, Indochina (Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam) and Malesia (East Timor, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines).[1]

They also make termitaria containing fungus combs, which when mature enough, will sprout edible mushrooms.[3]

Description and phylogeny

Macrotermes gilvus is estimated to have likely emerged 2.67 million years ago.[4]

Part of the Macrotermes genus, they are also related to Macrotermes nnandalei and M. chaiglomi.[4] In parts of Indochina they may coexist with Macrotermes carbonarius where they can be distinguished easily by their brown colour.

Detail of soldier

Behavior

Macrotermes gilvus termites are typically aggressive with other colonies.[5] They typically forage for fungi after colony establishment.

References

  1. 1 2 "Termite Database". www.termitologia.net. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  2. ↑ Hagen HA 1858. Monographie der Termiten. Linnaea Entomologica 12: i-iii + 4-342 + 459.
  3. ↑ Lwin, Wai Wai. "Macrotermes gilvus". Journal of Agricultural Research. 6 (2): 3.
  4. 1 2 Singham, G. Veera; Othman, Ahmad Sofiman; Lee, Chow-Yang (2017-11-29). "Phylogeography of the termite Macrotermes gilvus and insight into ancient dispersal corridors in Pleistocene Southeast Asia". PLOS ONE. 12 (11) e0186690. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0186690. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 5706666.
  5. ↑ Rojo, Mark Jun A.; Acda, Menandro N. (2016-05-01). "Interspecific Agonistic Behavior of Macrotermes gilvus (Isoptera: Termitidae): Implication on Termite Baiting in the Philippines". Journal of Insect Behavior. 29 (3): 273–282. doi:10.1007/s10905-016-9564-2. ISSN 1572-8889.
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