Apicotermes sp. (probably A. lamani) M5

contributed by CRCA Toulouse

Description

The nests built by termites of the genus Apicotermes are among those with the highest level of regularity and symmetry of features. Inside the nests, which typically measure about 40 cm of height, we find a series of regularly spaced horizontal floors stabilised by pillars and interconnected by ramps. Over the outer surface of these nests, there is a series of regularly spaced pores that could possibly facilitate gas exchange with the outside environment, although this has not been confirmed.

The nests themselves are difficult to spot, as they are usually found thirty to sixty centimeters down into the ground.

This particular specimen, is part of a series of termite nests whose collection from the field is attributed to Grassé and which are hosted at the Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris

Technical data sheet

Geographic coordinates: -4.7781136669681326, 11.907869530023563 (estimation only; the real coordinates are not known)

Collectors: Alain Robert

Data curators: For the original sample: Christian Bordereau; the 3D scans are curated by Christian Jost, Guy Theraulaz and Andrea Perna

Collection date: October 2008

Morphological descriptors: layers, floors, regular structure, ramps, pillars

Material descriptors: clay

Taxonomic descriptors: Apicotermes lamani, Apicotermes sp.

Geographic descriptors: Africa, Central Africa

Alternative ID: Mesomorph project (ANR-06-BYOS-0008): MeMo0014

Acknowledgements: The nest was imaged for free at CHU Dijon

Available data: 3D images (medical tomography), photos of samples

Availability of the original specimen: Not known

Usage permissions: Please contact the data curators.

Additional information: Source: Christian Bordereau (Universite de Bourgogne, Dijon)

Origin and biological information: Has been brought back from the Republic of Kongo in October 2008 by Alain Robert (“Je me souviens tres bien de ce nid. Il provient de la proche banlieue de Pointe Noires, Je n’ai pas la localisation pr ecise car il a eté réecolté par des paysans.”). Very likely Apicotermes lamani (could be confirmed by a genetic analysis of the individuals). General comments: Christian Bordereau used the termites to test their pheromone signalling. The staff from CHU Dijon (site le bocage, Mme Garnier) scanned the nest for free (will have to be acknowledged) on 21/02/09.

This nest was featured in the following scientific publications: Guo L., Theraulaz G., Jost C., Perna A. (2016) “Self-organized linear and helicoidal ramps in insect nests”. IEEE 1st International Workshops on Foundation and Applications of Self* Systems Heyde, A., Guo, L., Jost, C., Theraulaz, G. and Mahadevan, L., (2021) Self-organized biotectonics of termite nests. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(5).

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