Soil translocation by termites of the genus Odontotermes (Holmgren) (Isoptera: Macrotermitinae) in an arid area of Northern Kenya.

The study was conducted in an arid area of Northern Kenya, Marsabit District. The area receives an average annual rainfall of 200 mm and supports scanty plant and animal life.The most common termite species are of the genus Odontotermes. The assessment of soil sheeting translocated on food surfaces by O. latericius (Haviland) and O. boranicus Ghidini was carried out using a stratified random design.Both species were found to translocate soil at a rate equivalent to 1059 kg of soil per hectare per year. Rainfall was found to have an influence on the building activity of Odontotermes soil sheeting. Odontotermes soil sheeting was shown to differ from other surrounding soils in both physical and chemical properties. Therefore, Odontotermes have a significant effect on soil structure and texture.