A survey of the leaf litter feeding termites of Maracá Island, Roraima, Brazil, revealed seven species: Ruptitermes reconditus, R. silvestrii, Ruptitermessp. n., Syntermes chaqaimayensis, S. molestus, S. paraleelusand Nasutitermes guayanae. Theaverage diameter of circular cuts in leaves wa*s 3.0 mm for S. molestus, 3.5 mm for S.parallelus,5.5 mm for S. chaquimayensis and approximately 1.0 mm [when circular] for species of Ruptitermesand N. guayanae.It was found higher detritivorous activity, mainly of RuptiXermes, in primary forest, when compared with that one in gaps. The litter feeding termites in Maracá seemed to play a fundamental role in leaf litter breakdown and incorporation of it into the soil, although this activiXt has not been calculated experimentally.
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