Résumé : Les termites ont un rôle clé dans le fonctionnement de l’écosystème forêt en particulier celui du recyclage de la litière en matière organique. Cependant, quelques espèces de termites sont des xylophages spécialisés dans la dégradation du bois des forêts, mais sont considérés comme des nuisibles dans les zones anthropisées.En France, le problème « termites » lié aux constructions n’a été traité que dans les années 90. La loi n°99-471, votée le 8 juin 1999 définit les modalités de mise en oeuvre d´une politique de lutte dans laquelle sont engagés tous les acteurs: l´Etat, les collectivités locales, les professionnels ainsi que les propriétaires d´immeubles. La Guyane-française est située dans la carte établie par le FCBA des départements de France où l’arrêté est effectif. Toutefois, ce département d’outre-mer reste aujourd’hui avec beaucoup de lacunes en termes de connaissances sur ses termites.On connaît de façon exhaustive le nombre et les différentes espèces de termites xylophages et on sait également quelles sont les principales familles qui sont présentes dans les bâtiments. Mais on ne sait pas dire quelles sont les espèces de termites qui s’intéressent à nos bois d’œuvres.L’objectif de cette étude est d’identifier les genres et espèces de termites qui s’attaquent à trois essences de bois de durabilité faible ou moyenne (Gonfolo, Simarouba et Yayamadou) et de comprendre comment ces attaques se produisent, en contexte forestier, en lien avec des variables du milieu, et l’effet de la saison de mise en contact.Le Yayamadou est une espèce très appétante pour les termites de Guyane, à condition de disposer de tas de bois d’un volume suffisant (> 500cm3), c’est l’espèce qui présente la plus grande diversité de termites actifs. 18 espèces de termites ont été trouvées sur les tas de bois, mais 10 seulement avec une fréquence dépassant le %. Une description détaillée et une clé d’identification sont proposées pour ces espèces.La diversité des termites est plus importante dans les milieux forestiers naturels. Les résultats montrent, qu’Heterotermes tenuis est l’espèce la plus fréquente quel que soit le milieu. Il y a une spécificité attractive de certaines espèces de termites pour telle essence plutôt que telle autre.Enfin, la saisonnalité, correspondant au moment où l’on installe les échantillons de bois en forêt, joue un rôle dans l’apparition de termites sur telle ou telle essence de bois. Il existe dans chaque milieu des espèces qui peuvent potentiellement s’attaquer au bois des habitations
The termites have a role key in the functioning of the ecosystem forest in particular the one of the recycling of the litter in organic matter. Nevertheless, some termites species are specialized in the degradation of the wood of the forests, but are considered plagues in humans place.In France, the problem « termites » linked by the buildings was treated only in the 90’s. The law n°99-471, voted by the 8 June 1999 defines the methods of implement of politics to fights in which are engaged all the actors: the government, the local groups, the professionals as well as the owners of buildings. The French Guiana-is in the map established by the FCBA that departments of France where the law is effective. Nevertheless, this “outre-mer” department remains today with a lot of gaps in terms of knowledge on its termites. We know in a manner exhaustive the number and the different types of xylophagous termites and we know too which are the principal families that are present in the buildings. But we don’t know to say which are the types of termites that are very interested in our lumber.The objective of this study is to identify the genera and termites species that attack themselves to three sorts of wood of weak or average durability (Gonfolo, Simarouba et Yayamadou) and to understand how these attacks produce themselves, in forest context, in link with variables of the environment, and the effect of the season of placement in contact.The Yayamadou is a Wood specie that atracts a lot of termites in French Guiana, to condition to have access to pile of wood of a sufficient volume (> 500cm3), it is the type that presents the biggest diversity of active termites. 18 species of termites were found on the wood piles, but 10 only with a frequency surpassing the 80%. A detailed description and an identification key are proposed for these species. The diversity of the termites is more important in the natural forest environments. The results show, that Heterotermes tenure is the type the does more frequent whatever the environment. There is an attractive specificity of some types of termites for such wood species rather than such other.Finally, the seasonality, corresponding the moment when we installs the wood samples in forest, plays a role in the appearance of termites on such or such wood species. There are in every environment of the types that potentially can attack the wood of the buildings.

http://www.theses.fr/2012AGUY0571/document

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé :  
Termites represent one of the most abundant belowground animal taxa in tropical rainforests, where their species richness is much higher than in any other ecosystem. This high diversity in soil ecosystems is however difficult to explain by classical Hutchinsonian niche theory, as there is little evidence for spatial or temporal separation between species. Using delta(13)C and delta(15)N isotopic ratios, we tested if resource partitioning along the humification gradient occurs; in neotropical soldierless termites of the Anoplotermes-group. Two distinct sites were investigated to check if interspecific differences are transposable between sites. Significant differences in delta(15)N were found between species of the Anoplotermes-group. Although some species displayed higher intersite delta(15)N variation than others, species-average delta(15)N values for both sites were highly correlated, showing that sympatric soldierless soil-feeding termites feed on distinct components of the soil. Our data also suggest that some species are more likely to shift along this gradient than others, in response to overall habitat conditions or to the presence of competitors. Feeding niche differentiation can therefore account for the high species richness and diversity of soldierless soil-feeding termites in neotropical rainforests.
ISSN: 0038-0717

hal-01032157
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032157
DOI : 10.1016/j.soilbio.2009.07.005

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : International audience
The presence of the frontal gland is well established in termite soldiers of Rhinotermitidae, Serritermitidae, and Termitidae. It is one of their main defensive adaptations or even an exclusive weapon. The gland was also occasionally reported in alate imagoes, but never in the worker caste. Here, we report the first observation of a frontal gland in workers of several Neotropical and one African species of Apicotermitinae. The ultrastructure of Aparatermes cingulatus and Anoplotermes nr. subterraneus is described in detail. In these two species, the gland is well-developed, functional and consists of class 1 secretory cells. The presence of envelope cells, wrapping the gland, is an unusual feature, as well as the presence of several zonulae adherens, connecting neighbouring glandular cells. The frontal gland of workers is homologous to this organ in soldiers and imagoes, as evidenced by the same position in the head and its connection to the same muscle. However, the defensive role of the frontal gland in workers remains to be confirmed.
Naturwissenschaften

hal-01095843
https://hal-agroparistech.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01095843
DOI : 10.1007/s00114-010-0664-0

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag
Résumé : International audience
The genus Nasutitermes is among the most abundant wood-feeding Termitidae and an extremely diverse and heterogeneous group in terms of its biogeography and morphology. Despite the major role of several Nasutitermes species as structural pests, the phylogenetic status of this genus is still unclear, along with a confused taxonomy and species identification remaining difficult. The first aim of this review was thus to gather and discuss studies concerning the taxonomic status of the genus Nasutitermes in order to clarify this crucial point. Then, our goal was to gain new insights into the management of N. corniger, considered to be the most economically detrimental pest of this genus in South America and a Nasutitermes model species, while filtering available information concerning its biology through the prism of termite control, as well as critically examine the existing methods. We indeed strongly believe that increasing our knowledge of this species’ biological strategies is the key to progress in the challenging question of their sustainable management.
ISSN: 1612-4758

hal-01467356
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01467356
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01467356/document
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01467356/file/Boulogne_2017_Ecologysur termites.pdf
DOI : 10.1007/s10340-016-0796-x