Survivorship and walking behavior of Inquilinitermes microcerus (Termitidae: Termitinae) in contact with host workers and walls from host nest

Abstract

Constrictotermes sp. nests are frequently inhabited by colonies of Inquilinitermes microcerus. In this association, I. microcerus colonies usually establish their colonies spatially isolated from Constrictotermes colonies. Here, we investigated whether the apparent spatial isolation of I. microcerus colonies in Constrictotermes nests should be related to their needs (e.g. feeding) in relation to the central part of the nest or to a possible stress provoked by the presence of the host. For this, survival and walking behavior bioassays were performed to test the hypothesis that the survivorship of inquilines is: (i) reduced in the presence of host, mainly of those from different nests, (ii) increased in contact with inner walls compared with external walls; and that the distance walked and walking velocity of inquiline is: (iii) increased in the presence of the host and (iv) reduced in contact with the internal walls compared with external walls of host nest. The mean time to death of inquiline workers is lower in contact with host (independently from the same or different nest) compared with control and the mean time to death of inquiline workers is lower in contact with external walls of host nest compared with control group and the inner walls. The distance walked and walking velocity of inquiline workers in contact with their hosts (from the same or different nest) did not differ from control, however, these parameters were reduced when workers were in contact with inner and external walls compared with control. In general, our results showed that I. microcerus adopt behavioral strategies to avoid perception by its host.

Nonaggressive behavior: A strategy employed by an obligate nest invader to avoid conflict with its host species

“…Although termite-termite inquilinism has been studied under a variety of topics, such as population dynamics (Cristaldo, Rosa, Florencio, Marins, & DeSouza, 2012;Cunha, Costa, Espírito-Santo Filho, Silva, & Brandão, 2003;DeSouza et al, 2016;Rodrigues, Costa, Cristaldo, & DeSouza, 2018), chemical communication (Cristaldo et al, 2014;Cristaldo, Rodrigues, Elliot, Araújo, & DeSouza, 2016;Jirošová et al, 2016), resource intake associations (Florencio et al, 2013), and other traits of biological significance (Campbell et al, 2016;Collins, 1980;Costa et al, 2009;Cruz et al, 2018;Darlington, 2011;Eggleton & Bignell, 1997;Redford, 1984), it remains unclear which costs (if any) inquiline termite colonies impose to their termite host species.…”

First evidence of wasp brood development inside active nests of a termite with the description of a previously unknown potter wasp species

“…Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Silvestri, 1901) is a Neotropical termite species that builds typical arboreal nests (Krishna et al., 2013; Vasconcellos et al., 2007) and is widespread throughout South America (Mathews, 1977). With nocturnal foraging habits and diet mostly based on lichens (Barbosa‐Silva et al., 2019) and tree bark (Moura et al., 2006), the species has drawn some attention due to its close association with nest invaders, such as Inquilinitermes microcerus (Silvestri, 1901) and Inquilinitermes fur (Silvestri, 1901) (for examples of studies, see Cristaldo et al., 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016; Cruz et al., 2018; Cunha et al., 2003; DeSouza et al., 2016; Florencio et al., 2013; Hugo et al., 2020; Rodrigues et al., 2018; Santos, 2016). Because of their limited constructive abilities (Emerson, 1938), these invader termite species are known to rely exclusively on nests of C. cyphergaster to establish their colonies, being not found anywhere else to date and, therefore, classified as “obligatory inquilines” (Mathews, 1977).…”

“…Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Silvestri, 1901) is a Neotropical termite species that builds typical arboreal nests (Krishna et al, 2013;Vasconcellos et al, 2007) and is widespread throughout South America (Mathews, 1977). With nocturnal foraging habits and diet mostly based on lichens (Barbosa-Silva et al, 2019) and tree bark (Moura et al, 2006), the species has drawn some attention due to its close association with nest invaders, such as Inquilinitermes microcerus (Silvestri, 1901) and Inquilinitermes fur (Silvestri, 1901) (for examples of studies, see Cristaldo et al, 2012Cristaldo et al, , 2014Cristaldo et al, , 2015Cristaldo et al, , 2016Cruz et al, 2018;Cunha et al, 2003;DeSouza et al, 2016;Florencio et al, 2013;Hugo et al, 2020;Rodrigues et al, 2018;Santos, 2016).…”

Interações ecológicas em colônias de cupins: Astigmatídeos (Acari) e Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) termitófilos

“…A fragilidade das colônias de cupins pode ser devida à alta mortalidade induzida pelo estresse. No cupim inquilino Inquilinitermes microcerus (Blattodea: Isoptera: Termitidae), o estresse causado pela exposição ao hospedeiro em laboratório reduz sua sobrevivência (Cruz et al, 2018). Em outros cupins, a exposição a ambientes abertos pode causar estresse (Williams, 1959).…”