Table 1. List of termite genera and species, their corresponding vernacular names, indigenous knowledge of their pest status, and uses as sources of food and mushrooms in Zambia, Malawi, Uganda, and Kenya
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Country |
District |
Species name (local name) |
Vernacular name |
Pest |
Edible |
Mushroom |
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|
Zambia a |
Kalomo |
Macrotermes falciger |
Machenya |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
Gwembe |
|
Muchenje, Chaca, Machenya |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
Mazabuka |
|
Muchenje, Makwakwasi |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
Monze |
|
Muchenje, Chisinza |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
Choma |
|
Simachenya, Machenya |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
Livingstone |
|
Machekenene, Mpango |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
Monze |
Odontotermes spp. |
Chuulu, Mumona |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
|
|
All |
Allodontotermes spp. |
Lumona, Mulyazi, Chimuma |
Yes |
No |
No |
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|
Microtermes spp. |
Lumona, Mulyazi, Chimuma |
Yes |
No |
No |
|
|
|
Amitermes truncatidens |
Chuulu, Mumona |
Yes |
No |
No |
|
|
|
Pseudacantthotermes sp. |
Lumona, Mulyazi, Mulahi |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
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|
Trinervitermes rhodesiensis |
Lumona, Mulyazi |
No |
No |
No |
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|
Monze |
Cubitermes tenuiceps |
Kashimbwa, Tuumbusu |
No |
No |
No |
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Zambia b |
Chipata |
Macrotermes subhyalinus |
Kalanzi |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
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|
Chipata |
M. falciger |
Magenge |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
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|
Chipata |
Odontotermes spp. |
Gegedule |
Yes |
Yes |
ND |
|
|
|
Microtermes spp. |
Kauni |
Yes |
ND |
ND |
|
Malawi b |
Balaka |
M. michaelseni |
Madulila |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Uganda c |
Tororo |
Macrotermes subhyalinus |
Agoro |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
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|
Macrotermes bellicosus |
Ripo |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
|
|
Cubitermes ugandensis |
Aming |
No |
No |
No |
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|
Basidentitermes sp. |
Aming |
No |
No |
No |
|
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|
Microcerotermes sp. |
Kithea |
No |
No |
No |
|
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|
Odontotermes kibarensis |
Magrere |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
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|
|
Odontotermes (?latricius |
Singiri |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
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|
Odontotermes sp. 1 |
Ogwee |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
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|
Odontotermes sp. 2 |
Mbala |
No |
Yes |
No |
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|
|
Pseudacanthotermes spriniger |
Miyal |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
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|
Pseudacanthotermes militaris |
Sisi |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
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|
Pseudacanthotermes sp. |
Wambwe |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
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Amitermes (? Truncatidens |
Rudho |
Yes |
No |
No |
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|
Trinervitermes oeconomus |
Thuk |
No |
No |
No |
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Kenya d |
Machakos |
Macrotermes spp. |
Nthwa, Mungasa |
Yes |
ND |
ND |
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|
Odontotermes spp. |
Mbaa, Mbaawa |
Yes |
ND |
ND |
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Microcerotermes spp. |
Mungumi, Kathoa |
Yes |
ND |
ND |
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Pseudacntotermes spp. |
Ngai, Kikai |
Yes |
ND |
ND |
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Allodontotermes spp. |
Ndulamatu, Mungasa |
Yes |
ND |
ND |
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Cubitermes spp. |
Kikii |
No |
ND |
ND |
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aNkunika (1998); bSileshi et al. (2008b);
cNyeko and Olubayo (2005); dMalaret and Ngoru (1989) ?
Species name uncertain No = termite does not produce mushrooms or the
mushroom produced is not edible ND = not determined
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