Patterns of neotenic differentiation in a subterranean termite, Reticulitermes speratus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)
Patterns of neotenic differentiation in a subterranean termite, Reticulitermes speratus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)
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DOI：
10.1111/j.1479-8298.2004.00078.x
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发表时间：
2004-12-01
影响因子：
0.9
通讯作者：
Kitade, O
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Miyata, H;Furuichi, H;Kitade, O
等级发展路径的可塑性是白蚁社会的一个显著特征。在散白蚁中，若虫和ergatoids这两种类型的幼态生殖可以从工蚁和幼蚁分化出来，在最初的初级生殖对死亡后接管殖民地的生殖。我们研究了新分化的若虫和ergatoids在实验孤儿实验室殖民地的R。speratus不同种姓组成。若虫分化所需的时间比麦蛾分化所需的时间短。幼态的性别比是强烈的女性偏见，特别是在ergatoids。结果表明，在群体中，拟步行虫或若虫的存在限制了拟步行虫的分化数量。工人被认为是杀死大多数新分化的幼态。反映群体成员间冲突的攻击可能是控制幼态出现的重要机制。
Plasticity in the caste developmental pathway is a remarkable characteristic of termite societies. In Reticulitermes, two types of neotenic reproductive, nymphoids and ergatoids, may differentiate from nymphs and workers and take over reproduction in the colony after the death of the original primary reproductive pair. We examined the dynamics of newly differentiated nymphoids and ergatoids in experimentally orphaned laboratory colonies of R. speratus with different caste compositions. The period required for differentiation of nymphoids was shorter than that for differentiation of ergatoids. The sex ratio of neotenics was strongly female-biased, particularly in ergatoids. The results suggested that the number of differentiated ergatoids was restricted by the existence of nymphs or nymphoids in a colony. Workers were assumed to kill most newly differentiated neotenics. Attack reflecting conflict between colony members is probably an important mechanism to control neotenic emergence.