The correlation between the height of mounds produced by Odontotermes obesus (Rambur) and their basal diameter
Authors:   *ICAR-Taralabalu Krishi Vigyana Kendra Davangere-577004, Karnataka,India Email: avinashtg.810@gmail.com, T.G. AVINASH , N G KUMAR 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

The research was conducted in the pristine ecosystems of the GKVK campus of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. The O. obesus mound displayed a conical structure with one or multiple hollow conical turrets. The upper part of the mound exhibited a smaller circumference compared to the lower portion. The inner wall of the mound was characterized by a smooth surface with small pinhead-like depressions (pinholes). The number of pinholes was observed to be higher in the upper region and lower in the lower area. At the base of the mound, the turret wall thickness was substantial and rigid, measuring between 1.8-4.2 cm with an average thickness of 3.1±0.78 cm. A noteworthy positive correlation (r = 0.855) between the increase in the circumference of the base and the height of the mound was observed. The study findings revealed that the influence of the base circumference on the mound's height (r2 =0.73) was 73 percent, underscoring the significant role of the base circumference in determining the mound's height. Additionally, the study indicated that a unit increase in the base circumference corresponded to a 2.00 unit increase in the height of the mound.
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