Frequency of some behavioural patterns in colonies of<i>Kalotermes flavicollis</i>(Isoptera Kalotermitidae): the importance of social interactions and vibratory movements as mechanisms for social integration

Sbrenna, G.

doi:10.1080/08927014.1996.9522909

Cited by 20 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…LOMs appear to be ancestral behavioral patterns; they occur as a component of social interactions even in undisturbed groups, in many species and various castes, including reproductives Maistrello and Sbrenna 1996;Hertel et al 2011). Similarly, the directional recruitment seen during specific alarms has been observed in many species, and what is seen in Zootermopsis is fairly similar to what is seen in Macrotermes or Nasutitermes (Traniello and Beshers 1985;Kettler and Leuthold 1995).…”

Section: Vibratory Alarm Signalsmentioning

confidence: 72%

Communication and Social Regulation in Termites

Bagnères

Hanus

2015

Social Recognition in Invertebrates

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Communication and social regulation are among the distinguishing features of termites: they are part of all basic aspects of termite biology, from ontogeny and caste differentiation to social behavior and cooperation. As in other highly social taxa, communication in termites predominantly relies on a complex network of chemical signals, which are complemented by vibration-based signals. In contrast to other social taxa, the role of visual cues is negligible. In this chapter, we review the recent literature on the different components that make up termite communication and social regulation systems by tracing termite evolution and examining the role played by different factors, such as sex and caste, and different behaviors, such as those related to defense, nestmate recognition, egg and brood care, foraging, and nest building, among others. The main characteristics of termites are compared to those of other social insects in the introduction. In the first section, we review the most important researches on termite communication and social regulation that are related to social activities in the basal phylogenetic lineages, and in the Termitidae (higher termites), the most advanced and diversified family. The abundant literature on the best studied genera, Reticulitermes, Coptotermes, and Heterotermes, which are considered for the purposes of this chapter to be intermediate termites, is reviewed and discussed separately in the second section. By using this approach, we seek to describe communication and social regulation systems in basal and primitive termites and illustrate how they have evolved to become more complex in intermediate and higher termites.

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Section: Vibratory Alarm Signalsmentioning

confidence: 72%

Communication and Social Regulation in Termites

Bagnères

Hanus

2015

Social Recognition in Invertebrates

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“…Usually the reproductives are the ones to receive the most care in the colony (Howse, 1968;Nel et al, 1969;Maistrello and Sbrenna, 1996). Our observations showed that both male and female received the same amount of attention from nestmates, indicating that they really seem to be the "centre of a behaviour gradient" (Emerson, 1950), and play a key role in receiving and transmitting signals on which the regulation of social equilibrium is probably based.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

“…We engaged in a series of experiments on laboratory colonies of K. flavicollis, which allowed us to shed light on behavioural patterns of different castes and developmental stages of this lower termite (Maistrello and Sbrenna, 1996;1998). With this study, that is the result of a deeper ethogram type survey based on a different sampling technique, we present the first indications of the existence of some important differences in the repertories of male and female replacement reproductives.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It may be suggested that the role of the male reproductive might acquire importance as a co-ordinator of colony activities, because of the female's inactivity, which remains motionless to reduce the consumption of precious energetic reserves. Vibratory movements, abundantly performed by the king, could play a relevant role in interindividual communication of messages of still unknown meaning but probably associated with short-term colony needs (Maistrello and Sbrenna, 1996). The great abundance of interactions, in form of antennal touchings and active grooming directed towards all nestmates, and, mostly, to his partner qualifies the king, in our opinion, as a "mediator" in social interactions between the queen and the other colony members.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Behavioural differences between male and female replacement reproductives in Kalotermes flavicollis (Isoptera, Kalotermitidae)

Sbrenna¹

1999

Insectes Sociaux

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An ethogram type study was performed on representative colonies of Kalotermes flavicollis to investigate the behavioural repertoires of replacement king and queen. Our observations suggested a sex-based behavioural specialisation in the two reproductives, affecting colony organisation and equilibrium. Interesting differences were detected in overall activity of the two reproductives, with the male showing the greatest frequency of movements in the nest, vibratory acts, and the highest rate and range of social contacts. In addition to his importance for periodical insemination of the queen, the king might also play a basic role in the social structure and dynamic development of the colony, as a "mediator" in social interactions between the queen and the other colony members.

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Section: Vibratory Alarm Signalsmentioning

confidence: 78%