Analysis of cockroach oothecae and exuviae by solid-state 13C-NMR spectroscopy

Kramer, Karl J.; Christensen, Allyson M.; Morgan, Thomas D.; Schaefer, Jacob; Czapla, T.H.; Hopkins, Theodore L.

doi:10.1016/0020-1790(91)90045-g

Cited by 23 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Cuticle production would have a profound impact on a xylophagous hemimetabolous insect, because skeletal production requires the commitment of assimilated nitrogen to chitin and proteins. Protein and chitin are about 17 and 7% nitrogen by mass, respectively (Rees 1986;Chown and Nicolson 2004) and together can account for 85-96% of the organic materials in exuvia from the adult molt in cockroaches (Kramer et al 1991). Furthermore, because of increased surface to volume ratios, cuticle is a proportionally larger investment in an insect with a small body size.…”

Section: Costs and Benefitsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Rectal pads and Malpighian tubules became reduced as hydromineral regulation was increasingly achieved through social control of the environment (Noirot 1995(Noirot , 2001Noirot and Noirot-Timothée 1977). The care of eggs by helpers (e.g., Weesner 1953) replaced the proteinacous (Kramer et al 1991) investment of an egg case, allowing female ovipositor valves to regress (Nalepa and Lenz 2000). Some losses are less clearly associated with division of labor, such as reductions in the number of segments of the tarsi and antennae (e.g., Deitz et al 2003).…”

Section: Paedomorphosismentioning

confidence: 98%

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Body Size and Termite Evolution

Nalepa

2011

Evol Biol

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Termites are a monophyletic lineage within the paraphyletic Blattaria, with xylophagous cockroaches in the genus Cryptocercus as sister group. Given this ancestry, termite divergence involved a substantial leap in body plans, as they are pale, fragile, and miniaturized relative to most cockroaches. Here I suggest that the evolutionary transition to an altricial morphotype in termites is grounded in the economics of utilizing a wood diet, and occurred via a series of sequential steps associated with modifications in social behavior. The chief benefit of an altricial morphotype is suggested to be nitrogen made available by decreasing individual body size and by dispensing with a heavy, melanized cuticle. The primary costs lie in increased vulnerability to environment hazards, including predators, pathogens, and desiccation. Termites tipped the evolutionary scale via cooperative behaviors that mitigate the cost or amplify the benefit of a small, fragile morphotype, and were present in rudimentary form in their cockroach relatives. These include building behavior, cooperative feeding, allogrooming, and most notably, trophallaxis. It was the directed circulation of nitrogenous reserves via trophallactic feeding among units of the superorganism rather than their progressive storage in a large, heavily armored body that was the foundation of termite evolutionary success.

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Section: Costs and Benefitsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Paedomorphosismentioning

confidence: 98%

Body Size and Termite Evolution

Nalepa

2011

Evol Biol

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“…Termite nests and brood sacs of ovoviviparous cockroaches are both moist, protected sites for incubating eggs, allowing for the reduction and eventual elimination of defensive structures in evolutionary time. Because the oothecal case of Ootheca in Mastotermes C. A. Nalepa and M. Lenz 1811 oviparous cockroaches is 86^95% protein (Kramer et al 1991),`this is a saving that can be easily realized' (Lameere 1909, in Wheeler 1928. A number of morphological and physiological reductions in Isoptera may be attributed to increased homeostasis within the colony as termites evolved behavioural bu¡ers against the environment (Emerson 1961(Emerson , 1962.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The ootheca ofMastotermes darwiniensisFroggatt (Isoptera: Mastotermitidae): homology with cockroach oothecae

Nalepa

Lenz²

2000

Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B

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The basal termite Mastotermes darwiniensis produces an egg mass, the nature of which is controversial. The debate centres on whether it is homologous with the oothecae of mantids and cockroaches and, if so, whether its simple structure is plesiomorphic or apomorphic within the Dictyoptera. To help resolve these issues we observed primary reproductives of M. darwiniensis during oviposition and examined the morphology of the reproductive product. Oviposition is cockroach-like in that the egg mass is assembled within the vestibulum and the eggs are issued externally in pairs. The reproductive product is an ootheca of the blattarian type. A distinct, tanned outer covering is stretched over the two parallel rows of eggs. No keel is present and no calcium oxalate crystals were apparent in the outer covering. We cannot rule out the possibility that the simple structure of the ootheca is plesiomorphic within Dictyoptera. However, based on (i) apomorphies shared by Mastotermes and Blattaria, and (ii) the life habits of Isoptera, a secondary reduction is the more plausible explanation.

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“…Such perforations may result from the action of enzymes secreted by the fungus, especially proteases, as ootheca is composed of 87% proteins (KRAMER et al, 1991). The fungus extruded on the sixth day ( Figures 1F and 1G) with the presence of conidiophores ( Figures 1H and 1I).…”

Section: Infection Of P Americana Females and Oothecaementioning

confidence: 99%