Survival of Termites (Isoptera) Exposed to Various Levels of Relative Humidity (RH) and Water Availability, and Their RH Preferences

Zukowski, John; Su, Nan‐Yao

doi:10.1653/024.100.0307

Cited by 27 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…The same is likely true for termites, and efforts should be made to analyze the layering components and surface hydrocarbons of the cuticles of termite species from various habitats, such as those reported here and others. The results from this study and a previous study [21] indicate that physiological traits, such as rectal pad width and spiracle morphology, could serve as predictors of desiccation resistance in termite species. Cuticle thickness is likely not a good predictor, but the composition and/or thickness of the wax layer component might be.…”

Section: Cuticle Thicknesssupporting

confidence: 60%

“…The thin cuticle of Co. formosanus reported here may account (in part) for the observation that this species desiccates quickly in dry to moderately moist conditions [21]. A thin, non-sclerotized cuticle does not allow for the efficient trapping of body water within a termite.…”

Section: Cuticle Thicknessmentioning

confidence: 70%

“…The spiracle structure observed was clearly connected to and separate from the trachea, as evidenced by the lack of taenidia within this structure and the clear taenidial rings seen in the tracheal trunk. Such a difference in spiracle structure (i.e., an additional atrial arm) may help explain the greater desiccation resistance seen in the three kalotermitid termite species when compared to the only rhinotermitid species in a previous study [21]. Further study on the ultrastructure of the spiracles (e.g., scanning electron microscopy) of these and other termites is warranted, but it is clear that there is a structural difference in the spiracles of the Kalotermitidae and Rhinotermitidae in this study.…”

Section: Abdominal Spiraclesmentioning

confidence: 80%

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A Comparison of Morphology among Four Termite Species with Different Moisture Requirements

Zukowski

2020

Insects

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The thicknesses of the cuticle and rectal pads, and the spiracle morphology were compared for four termite species from different habitats, including one drywood termite, Cryptotermes brevis Walker, one “wetwood” termite, Cryptotermes cavifrons Banks, one subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, and one dampwood termite, Neotermes jouteli (Banks). Cuticle thicknesses were significantly different among all four termite species. Neotermes jouteli had the thickest cuticle, while Co. formosanus had the thinnest. The cuticle of C. brevis was thicker than that of C. cavifrons and Co. formosanus, which may reflect a comparably greater need to prevent water loss in drier habitats for C. brevis. Rectal pad widths were significantly different among all four termite species, except those of C. brevis with N. jouteli. The rectal pads of N. jouteli and C. brevis were thicker than those of C. cavifrons and Co. formosanus, and the rectal pads of C. cavifrons were thicker than those of Co. formosanus in turn. Larger rectal pads likely account for the water conservation mechanism of producing dry, pelleted frass in the kalotermitids (N. jouteli, C. brevis, and C. cavifrons). Morphological observations of the spiracles showed the presence of protuberances (atrial arms) in the three kalotermitids. The function of this protuberance is unclear, but it may serve as a sac-like structure, aiding in gas exchange, or a moisture trap aiding in the prevention of water loss through evaporation.

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Section: Cuticle Thicknesssupporting

confidence: 60%

Section: Cuticle Thicknessmentioning

confidence: 70%

Section: Abdominal Spiraclesmentioning

confidence: 80%

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A Comparison of Morphology among Four Termite Species with Different Moisture Requirements

Zukowski

2020

Insects

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“…Termites are prone to desiccation, and their distribution is influenced by moisture and temperature levels; this is particularly true for subterranean termites due to their relatively unsclerotized body (Smith and Rust 1994;McManamy and others 2008;Cornelius and Osbrink 2010). Thus, differences in temperature and humidity between the ground and canopy (as shown in Figure 2) may contribute to the stratification in termite decay of CWD as lower humidities are likely to restrict feeding in the canopy to dry-wood specialist genera, such as the Kalotermitidae, which are more tolerant to desiccation (Collins 1969;Zukowski and Su 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Suspended Dead Wood Decomposes Slowly in the Tropics, with Microbial Decay Greater than Termite Decay

et al. 2019

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“…Some beetles exhibit bimodal activity patterns in order to escape the hottest hours of the day whereas others display fog-basking for moisture absorption from the surroundings (Bedick et al, 2006; Chown et al, 2011). Other striking evidences for aridity protection, come from niche construction behaviors such as the housing nests of chironomid midges, termite nests, domiciles of some thrips and insect galls (Kikawada et al, 2005; Gilberta, 2014; Zukowski and Su, 2017; Thorat and Nath, 2018). The cuticle is the first portal of water loss in insects and the differential desiccation tolerance patterns in C. ramosus vs. D. melanogaster and P. vanderplanki vs. Paraborniella tonnoiri (Diptera: Chironomidae) have been attributed to striking differences in their cuticular thickness (Nakahara et al, 2008; Thorat et al, 2017).…”

Section: Desiccation Tolerance Strategies In Insectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insects With Survival Kits for Desiccation Tolerance Under Extreme Water Deficits

Thorat

Nath

2018

Front. Physiol.

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The year 2002 marked the tercentenary of Antonie van Leeuwenhoek’s discovery of desiccation tolerance in animals. This remarkable phenomenon to sustain ‘life’ in the absence of water can be revived upon return of hydrating conditions. Today, coping with climate change-related factors, especially temperature-humidity imbalance, is a global challenge. Under such adverse circumstances, desiccation tolerance remains a prime mechanism of several plants and a few animals to escape the hostile consequences of fluctuating hydroperiodicity patterns in their habitats. Among small animals, insects have demonstrated impressive resilience to dehydration and thrive under physiological water deficits without compromising on revival and survival upon rehydration. The focus of this review is to compile research insights on insect desiccation tolerance, gathered over the past several decades from numerous laboratories worldwide working on different insect groups. We provide a comparative overview of species-specific behavioral changes, adjustments in physiological biochemistry and cellular and molecular mechanisms as few of the noteworthy desiccation-responsive survival kits in insects. Finally, we highlight the role of insects as potential mechanistic models in tracking global warming which will form the basis for translational research to mitigate periods of climatic uncertainty predicted for the future.

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Survival of Termites (Isoptera) Exposed to Various Levels of Relative Humidity (RH) and Water Availability, and Their RH Preferences

Cited by 27 publications

References 22 publications

A Comparison of Morphology among Four Termite Species with Different Moisture Requirements

A Comparison of Morphology among Four Termite Species with Different Moisture Requirements

Suspended Dead Wood Decomposes Slowly in the Tropics, with Microbial Decay Greater than Termite Decay

Insects With Survival Kits for Desiccation Tolerance Under Extreme Water Deficits

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