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Termite hatch on video

on 2nd May 2011

Over the years we have made a number of posts on termite hatches. This is when winged reproductive male and female termites are forced out of their nest, to swarm in the air, indulging in a massive nuptial flight. This usually occurs just after a downpour. A male and a female pair on the ground after losing their wings, to then seek out a site for their nest and build a future colony. There, they mate. The queen then begins to lay massive numbers of eggs. Initially both individuals will feed their young but once the latter mature, they will take over this function as well as look after the queen.

Once termite hatches were a common sight in urban Singapore. Nowadays these are only seen around rural and forested areas. A major hatch was reported HERE where numerous birds enjoy a veritable feast of these insects.

Now, Lena Chow has brought back an exciting video of a termite hatch documented in Chitwan National Park in Nepal during her April 2011 trip there (above). “After a brief downpour at Chitwan, thousands of subterranean winged termites emerged from their burrows,” wrote Lena, “and provided a veritable feast for bee-eaters, swallows, bulbuls, drongos and whoever was in the vicinity… (see video below).”

The image on the left, a video grab from the first video, shows the winged reproductive termites emerging from their subterranean nest, to swarm in the air. According to biologist Dr Leong Tzi Ming: “…The vegetation looks like there has been a recent fire, but the moist ground reflects the even more recent rains. The winged-termites systematically emerging from their underground home are the reproductives or alates. They will go forth and multiply, seeking new ground and opportunity for the persistence of the species. Scrambling on the ground, both soldier and worker castes may be seen (arrowed; see also top video). The soldiers may be recognised by their enlarged orange heads with blackish mandibles. Upon closer inspection, it looks like there are major soldiers (larger) and minor soldiers (smaller) within this colony. The workers are relatively smaller in size, with a greyish white appearance.”

Lena Chow
Singapore
May 2011

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

5 Responses

  1. Nice! Recently I had a video of termite alates flying near the ground (visible from the video). But surprisingly, there was not a single bird around. Pacific Swallows, Javan Mynas, Yellow-vented Bulbuls and a single migrant Brown shrike usually forage in the area.

  2. The last month we had quite a lot of rain here in Khao Yai, Thailand. And the trails were often decorated by lost wings of termites. An amazing happening. Maybe the decline in inhabited areas has to do with the fact that people use pesticides to prevent the wooden structure of their houses to get destroyed by these animals. Sad, but in a way understandable… They don’t want their roofs coming down.

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