Caste polymorphism of apterous line of the Neotropical termite Nasutitermes corniger (Motschulsky) (Isoptera, Termitidae)

Lima, Victor Luiz de Souza; Bailez, Omar; Viana-Bailez, Ana Maria

doi:10.1590/s0085-56262013005000019

Cited by 9 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…The nest was partially broken to collect the eggs, larvae and adult workers. The two larval instars were distinguished using the standard morphometric criteria for the Nasutitermes genus [ 10 , 11 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Profiling the Succession of Bacterial Communities throughout the Life Stages of a Higher Termite Nasutitermes arborum (Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae) Using 16S rRNA Gene Pyrosequencing

et al. 2015

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Previous surveys of the gut microbiota of termites have been limited to the worker caste. Termite gut microbiota has been well documented over the last decades and consists mainly of lineages specific to the gut microbiome which are maintained across generations. Despite this intimate relationship, little is known of how symbionts are transmitted to each generation of the host, especially in higher termites where proctodeal feeding has never been reported. The bacterial succession across life stages of the wood-feeding higher termite Nasutitermes arborum was characterized by 16S rRNA gene deep sequencing. The microbial community in the eggs, mainly affiliated to Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria, was markedly different from the communities in the following developmental stages. In the first instar and last instar larvae and worker caste termites, Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria were less abundant than Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Spirochaetes, Fibrobacteres and the candidate phylum TG3 from the last instar larvae. Most of the representatives of these phyla (except Firmicutes) were identified as termite-gut specific lineages, although their relative abundances differed. The most salient difference between last instar larvae and worker caste termites was the very high proportion of Spirochaetes, most of which were affiliated to the Treponema Ic, Ia and If subclusters, in workers. The results suggest that termite symbionts are not transmitted from mother to offspring but become established by a gradual process allowing the offspring to have access to the bulk of the microbiota prior to the emergence of workers, and, therefore, presumably through social exchanges with nursing workers.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Profiling the Succession of Bacterial Communities throughout the Life Stages of a Higher Termite Nasutitermes arborum (Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae) Using 16S rRNA Gene Pyrosequencing

et al. 2015

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“…After 24 h, the third phase is consolidated through the construction of tunnels over foraging tracks to protect termites from dehydration and predators (Arab & Issa, 2000). Food collection and transport in N. corniger are carried out almost exclusively by workers (Thorne, 1984;Costa-Leonardo, 2002;Lima et al, 2013). The worker caste is divided into two morphological subcastes resulting from sexual dimorphism of vestigial characters: a line of large workers (LW) originating from vestigial females and a line of small workers (SW) corresponding to vestigial males (Noirot, 1955;Roisin & Pasteels, 1986;Lima et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Food collection and transport in N. corniger are carried out almost exclusively by workers (Thorne, 1984; Costa‐Leonardo, 2002; Lima et al, 2013). The worker caste is divided into two morphological subcastes resulting from sexual dimorphism of vestigial characters: a line of large workers (LW) originating from vestigial females and a line of small workers (SW) corresponding to vestigial males (Noirot, 1955; Roisin & Pasteels, 1986; Lima et al, 2013). Well‐developed nests may exhibit great morphological diversity, given that the SW subcaste goes through three instar stages (SW1, SW2, and SW3) and the LW subcaste includes four instar stages (LW1, LW2, LW3, and LW4) (Lima et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The worker caste is divided into two morphological subcastes resulting from sexual dimorphism of vestigial characters: a line of large workers (LW) originating from vestigial females and a line of small workers (SW) corresponding to vestigial males (Noirot, 1955; Roisin & Pasteels, 1986; Lima et al, 2013). Well‐developed nests may exhibit great morphological diversity, given that the SW subcaste goes through three instar stages (SW1, SW2, and SW3) and the LW subcaste includes four instar stages (LW1, LW2, LW3, and LW4) (Lima et al, 2013). Of note, foraging activities are mostly carried out by individuals from the last instars of each worker line, that is, SW3 and LW4.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Salivary gland substances of the arboreal termite Nasutitermes corniger induce worker aggregation and gnawing of food substrate

Gazal

Bailez

Viana-Bailez

2023

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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In social insects, collective behavior is regulated by substances secreted by various glands of different members of society. In this study, we investigate whether salivary glands of the arboreal termite Nasutitermes corniger (Motschulsky) (Isoptera: Termitidae) contain substances that regulate the intensity of foraging behavior. Foraging arenas of N. corniger nests maintained under laboratory conditions received the addition of two filter paper substrates, one impregnated with salivary gland extract from third-instar small workers (SW3) (treatment) and the other impregnated with distilled water (control). A similar experiment was conducted using salivary gland extract from fourth-instar large workers (LW4). Occurrences of initial exploration, mass recruitment, and substrate gnawing behaviors, as well as numbers of recruited and gnawing workers, were recorded. There was a higher rate of mass recruitment to treated substrates than to the control (SW3: 80 vs. 25%; LW4: 90 vs. 25%). Gnawing behavior also occurred at higher rates on treated substrates (SW3: 95 vs. 35%; LW4: 100 vs. 45%). The number of workers recruited to and gnawing on treated substrate was significantly higher than the number of workers recruited to and gnawing on control substrate. The higher rates of worker recruitment, as well as the higher numbers of recruited and gnawing workers, show that salivary glands of last-instar workers contain substances with arresting and/or phagostimulating pheromonal actions or substances that release compounds with these properties.

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Termite Biology and Social Behaviour

Pervez¹

2018

Termites and Sustainable Management

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Caste polymorphism of apterous line of the Neotropical termite Nasutitermes corniger (Motschulsky) (Isoptera, Termitidae)

Cited by 9 publications

References 15 publications

Profiling the Succession of Bacterial Communities throughout the Life Stages of a Higher Termite Nasutitermes arborum (Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae) Using 16S rRNA Gene Pyrosequencing

Profiling the Succession of Bacterial Communities throughout the Life Stages of a Higher Termite Nasutitermes arborum (Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae) Using 16S rRNA Gene Pyrosequencing

Salivary gland substances of the arboreal termite Nasutitermes corniger induce worker aggregation and gnawing of food substrate

Termite Biology and Social Behaviour

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