Globitermes sulphureus (Haviland, 1898)

Globitermes sulphureus is a colorful species of termite that found very common in South Center of Vietnam. The species also be found from South East Asia. They are characteristic with brighten yellow abdomen of solder members that bearing a pairs of strongly curved inn-ward mandibles. The name of the species maybe because of the abdomen color of the solder, yellow of sulfur.

Brighten yellow solder termite with strong inner curved mandibles, photographed by Cuong Do, 2016

The species also known as Nitrogen fixing species that can help the soil be rich, so besides the important role on Carbon cycle of the ecosystem, they also are one of a key species of Nitrogen cycle in tropical forests.

The nest of the species can easily recognized on the ground with size quite large, some time reach to 0.7m about the ground.

Under the cover layer of the nest, there is a strong wall system and making the "skeleton" of the nest, they look like coral skeleton structure. Photographed by Cuong Do.

Because the nest of termite is quite stable condition so there are many other species can be found, they live in side some part of their life time or whole life. It is a safe place (protected by solder), good and stable conditions (temperature and humidity).

A pupa of Lepidoptera found in side of the termite nest, photographed by Cuong Do

Myself and Globitermes sulphureus nest in Bidoup National Park, 2016, photo taken by Prf. Kashio

The nest can be found near the food source or far from the food source (dead tree), in the video clip above, the nest was made just next to a dead tree, by Cuong Do, 2016 

The structure of the nest is very strong with hard wall and "skeleton", thick wall layer that cover whole the nest quite thick to keep the condition inside of the nest be stable.

Uncovering the nest of Globitermes sulphureus by Cuong Do, 2016

Worker termites of the species are very active and they rebuild the next very quick, after only one day, almost of the hole of the nest be covered.

Globitermes sulphureus nest be covered all most of the holes after 1 days, photographed by Cuong Do

And up to the 2nd day, the nest be recover with the wall out side, except some holes (gates), photographed by Cuong Do

A small hole of the nest, the workers are working very hard and they always were protected by yellow solder termites, photographed by Cuong Do.