Vertical displacement in colonies of Constrictotermes cyphergaster: diel and seasonal patterns in a semiarid ecosystem

Abstract The nests constructed by termites can influence how colonies interact with environmental variation. In tropical semiarid environments, however, little is known about the temporal organization of movement within these nest systems. Here, we investigated diel and seasonal patterns of vertical displacement in Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae), a Neotropical termite that connects arboreal nests to the soil through permanent hypogeous galleries. We quantified bidirectional movement between arboreal and subterranean nest compartments during dry and wet seasons. Displacement activity exhibited pronounced diel and seasonal variation, with higher daytime activity during the wet season and a shift toward nocturnal activity during the dry season. Movement direction varied according to time of day but remained consistent between seasons. Qualitative observations also revealed gallery repair behavior, and immature individuals and one queen were also occasionally observed moving through the gallery system. Together, these findings demonstrate that vertical displacement in C. cyphergaster is temporally dynamic and varies across daily and seasonal cycles. This study provides new insights into the behavioral organization of termite colonies in semiarid environments.