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Patterns of neotenic differentiation in a subterranean termite, Reticulitermes speratus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)
Author(s) -
MIYATA Hitoshi,
FURUICHI Hiroko,
KITADE Osamu
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
entomological science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 1479-8298
pISSN - 1343-8786
DOI - 10.1111/j.1479-8298.2004.00078.x
Subject(s) - rhinotermitidae , neoteny , biology , reticulitermes , nymph , zoology , reproduction , polyphenism , ecology , phenotypic plasticity
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.