Termites are perceived as decomposers and as pests in an ecosystem. A study on the species composition of termites in different soil types (i.e. clay, sand and peat) in oil palm plantations was conducted between 6 April 2015 and 10 December 2015 in nine selected localities in Johor (Malaysia) and Riau (Indonesia). Sampling of termites was conducted using belt transects of 100 m in length and 4 m in width in the oil palm plantation. A total of three replicates for each soil types were done from the nine transects for each location. A total of 41 species from five subfamilies (i.e. Coptotermitinae, Rhinotermitinae, Termitinae, Macrotermitinae and Nasutitemitinae) and two families (i.e. Rhinotermitidae and Terrnitidae) of termite species were successfully sampled and recorded. Sand soil (81 colonies: 12 species; four subfamilies; two families) recorded the highest colonies, followed by peat soil (62 colonies: 12 species; five subfamilies; two families), and clay soil (47 colonies consisting; nine species, four subfamilies and two families). There was a significant difference (chi(2) = 618 886, df = 328, p<0.005) between soil types and termite species composition that were found in the oil palm plantation. This study identified that the diversity and abundance of termites differed between soil types in different oil palm plantations.

This study was conducted to determine the spatio-temporal pattern of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in order to understand the ecology of ants in palm oil ecosystem at Endau Rompin, Pahang. Sampling was carried out for four consecutive months on three types of soils, i.e. clay (plots A1 & A2), deep peat (plots B1 & 82) and shallow peat (plots C1 & C2). Pitfall trapping was used as it is suitable for ants that forages on the ground. A total of 3,968 individuals were captured consisting of 13 genera in four subfamilies. Anoplolepis was the most abundant with 1,692 individuals (45.75%) followed by Pheidole (862 individuals; 23:31%) and Paratrechina (228 individuals; 6.17%). In clay, Anoplolepis is the most abundant meanwhile in deep and shallow peat, Pheidole have the highest number of individuals compared to other genera. Two-way Chi-squared analysis identified that there were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the compositions amongst the eight genera (Anoplolepis, Oecophylla, Paratrechina, Odontomachus, Ponera, Crematogaster, Pheidole, and Tetramorium) with soil, months and genus combined. As for the spatio-temporal distribution pattern, Formicinae showed in overall clustered patterns (Ia > 1; p < 0.05) while Ponerinae, Myrmicinae and Aenictinae showed a randomised distribution pattern ( Ia <= 1; p > 0.05). Local spatio-teinporal pattern for the subfamilies was dynamic with patchy patterns and gaps varied across months .The spatio-temporal pattern amongst ants observed in this study showed a strong relationship between the ecology and the behaviour of some ant genera despite observation was done at the subfamily level. Further study to identify the spatio-temporal associations amongst subfamilies is needed to elucidate behavioural ecology of ants and interactions within the diferrent functional groups.