Social insects are amongst the most successful species. This study concentrates on the production ecology of ants and termites. Ants and termites are highly socialised and their groupings in their most developed form enable them to function as large organisms comparable with the larger mammals in their influence in ecosystems. In spite of their social mode of life, quantitative investigations are not easy and this volume emphasises the importance of developing reliable techniques. The account deals critically with production, food and feeding habits, respiration and energy flow, nutrient...