Study of foraging behaviour of coptotermes heimi (wasmann) by mark-release-recapture method

In this study we have investigated the foraging activity and territory of coptotermes heimi (wasmann) in jallo forest park,lahore during the period when there was maximum termite activity by mark-releaserecapture method,using proper concentration of nile blue a as a marking dye. the activities of c. heimi were observed in three colonies marked as a,b and c setup at considerable distances and variable depths. it was observed that foraging activities of c. heimi were different in each colony and also varied with respect to foraging depth and distances. it was also observed that most of the foraging activity was carried out by worker caste and maximum foraging activity was attained by c. heimi (wasmann) workers at the depth of 45cm under soil surface. total population of c. heimi (wasmann) was positively correlated with the relative humidity and the soil temperature,but negatively correlated with atmospheric temperature. copyright 2013 zoological society of pakistan.