Macrotermes gilvusHagen HA 1858. Monographie der Termiten. Linnaea Entomologica 12: i-iii + 4-342 + 459. is a species of large termites in the family Termitidae; current records of occurrence are from India, Indochina (Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam) and Malesia (East Timor, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines).
They also make termitaria containing fungus combs, which when mature enough, will sprout edible mushrooms.
Description and phylogeny Macrotermes gilvus is estimated to have likely emerged 2.67 million years ago.
Part of the Macrotermes genus, they are also related to Macrotermes nnandalei and M. chaiglomi. In parts of Indochina they may coexist with Macrotermes carbonarius where they can be distinguished easily by their brown colour.
Behavior Macrotermes gilvus termites are typically aggressive with other colonies. They typically forage for fungi after colony establishment.
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