The male postabdomen of <i>Stolotermes inopinus</i>: a termite with unusually well‐developed external genitalia (Dictyoptera: Isoptera: Stolotermitinae)

Klass, Klaus‐Dieter; Thorne, Barbara L.; Lenz, Michael

doi:10.1046/j.1463-6395.2000.00045.x

Cited by 17 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 18 publications

(41 reference statements)

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“…The subsequent shift to eusociality in the termites has involved reduction and eventual loss of the oothecae, as protection from desiccation is unnecessary inside a nest with a controlled internal climate. There has also been a trend towards monogamy, with progressive anatomical simplification of termite sperm (Baccetti et al 1981) and reduction in complexity of the male genitalia (Klass et al 2000), presumably due to lowered sperm competition. In addition, establishment of permanent family groups (colonies) has led to the evolution of sterile worker and soldier castes in response to the need for foragers, alloparental care, nest builders and colony defenders (Higashi et al 2000).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Death of an order: a comprehensive molecular phylogenetic study confirms that termites are eusocial cockroaches

2007

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Termites are instantly recognizable mound-builders and house-eaters: their complex social lifestyles have made them incredibly successful throughout the tropics. Although known as ‘white ants’, they are not ants and their relationships with other insects remain unclear. Our molecular phylogenetic analyses, the most comprehensive yet attempted, show that termites are social cockroaches, no longer meriting being classified as a separate order (Isoptera) from the cockroaches (Blattodea). Instead, we propose that they should be treated as a family (Termitidae) of cockroaches. It is surprising to find that a group of wood-feeding cockroaches has evolved full sociality, as other ecologically dominant fully social insects (e.g. ants, social bees and social wasps) have evolved from solitary predatory wasps.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Death of an order: a comprehensive molecular phylogenetic study confirms that termites are eusocial cockroaches

2007

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“…Male genitalia in Isoptera are not only symmetric but also simpler than those of Blattaria and Mantodea, both with regard to the external morphology and the muscles (Klass, 2000; Klass, Thorne & Lenz, 2000). Since most recent analyses place Isoptera within a paraphyletic Blattaria (Eggleton, 2001; Deitz, Nalepa & Klass, 2003; Klass, 2003 a ; Terry & Whiting, 2005 and references therein) the obvious conclusion must be that isopteran symmetry and simplicity are secondary rather than primitive.…”

Section: Insectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This view has been expressed long ago, for example by Walker (1922) who considered asymmetric genitalia “doubtless present in the forebears of the Isoptera” and simplificity of genitalia in the order “without doubt a secondary condition”. Mastotermes and Stolotermes have comparatively complex genitalia (Roonwal, 1970; Klass et al , 2000) and Mastotermes is considered “the most basal termite group” (Eggleton, 2001). Simplicity has been explained as a consequence of strict monogamy and the resulting decrease of sexual selection (Eberhard, 1985).…”

Section: Insectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The evolution of asymmetric genitalia in spiders and insects

2007

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Asymmetries are a pervading phenomenon in otherwise bilaterally symmetric organisms and recent studies have highlighted their potential impact on our understanding of fundamental evolutionary processes like the evolution of development and the selection for morphological novelties caused by behavioural changes. One character system that is particularly promising in this respect is animal genitalia because (1) asymmetries in genitalia have evolved many times convergently, and (2) the taxonomic literature provides a tremendous amount of comparative data on these organs. This review is an attempt to focus attention on this promising but neglected topic by summarizing what we know about insect genital asymmetries, and by contrasting this with the situation in spiders, a group in which genital asymmetries are rare. In spiders, only four independent origins of genital asymmetry are known, two in Theridiidae (Tidarren/Echinotheridion, Asygyna) and two in Pholcidae (Metagonia, Kaliana). In insects, on the other hand, genital asymmetry is a widespread and common phenomenon. In some insect orders or superorders, genital asymmetry is in the groundplan (e.g. Dictyoptera, Embiidina, Phasmatodea), in others it has evolved multiple times convergently (e.g. Coleoptera, Diptera, Heteroptera, Lepidoptera). Surprisingly, the huge but widely scattered information has not been reviewed for over 70 years. We combine data from studies on taxonomy, mating behaviour, genital mechanics, and phylogeny, to explain why genital asymmetry is so common in insects but so rare in spiders. We identify further fundamental differences between spider and insect genital asymmetries: (1) in most spiders, the direction of asymmetry is random, in most insects it is fixed; (2) in most spiders, asymmetry evolved first (or only) in the female while in insects genital asymmetry is overwhelmingly limited to the male. We thus propose that sexual selection has played a crucial role in the evolution of insect genital asymmetry, via a route that is accessible to insects but not to spiders. The centerpiece in this insect route to asymmetry is changes in mating position. Available evidence strongly suggests that the plesiomorphic neopteran mating position is a female-above position. Changes to male-dominated positions have occurred frequently, and some of the resulting positions require abdominal twisting, flexing, and asymmetric contact between male and female genitalia. Insects with their median unpaired sperm transfer organ may adopt a one-sided asymmetric position and still transfer the whole amount of sperm. Spiders with their paired sperm transfer organs can only mate in symmetrical or alternating two-sided positions without foregoing transfer of half of their sperm. We propose several hypotheses regarding the evolution of genital asymmetry. One explains morphological asymmetry as a mechanical compensation for evolutionary and behavioural changes of mating position. The morphological asymmetry per se is not advantageous, but rather the newly adopted mating po...

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“…Morphological and molecular work suggest that the following families are almost certainly monophyletic: Hodotermitidae, Termopsidae (but see Klass et al, 2000, regarding the Stolotermitinae), Kalotermitidae, and Termitidae.…”

Section: Monophyly Of Familiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Termites and trees: a review of recent advances in termite phylogenetics

Eggleton¹

2001

Insectes soc.

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Modern termite phylogenetics is critically reviewed, with an emphasis on tree topologies as phylogenetic hypotheses. Studies have especially concentrated on (1) the position of Isoptera among the Dictyoptera and (2) the family group relationships within the Isoptera. The first of these problems is still controversial; although the weight of evidence now suggests that termites are nested within the cockroaches, thus making "Blattaria" as presently constituted paraphyletic. The exact position of termites within the cockroaches is uncertain, although Cryptocercus is the most plausible sister group.Family groups relationships are rather better resolved. Mastotermitidae is now generally accepted to be the most basal termite group. Termopsidae, Hodotermitidae and Kalotermitidae are all basal to (Termitidae + Serritermitidae + Rhinotermitidae), although their relative positions within that part of the tree are disputed. Most recent studies support a sister group relationship for Serritermitidae and (Termitidae + Rhinotermitidae). However, no study has yet unambiguously found the Rhinotermitidae monophyletic. The Termitidae are well established as monophyletic and as the most apical termite family. However, within the Termitidae the monophyly of none of the subfamilies is well established, making subfamily level analyses unreliable.A number of problem areas are identified: (1) poor taxon sampling is a universal problem, (2) higher taxonomic groupings are often assumed to be monophyletic a priori without adequate support, (3) datasets are collected from different taxa and character systems without consideration of the overall international effort.

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The male postabdomen of Stolotermes inopinus: a termite with unusually well‐developed external genitalia (Dictyoptera: Isoptera: Stolotermitinae)

Cited by 17 publications

References 18 publications

Death of an order: a comprehensive molecular phylogenetic study confirms that termites are eusocial cockroaches

Death of an order: a comprehensive molecular phylogenetic study confirms that termites are eusocial cockroaches

The evolution of asymmetric genitalia in spiders and insects

Termites and trees: a review of recent advances in termite phylogenetics

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