A method for estimating colony size using queen fecundity in termites under field conditions

Takata, Mamoru; Yabe, Kiyotaka; Noro, Takuya; Mizote, Shun; Konishi, Takao; Tasaki, Eisuke; Matsuura, Kenji

doi:10.1007/s00114-023-01865-6

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Termites in the 23 colonies were extracted from the nest within 2 days of collection, and fresh weights of secondary queens were measured to the nearest 0.1 mg. Prior research has established that the total weight of queens, rather than the total number of queens, is a more accurate indicator of colony size [22]. Therefore, the total weight of queens was used to analyse the correlation between the indicator of colony size and the degree of clonal drive.…”

Section: Materials and Methods (A) Clonal Drive In Queen Population (...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Closed circles indicate the data of colonies with primary queens (n = 4) and open circles indicate those without primary queens (n = 19). Given that the total weight of queens is an indicator of colony size[22], these graphs illustrate that clonal drive progresses as the colony grows. (d,e) Numbers of alleles in colonies where clonal drive has not yet progressed (above) and in colonies dominated by a single clone type in queens (below).…”

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Inter-clonal competition over queen succession imposes a cost of parthenogenesis on termite colonies

Wu,

Fujita,

Namba

et al. 2024

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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In social insect colonies, selfish behaviour due to intracolonial conflict among members can result in colony-level costs despite close relatedness. In certain termite species, queens use asexual reproduction for within-colony queen succession but rely on sexual reproduction for worker and alate production, resulting in multiple half-clones of a single primary queen competing for personal reproduction. Our study demonstrates that competition over asexual queen succession among different clone types leads to the overproduction of parthenogenetic offspring, resulting in the production of dysfunctional parthenogenetic alates. By genotyping the queens of 23 field colonies of Reticulitermes speratus , we found that clone variation in the queen population reduces as colonies develop. Field sampling of alates and primary reproductives of incipient colonies showed that overproduced parthenogenetic offspring develop into alates that have significantly smaller body sizes and much lower survivorship than sexually produced alates. Our results indicate that while the production of earlier and more parthenogenetic eggs is advantageous for winning the competition for personal reproduction, it comes at a great cost to the colony. Thus, this study highlights the evolutionary interplay between individual-level and colony-level selection on parthenogenesis by queens.

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Section: Materials and Methods (A) Clonal Drive In Queen Population (...mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Inter-clonal competition over queen succession imposes a cost of parthenogenesis on termite colonies

Wu,

Fujita,

Namba

et al. 2024

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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An antifungal compound secreted by termite workers, phenylacetic acid, inhibits the growth of both termite egg-mimicking fungus and entomopathogenic fungi

Nakashima,

Mitaka,

Inagaki

et al. 2024

Insect. Soc.

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Social insects live in closely related family groups but face risks of intrusion and infection by pathogenic and parasitic microbes. To cope with the microbes invading their nests and feeding sites, social insects produce various types of antimicrobial substances. Subterranean termites occupy microbe-rich decaying wood and soil at high density, expanding their nest area by exploring and feeding on wood outward from the royal chamber (room for kings and queens). Although antimicrobial agents have been identified in many termite species, few studies have investigated those used by foraging workers in decaying wood under development, which is richer in microbes than the well-sterilized royal chamber and its surroundings. Here, we report that phenylacetic acid, an antifungal aromatic compound, is secreted by foraging workers of the Japanese subterranean termite Reticulitermes speratus. The compound was detected by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis of ethyl acetate extracts of shelter papers infested with the workers, and antimicrobial tests demonstrated that it inhibits the germination and/or mycelial growth of the entomopathogenic fungi (Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana) and the termite egg-mimicking fungus Athelia termitophila. Our study provides new insights into the antimicrobial defense mechanisms of termites, including by combining different types of antimicrobial substances secreted by different castes, and thus the survival strategy of entomopathogenic and parasitic fungi in termite nests.

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Colony size of amazonian stingless bees and its assessment through intrinsic parameters

Leão,

Campbell,

Veiga

et al. 2024

Journal of Apicultural Research

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A method for estimating colony size using queen fecundity in termites under field conditions

Cited by 3 publications

References 38 publications

Inter-clonal competition over queen succession imposes a cost of parthenogenesis on termite colonies

Inter-clonal competition over queen succession imposes a cost of parthenogenesis on termite colonies

An antifungal compound secreted by termite workers, phenylacetic acid, inhibits the growth of both termite egg-mimicking fungus and entomopathogenic fungi

Colony size of amazonian stingless bees and its assessment through intrinsic parameters

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