First Record of Rhynchotermes nasutissimus (Silvestri) (Isoptera: Syntermitinae) Associated with Rat Carrion in Brasília, Brazil

Researchers documented the first instance of Rhynchotermes nasutissimus, a Neotropical leaf litter-feeding termite, associating with rat carrion in an urban area of Brasília, Brazil. This unusual behavior was observed during March 2012, at the end of the wet season, when ten soldiers and 36 workers were found within the dry remains of a rat exposed for one week. The discovery suggests a potential nutritional deficit driving this atypical foraging strategy. The study highlights an unexpected ecological interaction in urban environments, contributing to our understanding of termite behavior under specific conditions.

Prestes, A. C., Tepedino, K. P., Kosmann, C., & Pujol-Luz, J. R. (2014). First Record of Rhynchotermes nasutissimus (Silvestri) (Isoptera: Syntermitinae) Associated with Rat Carrion in Brasília, Brazil. EntomoBrasilis, 7(1), 58–61. https://doi.org/10.12741/ebrasilis.v7i1.353