TERMITE SOCIAL EVOLUTION by Timothy George Myles a Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the DEPARTMENT of ENTOMOLOGY in Part
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Evolution and Ecology of Termite Nesting Behavior and Its Impact On
1 Evolution and Ecology of Termite Nesting Behavior and Its Impact on Disease Susceptibility A dissertation presented by Marielle Aimée Postava-Davignon to The Department of Biology In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the field of Biology Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts April, 2010 2 Evolution and Ecology of Termite Nesting Behavior and Its Impact on Disease Susceptibility by Marielle Aimée Postava-Davignon ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biology in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences of Northeastern University, April, 2010 3 Abstract Termites construct nests that are often structurally species-specific. They exhibit a high diversity of nest structures, but their nest evolution is largely unknown. Current hypotheses for the factors that influenced nest evolution include adaptations that improved nest thermoregulation, defense against predators, and competition for limited nest sites. Studies have shown a lower prevalence of pathogens and parasites in arboreal nesting animal species compared to ground nesters. Nest building behavior is plastic and can adapt to changing environments. As termites can detect and avoid pathogens, I hypothesized that the evolution of arboreal termite nests was an adaptation to avoid infection. To test this, bacteria and fungi from nest cores, trails, and surrounding soils of the arboreal nesting Nasutitermes acajutlae were cultured. Abiotic factors such as temperature, relative humidity, and light were measured to elucidate how they influenced the interactions between termites and microbes. Fungi associated with N. acajutlae were identified to determine the potential pathogenic pressures these termites encounter in their nest as compared to the external environment. -
New Termites and Hitherto Unknown Castes from the Canal Zone, Panama 1
NEW TERMITES AND HITHERTO UNKNOWN CASTES FROM THE CANAL ZONE, PANAMA 1 By THOS. E. SNYDER Entomologist, Forest Insect Investigations, Bureau of Entomology, United States Department of Agriculture INTRODUCTION lis Banks (fig. 1) and C. longicollis Banks convinced the writer that they The agricultural development of the should be included in Holmgren's sub- -Canal Zone and the clearing of the genus Lobitermes. C. dudleyi, on the dense growth of tropical jungle for other hand, is a Cryptotermes and sup- banana, pineapple, avocado, and cacao presses thompsonae Snyder. Neither plantations will result in the killing of Banks's figures nor his description of many termite colonies of species that C. dudleyi indicates require a moist habitat. The intense that the soldier has Tieat of the tropical sun will render the the anterior margin ■decaying logs, stumps, and branches of the pronotum ser- on the ground and even the soil too rate, the distinctive dry and unsuitable for them. Large character of C.thomp- areas of the Zone already have been sonae, but the writer cleared of termites by the formation of has since examined Banks's type. Gatun Lake, which flooded the land, FIG. l.—Kalotermes thereby drowning the termite colonies Interesting bio- (Lobitermes)brevicollis: in the soil. Nevertheless, termites will logical notes were ob- Mandibles of soldier, tained on the habits showing marginal always constitute a serious problem in teeth. (From draw- Panama, and damage to the woodwork of Cylindrotermes ing made by camera and contents of buildings as well as andRhynchotermes; lucida) to living vegetation must be carefully Cylindrotermes (PI. -
AUSTRALIAN TERMITOPHILES ASSOCIATED with MICROCEROTERMES (Isoptera: Amitermitinae) I
Pacific Insects 12 (1): 9-15 20 May 1970 AUSTRALIAN TERMITOPHILES ASSOCIATED WITH MICROCEROTERMES (Isoptera: Amitermitinae) I. A new Subtribe, genus, and species (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) with notes on their behavior1 By David H. Kistner2 Abstract: A new Subtribe (Microceroxenina) of the tribe Athetini is described. The single included genus and species (both new) is Microceroxenus alzadae which was cap tured with Microcerotermes turneri in North Queensland. Behavioral observations are presented which support the interpretation that Microceroxenus is well-integrated into the social life of the termites. Observations of the release of alates by the host ter mites are presented which support the interpretation that the release of alates in these termites is simultaneous among colonies in a given area, is of short duration, and oc curs rather infrequently. Not many species of termitophiles have been found with termites of the genus Micro cerotermes Silvestri (Amitermitinae) or even from the genera related to Microcerotermes such as Amphidotermes or Globitermes (Ahmad 1950). Only 1 species of staphylinid has been previously recorded and that species is Termitochara kraatzi Wasmann which was collected with Microcerotermes sikorae (Wasmann) from Madagascar (Seevers 1957). The same species of termitophile has also been recorded from a nest of Capritermes capricor- nis (Wasmann), which belongs to an entirely different subfamily (Termitinae), by Was mann (1893). No one really believes either of these termites is the true host of the species as the nearest relatives of Termitochara are found principally with the Nasutiter- mitinae. It was therefore a real pleasure to open up a Microcerotermes nest and find numerous staphylinids there, particularly when opening up nests of the same genus in Africa had never yielded any staphylinids. -
Treatise on the Isoptera of the World Kumar
View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by American Museum of Natural History Scientific Publications KRISHNA ET AL.: ISOPTERA OF THE WORLD: 7. REFERENCES AND INDEX7. TREATISE ON THE ISOPTERA OF THE WORLD 7. REFERENCES AND INDEX KUMAR KRISHNA, DAVID A. GRIMALDI, VALERIE KRISHNA, AND MICHAEL S. ENGEL A MNH BULLETIN (7) 377 2 013 BULLETIN OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY TREATISE ON THE ISOPTERA OF THE WORLD VolUME 7 REFERENCES AND INDEX KUMAR KRISHNA, DAVID A. GRIMALDI, VALERIE KRISHNA Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, New York 10024-5192 AND MICHAEL S. ENGEL Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, New York 10024-5192; Division of Entomology (Paleoentomology), Natural History Museum and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 1501 Crestline Drive, Suite 140 University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045 BULLETIN OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY Number 377, 2704 pp., 70 figures, 14 tables Issued April 25, 2013 Copyright © American Museum of Natural History 2013 ISSN 0003-0090 2013 Krishna ET AL.: ISOPtera 2435 CS ONTENT VOLUME 1 Abstract...................................................................... 5 Introduction.................................................................. 7 Acknowledgments . 9 A Brief History of Termite Systematics ........................................... 11 Morphology . 44 Key to the -
Diversity and Abundance of Subterranean Termites in South India
Srinivasa Murthy, K. Available Ind. J. Pure online App. Biosci.at www.ijpab.com (2020) 8(5), 141 -149 ISSN: 2582 – 2845 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2582-2845.8193 ISSN: 2582 – 2845 Ind. J. Pure App. Biosci. (2020) 8(5), 141-149 Research Article Peer-Reviewed, Refereed, Open Access Journal Diversity and abundance of Subterranean Termites in South India K. Srinivasa Murthy* National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, P B No. 2491, H A Farm Post, Bellary Road Bangalore - 560 024, Karnataka, India *Corresponding Author E-mail: [email protected] Received: 7.07.2020 | Revised: 12.08.2020 | Accepted: 20.08.2020 ABSTRACT The abundance and diversity of subterranean termites was studied in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Keralae, Karnataka and Tamilnadu. Fifteen species of termites belonging to subfamilies Apicotermitinae, Kalotermitidae, Macrotermitinae and Nasutitermitinae, were recorded. The fungus growing termites (Macrotermitinae) accounted for 66.66% abundance, across the states. The Apicotermitinae (soil feeders) and Kalotermitidae (dry wood termites) registered 6.62% each and the dry wood termites (Nasutitermitinae) recorded 20.1% abundance. Among the different species of termites, Odontermes obesus, was more predominant (15.62%) than others. The cropping pattern, soil type and topography predisposed the abundance and diversity of termites. Keywords: Abundance, Cropping pattern, Diversity, Macrotermitinae. INTRODUCTION Ali, et al., 2013) as they play a vital role in Termites (Isoptera) are considered as the most recycling of plant materials and wood, abundant invertebrates and represent up to modifying and improving the soil condition 95% of soil insect biomass show an elaborated and composition, and providing food for other morphology and complex behaviour (Wang, et animals (Ackerman et al. -
Taxonomy, Biogeography, and Notes on Termites (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae, Rhinotermitidae, Termitidae) of the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands
SYSTEMATICS Taxonomy, Biogeography, and Notes on Termites (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae, Rhinotermitidae, Termitidae) of the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands RUDOLF H. SCHEFFRAHN,1 JAN KRˇ ECˇ EK,1 JAMES A. CHASE,2 BOUDANATH MAHARAJH,1 3 AND JOHN R. MANGOLD Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 99(3): 463Ð486 (2006) ABSTRACT Termite surveys of 33 islands of the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos (BATC) archipelago yielded 3,533 colony samples from 593 sites. Twenty-seven species from three families and 12 genera were recorded as follows: Cryptotermes brevis (Walker), Cr. cavifrons Banks, Cr. cymatofrons Schef- Downloaded from frahn and Krˇecˇek, Cr. bracketti n. sp., Incisitermes bequaerti (Snyder), I. incisus (Silvestri), I. milleri (Emerson), I. rhyzophorae Herna´ndez, I. schwarzi (Banks), I. snyderi (Light), Neotermes castaneus (Burmeister), Ne. jouteli (Banks), Ne. luykxi Nickle and Collins, Ne. mona Banks, Procryptotermes corniceps (Snyder), and Pr. hesperus Scheffrahn and Krˇecˇek (Kalotermitidae); Coptotermes gestroi Wasmann, Heterotermes cardini (Snyder), H. sp., Prorhinotermes simplex Hagen, and Reticulitermes flavipes Koller (Rhinotermitidae); and Anoplotermes bahamensis n. sp., A. inopinatus n. sp., Nasuti- termes corniger (Motschulsky), Na. rippertii Rambur, Parvitermes brooksi (Snyder), and Termes http://aesa.oxfordjournals.org/ hispaniolae Banks (Termitidae). Of these species, three species are known only from the Bahamas, whereas 22 have larger regional indigenous ranges that include Cuba, Florida, or Hispaniola and beyond. Recent exotic immigrations for two of the regional indigenous species cannot be excluded. Three species are nonindigenous pests of known recent immigration. IdentiÞcation keys based on the soldier (or soldierless worker) and the winged imago are provided along with species distributions by island. Cr. bracketti, known only from San Salvador Island, Bahamas, is described from the soldier and imago. -
The Functions and Evolution of Social Fluid Exchange in Ant Colonies (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Marie-Pierre Meurville & Adria C
ISSN 1997-3500 Myrmecological News myrmecologicalnews.org Myrmecol. News 31: 1-30 doi: 10.25849/myrmecol.news_031:001 13 January 2021 Review Article Trophallaxis: the functions and evolution of social fluid exchange in ant colonies (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Marie-Pierre Meurville & Adria C. LeBoeuf Abstract Trophallaxis is a complex social fluid exchange emblematic of social insects and of ants in particular. Trophallaxis behaviors are present in approximately half of all ant genera, distributed over 11 subfamilies. Across biological life, intra- and inter-species exchanged fluids tend to occur in only the most fitness-relevant behavioral contexts, typically transmitting endogenously produced molecules adapted to exert influence on the receiver’s physiology or behavior. Despite this, many aspects of trophallaxis remain poorly understood, such as the prevalence of the different forms of trophallaxis, the components transmitted, their roles in colony physiology and how these behaviors have evolved. With this review, we define the forms of trophallaxis observed in ants and bring together current knowledge on the mechanics of trophallaxis, the contents of the fluids transmitted, the contexts in which trophallaxis occurs and the roles these behaviors play in colony life. We identify six contexts where trophallaxis occurs: nourishment, short- and long-term decision making, immune defense, social maintenance, aggression, and inoculation and maintenance of the gut microbiota. Though many ideas have been put forth on the evolution of trophallaxis, our analyses support the idea that stomodeal trophallaxis has become a fixed aspect of colony life primarily in species that drink liquid food and, further, that the adoption of this behavior was key for some lineages in establishing ecological dominance. -
Regulation of Queen Development Through Worker Aggression in A
Behavioral Ecology 2 Behavioral Ecology doi:10.1093/beheco/ars062 Advance Access publication 26 April 2012 stress may be used to inhibit queen development in wasps (25 °C, 12:12 light/day) and fed live crickets (Acheta domesticus) (Jeanne 2009), and observations of antennal drumming in Po- twice per week, which workers paralyze in the foraging arena Original Article listes fuscatus have been linked to regulation of caste develop- and bring into the nest. All colonies used in this experiment ment (Suryanarayanan et al. 2011). In the ant Myrmica, workers were headed by gamergates (mated reproductive workers). have been observed biting queen-destined larvae at the end of the breeding season, piercing the larval cuticle, and a portion JH application and induction of queen development Regulation of queen development through of these larvae revert to worker development (Brian 1973). In the context of these previous studies, we hypothesized that To confirm that JHA application could induce queen develop- worker aggression in a predatory ant mechanical stress may serve as a mechanism to regulate queen ment in H. saltator, we tested the effect of topical application development in ants, particularly species from the relatively of JHA on final instar larvae (fourth instar). Twenty to thirty basal subfamily Ponerinae whose members share a number of fourth instar larvae (4.1–6.5 mm in length) were taken from April 26 ancestral characters in morphology and behavior that may limit a single mature colony and divided evenly between 2 groups Clint A. Penick and Ju¨rgen Liebig worker control over larval feeding (Schmidt 2009). -
Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections
Ubr.C-ff. SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOLUME 143, NO. 3 SUPPLEMENT TO THE ANNOTATED, SUBJECT-HEADING BIBLIOGRAPHY OF TERMITES 1955 TO I960 By THOMAS E. SNYDER Honorary Research Associate Smithsonian Institution (Publication 4463) CITY OF WASHINGTON PUBLISHED BY THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION DECEMBER 29, 1961 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOLUME 143, NO. 3 SUPPLEMENT TO THE ANNOTATED, SUBJECT-HEADING BIBLIOGRAPHY OF TERMITES 1955 TO 1960 By THOMAS E. SNYDER Honorary Research Associate Smithsonian Institution ><%<* Q (Publication 4463) CITY OF WASHINGTON PUBLISHED BY THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION DECEMBER 29, 1961 PORT CITY PRESS, INC. BALTIMORE, NID., U. S. A. CONTENTS Pagre Introduction i Acknowledgments i List of subject headings 2 Subject headings 3 List of authors and titles 72 Index 115 m SUPPLEMENT TO THE ANNOTATED, SUBJECT-HEADING BIBLIOGRAPHY OF TERMITES 1955 TO 1960 By THOMAS E. SNYDER Honorary Research Associate Smithsonian Institution INTRODUCTION On September 25, 1956, an "Annotated, Subject-Heading Bibliography of Ter- mites 1350 B.C. to A.D. 1954," by Thomas E. Snyder, was published as volume 130 of the Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections. A few 1955 papers were included. The present supplement covers publications from 1955 through i960; some 1961, as well as some earlier, overlooked papers, are included. A total of 1,150 references are listed under authors and tides, and 2,597 references are listed under subject headings, the greater number being due to cross references to publications covering more than one subject. New subject headings are Radiation and Toxicology. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The publication of this bibliography was made possible by a grant from the National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C. -
Termites (Isoptera) in the Azores: an Overview of the Four Invasive Species Currently Present in the Archipelago
Arquipelago - Life and Marine Sciences ISSN: 0873-4704 Termites (Isoptera) in the Azores: an overview of the four invasive species currently present in the archipelago MARIA TERESA FERREIRA ET AL. Ferreira, M.T., P.A.V. Borges, L. Nunes, T.G. Myles, O. Guerreiro & R.H. Schef- frahn 2013. Termites (Isoptera) in the Azores: an overview of the four invasive species currently present in the archipelago. Arquipelago. Life and Marine Sciences 30: 39-55. In this contribution we summarize the current status of the known termites of the Azores (North Atlantic; 37-40° N, 25-31° W). Since 2000, four species of termites have been iden- tified in the Azorean archipelago. These are spreading throughout the islands and becoming common structural and agricultural pests. Two termites of the Kalotermitidae family, Cryp- totermes brevis (Walker) and Kalotermes flavicollis (Fabricius) are found on six and three of the islands, respectively. The other two species, the subterranean termites Reticulitermes grassei Clemént and R. flavipes (Kollar) of the Rhinotermitidae family are found only in confined areas of the cities of Horta (Faial) and Praia da Vitória (Terceira) respectively. Due to its location and weather conditions the Azorean archipelago is vulnerable to coloni- zation by invasive species. The fact that there are four different species of termites in the Azores, all of them considered pests, is a matter of concern. Here we present a comparative description of these species, their known distribution in the archipelago, which control measures are being used against them, and what can be done in the future to eradicate and control these pests in the Azores. -
Intracolonial Demography of the Mound-Building Termite Macrotermes Natalensis (Haviland) (Isoptera, Termitidae) in the Northern Kruger National Park, South Africa
Insectes soc. 47 (2000) 390–397 0020-1812/00/040390-08 $ 1.50+0.20/0 Insectes Sociaux © Birkhäuser Verlag, Basel, 2000 Research article Intracolonial demography of the mound-building termite Macrotermes natalensis (Haviland) (Isoptera, Termitidae) in the northern Kruger National Park, South Africa V.W. Meyer 1, *, R.M. Crewe 1,L.E.O.Braack2, H.T. Groeneveld 3 and M.J. van der Linde 3 1 Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa, e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] 2 Department of Conservation Development, Kruger National Park, Skukuza, 1350, South Africa, e-mail: [email protected] 3 Department of Statistics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa, e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] * Correspondence address: PO Box 1969, Wingate Park, 0153, South Africa Received 14 January 2000; revised 18 September 2000; accepted 26 September 2000. Summary. This paper reports on the number of individuals todeally (from the rectum). Secondly, termites have been in Macrotermes natalensis (Hav.) colonies of different sized shown to fix nitrogen (Curtis and Waller, 1998). If the nitro- mounds in the northern Kruger National Park. Mounds were gen fixation rate per individual termite is known, caste num- fully excavated, termites collected by means of vacuuming, bers and proportions provided by the present study can be and colony size estimated by sub-sampling. The proportion used to accurately derive overall nitrogen fixation, as rates of of termites in the mound (above and underground sections) fixation vary among species and castes via microbes and amounts to more than 70% of the colony; the rest being pre- fungi (e.g., Matsumoto and Abe, 1979; Collins, 1983). -
Complementary Symbiont Contributions to Plant Decomposition in a Fungus-Farming Termite
Complementary symbiont contributions to plant decomposition in a fungus-farming termite Michael Poulsena,1,2, Haofu Hub,1, Cai Lib,c, Zhensheng Chenb, Luohao Xub, Saria Otania, Sanne Nygaarda, Tania Nobred,3, Sylvia Klaubaufe, Philipp M. Schindlerf, Frank Hauserg, Hailin Panb, Zhikai Yangb, Anton S. M. Sonnenbergh, Z. Wilhelm de Beeri, Yong Zhangb, Michael J. Wingfieldi, Cornelis J. P. Grimmelikhuijzeng, Ronald P. de Vriese, Judith Korbf,4, Duur K. Aanend, Jun Wangb,j, Jacobus J. Boomsmaa, and Guojie Zhanga,b,2 aCentre for Social Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; bChina National Genebank, BGI-Shenzen, Shenzhen 518083, China; cCentre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, DK-1350 Copenhagen, Denmark; dLaboratory of Genetics, Wageningen University, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands; eFungal Biodiversity Centre, Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, NL-3584 CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands; fBehavioral Biology, Fachbereich Biology/Chemistry, University of Osnabrück, D-49076 Osnabrück, Germany; gCenter for Functional and Comparative Insect Genomics, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; hDepartment of Plant Breeding, Wageningen University and Research Centre, NL-6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands; iDepartment of Microbiology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria SA-0083, South Africa; and jDepartment of Biology, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark Edited by Ian T. Baldwin, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany, and approved August 15, 2014 (received for review October 24, 2013) Termites normally rely on gut symbionts to decompose organic levels-of-selection conflicts that need to be regulated (12).