Pest status: As with other Hodotermitidae there is some uncertainty as to the scale of the importance of Hodotermes as a pest of rangelands and cereal crops. Rates of removal differ due to variation in termite density, but Coaton & Sheasby quote figures of 274-3,170 Kg/ha. Certainly pest control measures have been taken against H. mossambicus (Coaton, 1958), but their effectiveness has been questioned (Nel, papers).
Hodotermes erythreensis - Eritrea and Somalia; H. mossambicus - Ethiopia to southern Karroid sectors of Cape Province.
Two species, both dry savannah specialists. H. mossmabicus appears to have an effective limit needing less than 750 mm of rain. Does not normally nest on sand, but can do so when gravel or other harder substrates is introduced by human activity, especially road building. Coaton & Sheasby (1975) discuss detailed distribution patterns of H. mossambicus and from these postulate that climate is more important than soil in influencing distribution patterns.
