Heterotermes tenuis (Hagen) (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae): PRINCIPAL TÉRMITA ASSOCIADO A ESPÉCIES FLORESTAIS, EM CAMPO DE APODRECIMENTO DE MADEIRAS, EM RIO BRANCO, ACRE, BRASIL

Abstract

The aim of this work was to prospect termite species associated with the degradation of 463 amazon specimens (5 x 5 x 50 cm) without chemical treatment, from 36 forest species in a decay field, located at Embrapa Acre, municipality of Rio Branco, Acre state, Brazil (10º01’30.7”S; 67º42’23.6”W). This work focuses on Heterotermes tenuis (Hagen), the main species found and present in 91.6% of the species present in the decay field. The specimens (piles) were arranged in lines, with spacing of 2.5 m between lines and 1.0 m between piles, erected in the soil at a depth of 25 cm. The study was carried out in the period from August 2015 to November 2017 in quarterly evaluations. From visualization of termites in the specimens (aerial and underground parts), they were collected, preserved in alcohol (80%) and identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible. Only the specimens of Canelão (Aniba canelilla (Kunth) Mez.), Freijó (Cordia trichotoma (Vell.) Arrab. ex Steud.), and Imbiridiba-amarela (Terminalia amazonica (J. F. Gmel.) Exell) did not show infestation by H. tenuis. Proportionally by number of cuttings, Cedro-rosa (Cedrela odorata L.), and Angelim-da-mata (Hymenolobium petraeum Ducke) were the wood species most and least attacked by H. tenuis, respectively.O objetivo deste trabalho é reportar a principal espécie de térmita associadas à deterioração de espécies madeireiras, nas condições edafoclimáticas de Rio Branco, AC. Foi instalado um campo de apodrecimento no campo experimental da Embrapa Acre (10º01’30,7” S; 67º42’23,6” O) onde foram dispostos 463 corpos de prova (estacas de 5 x 5 x 50 cm) sem tratamento químico, de 36 espécies florestais amazônicas. Os corpos de prova foram dispostos em linhas, com espaçamento de 2,5 x e 1,0 m e enterrados no solo a 25 cm de profundidade. O estudo foi conduzido no período de agosto de 2015 a novembro de 2017, com avaliações trimestrais. A partir da visualização de cupins nos corpos de prova (parte aérea e subterrânea), os mesmos eram coletados, conservados em álcool etílico (80%) e identificados ao menor nível taxonômico possível. Esse trabalho enfoca dados relacionados a Heterotermes tenuis (Hagen), a principal espécie de cupim, encontrada em 91,6% das espécies presentes no campo de apodrecimento. Apenas os corpos de prova de canelão (Aniba canelilla), freijó (Cordia trichotoma) e imbiridiba-amarela (Terminalia amazonica) não foram infestadas por H. tenuis. Proporcionalmente à quantidade de estacas, o cedro-rosa (Cedrela odorata) e o angelim-da-mata (Hymenolobium petraeum) foram as espécies madeireiras mais e menos atacadas por H. tenuis, respectivamente. Palavras-chave: Amazônia; biodeterioração; Isoptera; inseto xilófago.   Heterotermes tenuis (HAGEN) (BLATTODEA: RHINOTERMITIDAE): main termite associated with forest species, in decay field in Rio Branco, Acre state, Brazil   ABSTRACT: The aim of this work is to report the main termite species associated with the deterioration of wood species, in the edaphoclimatic conditions of Rio Branco, Acre state, Brazil. A rotting field was installed in the experimental field of Embrapa Acre (10º01'30.7” S; 67º42'23.6” W) where 463 specimens were placed (5 x 5 x 50 cm piles) without chemical treatment, of 36 Amazonian forest species. The specimens were arranged in lines, with a spacing of 2.5 x and 1.0 m and buried in the ground at a depth of 25 cm. The study was carried out from August 2015 to November 2017, with quarterly evaluations. From the visualization of termites in the specimens (aerial and underground), they were collected, preserved in ethyl alcohol (80%) and identified at the lowest possible taxonomic level. This work focuses on data related to Heterotermes tenuis (Hagen), the main termite species, found in 91.6% of the species present in the decay field. Only canelão (Aniba canelilla), freijó (Cordia trichotoma), and imbiridiba-amarela (Terminalia amazonica) specimens were not infested by H. tenuis. In proportion to the number of cuttings, cedro-rosa (Cedrela odorata), and angelim-da-mata (Hymenolobium petraeum) were the wood species most and least attacked by H. tenuis, respectively. Keywords: Amazon; biodeterioration; Isoptera; xylophagous insect