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Social insects have developed a broad diversity of nesting and foraging strategies. One of these, inquilinism, occurs when one species (the inquiline) inhabits the nest built and occupied by another species (the host). Obligatory inquilines must overcome strong constraints upon colony foundation and development, due to limited availability of host colonies. To reveal how inquilinism shapes reproductive strategies in a termite host‐inquiline dyad, we carried out a microsatellite marker study on Inquilinitermes inquilinus and its host Constrictotermes cavifrons. The proportion of simple, extended and mixed families was recorded in both species, as well as the presence of neotenics, parthenogenesis and multiple foundations. Most host colonies (95%) were simple families and all were monodomous. By contrast, the inquiline showed a higher proportion of extended (30%) and mixed (5%) families, and frequent neotenics (in 25% of the nests). This results from the simultaneous foundation in host nests of numerous incipient colonies, which, as they grow, may compete, fight, or merge. We also documented the use of parthenogenesis by female–female pairs. In conclusion, the classical monogamous colony pattern of the host species suggests uneventful development of simple foundations dispersed in the environment, in accordance with the wide distribution of their resources. By contrast, the multiple reproductive patterns displayed by the inquiline species reveal strong constraints on foundation sites: founders first concentrate into host nests, then must attempt to outcompete or absorb the neighbouring foundations to gain full control of the resources provided by the host nest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Biotropica is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study is aimed to know the termite community of the Kurukshetra through sampling by the random hand-picking method, and identified with the keys given by Roonwal and Chhotani, (1989) and Chhotani (1997). A total of 11 species belonging to two families (Termitidae and Rhinotermitidae), two subfamilies (Macrotermitinae and Coptotermitinae) and three genera (Odontotermes, Microtermes and Coptotermes) were observed. Out of these two species are new records from Kurukshetra i.e. Coptotermes kishori and Odontotermes profeae. Termitidae is the most diverse of the two families, and the study reveals the presence of total of 19 species under five genera, four subfamilies and two families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The family Termitidae is renowned for its diverse nesting behaviors, with the evolution of epigeal and arboreal nests hypothesized to increase desiccation stress due to greater exposure to air. However, these nests may also alleviate desiccation stress through humidity regulation. To explore the implications of acquiring epigeal and arboreal nests, we investigated desiccation tolerance traits in 16 Termitidae termite species with varying nest types and analyzed trait correlations. Principal component analysis revealed that termites constructing epigeal and arboreal nests exhibited reduced water loss rates and enhanced survival under desiccated conditions. Furthermore, termites building arboreal nests displayed a notably higher water content. Redundancy analysis demonstrated that nest types accounted for a substantial portion (57.2%) of the observed variation in desiccation tolerance. These findings support the hypothesis that epigeal and arboreal nests in termites are associated with increased desiccation stress and increased desiccation tolerance. These findings highlight the role of nest type in influencing desiccation tolerance mechanisms and water regulation strategies in termites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Termites are highly abundant and vital insects that directly and indirectly influence local soils. The present study investigated the morphological and molecular phylogenetics of termite species collected from study fields in southern Haryana, India, from 2020 to 2021. Samples were subjected to integrated systematic analyses, taking into account the mandible features of soldiers for morphological systematics and 16S rRNA gene-based phylogeny for molecular systematics. Based on the external phenotype and relations to reference sequences in NCBI GenBank, 21 species were identified; these included five species each from Odontotermes and Microcerotermes, four species from Coptotermes, two species each from Microtermes and Eremotermes, and one species each from Amitermes, Angulitermes, and Neotermes. 16S rRNA gene sequences were utilized to construct phylogenetic trees to explore the relatedness among identified species. The results of the different molecular phylogenetic approaches including maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and neighbor-joining revealed nearly identical topological relations between the species and grouping of individuals in relation to their genera. The maximum parsimony tree based on mandible features has been found to be effective in clustering multiple species of a given genus in a clade in at least three termite genera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In social insects, collective behavior is regulated by substances secreted by various glands of different members of society. In this study, we investigate whether salivary glands of the arboreal termite Nasutitermes corniger (Motschulsky) (Isoptera: Termitidae) contain substances that regulate the intensity of foraging behavior. Foraging arenas of N. corniger nests maintained under laboratory conditions received the addition of two filter paper substrates, one impregnated with salivary gland extract from third‐instar small workers (SW3) (treatment) and the other impregnated with distilled water (control). A similar experiment was conducted using salivary gland extract from fourth‐instar large workers (LW4). Occurrences of initial exploration, mass recruitment, and substrate gnawing behaviors, as well as numbers of recruited and gnawing workers, were recorded. There was a higher rate of mass recruitment to treated substrates than to the control (SW3: 80 vs. 25%; LW4: 90 vs. 25%). Gnawing behavior also occurred at higher rates on treated substrates (SW3: 95 vs. 35%; LW4: 100 vs. 45%). The number of workers recruited to and gnawing on treated substrate was significantly higher than the number of workers recruited to and gnawing on control substrate. The higher rates of worker recruitment, as well as the higher numbers of recruited and gnawing workers, show that salivary glands of last‐instar workers contain substances with arresting and/or phagostimulating pheromonal actions or substances that release compounds with these properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Kirkuk University for Agricultural Sciences is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Research on food finding by pest termites can be used to inform the development of techniques to control their population; however, there is a paucity of information available on the foraging behavior of Nasutitermes corniger, an urban pest in South America. In the present study, we analyzed the effect of the distance between the nest and food on the exploration and recruitment of N. corniger during foraging behavior under laboratory conditions. Nests containing mature colonies were collected in the field and placed in a glass cube connected to a test arena (50.0 × 40.0 cm) in which Eucalyptus grandis blocks were supplied at three different distances: 10, 20 and 30 cm. In each test, the occurrence of the following events were recorded: initial exploitation, initial recruitment, and mass worker recruitment. Individuals in the blocks were counted at the end of each test and divided into the total number of recruited termites, recruited workers, consuming workers and recruited soldiers. Each test lasted 60 minutes and was repeated with 20 colonies. Nasutitermes corniger foragers showed the three behavioral events of interest at all three distances. The occurrences of initial exploitation and initial recruitment, the latency of the three events and the number of foragers were not affected by the distance between the nest and food. The occurrence of mass worker recruitment was the only event affected by this distance, with higher recruitment at shorter distances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microcerotermes diversus Silvestri, is an important termite in Khuzestan province with a broad range of foraging. In recent years, control of underground termites has been more based on the application of chemicals which has increased pest insecticide resistance. In this study, the resistance of different populations of termites to chlorpyrifos was investigated using estimated LC50 and measuring the activity of two acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and glutathione-s-transferase enzymes. Four populations of M. diversus with different histories of organophosphorus insecticide spraying were studied. Populations A (Am Altamir1), B (Am Altamir2), and C (Mollasani) were collected from date palm groves with 30 and 10-year histories of organophosphorus insecticide spraying, as well as without spraying history, respectively. Population D (Ramin University) was collected from orange trees, three weeks after spraying with chlorpyrifos. The bioassay results showed that the highest and lowest LC50 values were observed in populations A and C, respectively. Moreover, the activity of AChE using acetylthiocholine iodide, propionylthiocholine iodide, and butyrylthiocholine iodide substrates was higher in the populations with chlorpyrifos spraying history, with the highest activity in population A. It was also demonstrated that the AChE activity with acetylthiocholine iodide substrate was higher than the activity of this enzyme with butyrylthiocholine iodide and the propionyl choline substrates in the populations with 30 and 10-year history of spraying. The Michaelis constant (Km) and maximum velocity (Vmax) values of AChE as two important kinetic factors, indicated the highest affinity of this enzyme to the substrate in population A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Termites are social insects that invade plantations, agricultural crops, and man-made structures throughout the world. The districts Buner, Haripur, and Swabi belong to different agro-ecological zones and a neglected area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Pakistan: Oriental region) for work on the distribution and identity of termites. Termites were collected and identified morphologically and with DNA barcoding of the COII region. Odontotermes assmuthi, Odontotermes obesus, Odontotermes parvidens, and Odontotermes horai were identified, and a key to the genus Odontotermes of the area was made along with a distribution map. The identified species were found feeding on different forage substrates. Four novel COII sequences were submitted to GenBank. The neglected area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Pakistan: Oriental region), consisting of Buner, Haripur, and Swabi districts, were surveyed for termites during the summer of 2016–2019 for identification and assessment of the distribution of colonies. Collections were made either directly from visible galleries or using traps with ethanol. Soldiers were used for morphometric identification and DNA extraction. Morphometric identification was carried out based on the available literature through measurements of 20 characters/indices and evaluating species differences statistically. Based on these characteristics, we generated a key and a distribution map of the genus Odontotermes for the study area. This is the first record of Odontotermes assmuthi and Odontotermes obesus in these three districts, the first record of Odontotermes parvidens for the Buner and Swabi districts, and the first record of Odontotermes horai for Haripur. We subsequently used barcoding of the mtDNA COII to verify species assignments of colonies and for phylogenetic analyses using Neighbor-Joining and Maximum Likelihood analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of the extract obtained from the Dieffinbachia picta leaves were examined on the termite workers of Microcerotermes diversus using four treatments (T) including 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% by spraying. The results showed mortality rate in the termite workers at different periods of time. T100% recorded the highest mortality rates (8%, 8.67% and 9%) after 24, 48 and 72 hours respectively, while the minimum mortality in the insect workers was recorded at T25% as 1.7%, 2.3% and 3.7% after 24, 48 and 72 hours respectively. According to results of the present study, there is a possible advantage of the toxic properties of D. picta leaves as an alternative and effective plant pesticides for combating the termite of M. diversus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Termites play a major role in a variety of ecological processes in tropical and subtropical biomes worldwide, such as decomposition, soil formation and aeration, and nutrient cycling. These important ecosystem services were achieved through their highly complex societies and remarkable adaptations, including the evolution of reproductive division of labour, the acquisition of endosymbionts and the capacity for extensive environmental engineering, yet the causes and consequences of their ecological success are still poorly understood. The goals of our study were (a) to provide the first complete, species‐level phylogeny of all currently recognized termite species by integrating the available genetic and taxonomic data, as well as methods of phylogenetic imputation and divergence time estimation; and (b) to explore variation in speciation rates among termite lineages. We provide the inferred relationships as a set of 1,000 pseudo‐posterior trees, which can be used in future comparative analyses. We demonstrate that speciation rates have been relatively constant throughout the history of termites, with two positive shifts in speciation rates: one at their origin of Euisoptera and the other concordant with evolution of Termitidae. On the other hand, there was no obvious trend towards deceleration in speciation rates for termites as a whole, nor within the most species‐rich families. The provided trees might represent a valuable resource for termite comparative studies by summarizing the available phylogenetic information, while accounting for uncertainty in the inferred topologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Termites are polyphagous pests causing economic losses to a large number of crops worldwide. Among 3105 species of termites, about 185 species are considered as pests globally. The termites that belong to family Termitidae are known to cause great losses to agricultural and horticultural crops. In India, Odontotermes obesus (Rambur) and Microtermes obesi Holmgren damage crops in both vegetative and reproductive stages, especially wheat, maize, barley, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, fruits, plantations, sugarcane, cotton etc. The damage can lead to almost 100% yield losses, especially if it occurs in early stages of crop growth. Over the past 60 years, many insecticides from several chemical groups have been used for the management of termites globally. But no single method of control provides a permanent solution. Therefore, IPM approaches viz., cultural, mechanical, biological (Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, Steinernema carpocapsae, Heterorhabditis indica, Bacillus theuringiensis, Pseudomonas fluorescens etc.) methods, and botanical extracts must be integrated with insecticides in farmer’s field to reduce termite problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A checklist of termites (Blattodea: Isoptera) of southern India with their distribution is presented in this paper. In total, 132 species from five families are listed, of which Termitidae Latreille, 1802 is the dominant family comprising 101 species from 27 genera and four subfamilies. The recent additions of species to the regional termite diversity are Krishnacapritermes dineshan Amina & Rajmohana, 2020, K. manikandan Amina & Rajmohana, 2020, and Pseudocapritermes kunjepu Mathew, 2020. Out of 132 species recorded from southern India, 60 species and five genera are endemic to the region, and the subfamily Termitinae Latreille, 1802 accounts for maximum endemism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Termites are well recognized by their complex development trajectories, involving dynamic differentiation process between non‐reproductive castes, workers and soldiers. These insects are associated with endosymbiotic microorganisms, which help in lignocellulose digestion and nitrogen metabolism. Aiming to identify genes harbouring biotechnological potential, we analyzed workers and soldiers RNA‐Seq data of three neotropical termites: Heterotermes tenuis (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), Velocitermes heteropterus (Isoptera: Termitidae) and Cornitermes cumulans (Isoptera: Termitidae). We observed differences in the microbiota associated with each termite family, and found protists' genes in both Termitidae species. We found an opposite pattern of caste‐biased gene expression between H. tenuis and the termitids studied. Moreover, the two termitids are considerably different concerning the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Functional annotation indicated considerable differences in caste‐biased gene content between V. heteropterus and C. cumulans, even though they share similar diet and biological niche. Among the most DEGs, we highlighted those involved in caste differentiation and cellulose digestion, which are attractive targets for studying more efficient technologies for termite control, biomass digestion and other biotechnological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium is an essential element for the nervous system of many animals, including termites. This experiment tested different sodium concentrations on rotting wood blocks and cellulose in a pure, powdered state. Nasutitermes corniger termites were collected from a nearby colony. Thirty-eight colonoids were created, which consisted of 10 soldiers and 50 workers each. Each colonoid was kept in a Petri dish with a damp filter. For the first part of the experiment, Seventy-six blocks of wood were cut into pieces of similar mass and dipped into sodium concentrations ranging from 0-10% for 10 seconds. The blocks were placed 1cm apart on the arenas and the termites were left to roam for a certain amount of time. In the second part of the experiment, sodium concentrations ranging from 2-8% were made by mixing with pure, powdered cellulose. The arenas contained all four concentrations this time. It was observed that N. corniger termites do not have a clear sodium preference, however some trends were apparent in both experiments. Further experimentation would be needed to explore these trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early, strategic IPM actions can eradicate relatively new invasive conehead termite [ Nasutitermes corniger (Motschulsky) (Blattodea: Isoptera: Termitidae)] populations, preventing negative economic and ecological consequences should this pest of agriculture, structures, and natural areas become permanently established and spread. Conspicuous foraging tunnels and above-ground nests are key aspects of N. corniger biology that render colonies vulnerable to discovery and elimination. Because the goal is eradication, the termites must be controlled wherever found—structure, yard, park, overgrown lot, orchard, forest, natural area, etc. Effective IPM methods exist to contain, control, and eradicate invasive nasutes. Removing and safely disposing dead plant material and stored wood helps reduce termite food and harborage, enables liquid insecticides to penetrate soil, and facilitates access for inspections. IPM involves a combination of physical interventions including nest destruction teamed with targeted insecticide applications, followed by diligent monitoring. Fumigation is required only in unusual situations. By killing colonies and reducing overall population size, alate (swarmer) dispersal can be reduced or eliminated, thus substantially slowing—with goal of halting—infested zone expansion. This paper details specific approaches, protocols, and recommendations for detection, treatment, transport prevention, and risk-based monitoring. We present practical suggestions regarding outreach, advocacy, partnerships with stakeholders, and networking with informed professionals. All recommendations stem from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' invasive conehead termite program's best practices and lessons learned experiences during significant mitigation progress, with eradication of two populations of invasive coneheads that spread from a single introduction into Florida as an achievable goal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trail-following behavior is a key to ecological success of termites, allowing them to orient themselves between the nesting and foraging sites. This behavior is controlled by specific trail-following pheromones produced by the abdominal sternal gland occurring in all termite species and developmental stages. Trail-following communication has been studied in a broad spectrum of species, but the "higher" termites (i.e. Termitidae) from the subfamily Syntermitinae remain surprisingly neglected. To fill this gap, we studied the trail-following pheromone in six genera and nine species of Syntermitinae. Our chemical and behavioral experiments showed that (3Z,6Z,8E)-dodeca-3,6,8-trien-1-ol is the single component of the pheromone of all the termite species studied, except for Silvestritermes euamignathus. This species produces both (3Z,6Z)-dodeca-3,6-dien-1-ol and neocembrene, but only (3Z,6Z)-dodeca-3,6-dien-1-ol elicits trail-following behavior. Our results indicate the importance of (3Z,6Z,8E)-dodeca-3,6,8-trien-1-ol, the most widespread communication compound in termites, but also the repeated switches to other common pheromones as exemplified by S. euamignathus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungus-growing termites (subfamily Macrotermitinae) cultivate the symbiotic basidiomycete fungus Termitomyces in their fungus comb to digest cellulosic materials and to supply nitrogen-rich fungal diet. In Japan, the fungus-growing termite Odontotermes formosanus is found on the Yaeyama Islands and Okinawa Island, Okinawa Prefecture. Odontotermes formosanus is thought to have been recently and artificially introduced to Okinawa Island as its distribution is discontinuous and restricted to small areas. Previous DNA analyses revealed that two types of Termitomyces, namely Termitomyces sp. Type A and Termitomyces sp. Type B, whose fruiting bodies correspond to Termitomyces microcarpus-like pseudorhiza-lacking small mushroom and Termitomyces intermedius, respectively, are cultivated by O. formosanus on the Yaeyama Islands. However, information about the Termitomyces types cultivated by O. formosanus on Okinawa Island is limited. To define the fungal types cultivated by O. formosanus on Okinawa Island, I developed a diagnostic polymerase chain reaction method using primer sets specific to the nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences consisting of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) and 5.8S rDNA of Termitomyces not using fungal mycelium, but using the termite gut metagenome including fungal DNA as a template. The results indicated that the same two Termitomyces types from Iriomote Island are cultivated by O. formosanus on Okinawa Island. The distribution pattern of Termitomyces types on Okinawa Island showed that Termitomyces sp. Type A is limited to the mountainous side of Sueyoshi Park, despite Termitomyces sp. Type B being widely distributed in the area in which O. formosanus is found. This finding implies that O. formosanus on Okinawa Island was recently introduced from Iriomote Island to Sueyoshi Park. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Termites are eusocial insects having evolved several feeding, nesting and reproductive strategies. Among them, inquiline termites live in a nest built by other termite species: some of them do not forage outside the nest, but feed on food stored by the host or on the nest material itself. In this study, we characterized some dimensions of the ecological niche of Cavitermes tuberosus (Termitidae: Termitinae), a broad-spectrum inquiline termite with a large neotropical distribution, to explain its ecological success. We used an integrative framework combining ecological measures (physico-chemical parameters, stable isotopic ratios of N and C) and Illumina MiSeq sequencing of 16S rRNA gene to identify bacterial communities and to analyse termites as well as the material from nests constructed by different termite hosts (the builders). Our results show that (1) nests inhabited by C. tuberosus display a different physico-chemical composition when compared to nests inhabited by its builder alone; (2) stable isotopic ratios suggest that C. tuberosus feeds on already processed, more humified, nest organic matter; and (3) the gut microbiomes cluster by termite species, with the one of C. tuberosus being much more diverse and highly similar to the one of its main host, Labiotermes labralis. These results support the hypothesis that C. tuberosus is a generalist nest feeder adapted to colonize nests built by various builders, and explain its ecological success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Checklists of species of organisms from defined localities have aided scientists who seek to establish new taxon records therein. This work was carried out to update information on the Checklists of Nigerian Termites published about four decades ago and to reconcile information on richness and diversity of Nigerian termites. Taxonomy-related articles published on Nigerian termites were collated, reviewed and compared with the information contained in the world's most comprehensive termite reference by Krishna et al. (2013) to bring this update forth. Currently, Nigerian termites have increased from the previously reported 120 species in 1980 to 147 species in 66 genera from three taxonomic families - Kalotermitidae, Rhinotermitidae and Termitidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ironwood trees (Casuarina equisetifolia subsp. equisetifolia L.) are ecologically and economically important trees in tropical and subtropical regions of the Indo-Pacific. Ironwood is one of the dominant tree species in Guam, but since 2002, this tree has been declining dramatically. A previous study showed that numerous sick or dead trees were under termite attack. However, the species of termites were not identified. As a first step to investigate causal relationships between termites and ironwood tree death, we assigned termites collected from ironwood trees to species using a combination of morphological characters and DNA barcoding of the 12S, 16S, COI, COII, and ITS2 regions. Based on morphology and comparisons to reference sequences in NCBI GenBank, the most likely species assignments were Nasutitermes takasagoensis (Nawa) (Blattodea: Termitidae) found to infest 45 trees, followed by Coptotermes gestroi (Wasmann) (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae) (2 trees), Microcerotermes crassus Snyder (Blattodea: Termitidae) (2 trees), and an additional unidentified Microcerotermes species (1 tree) with no close sequence match to identified species in NCBI GenBank. However, taxonomic revisions and broader representation of DNA markers of well-curated specimen in public databases are clearly needed, especially for the N. takasagoensis species complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the study conducted at the Kruger National Park in South Africa on species abundance and diversity of termites in a single catena. Mentioned are results of the stabilization of termites' accumulation curves and confidence interval among genera samples. A table is presented on the classification of termite genera in the area under Rhinotermitidae and Termitidae families.

There are more than 2800 different species of termites recognised, till date in the world, out of which 300 are from Indian region. The termites (Isoptera) are important insects from a number of economic and ecological perspectives. Very little work has been done on termites of Haryana. Thirty seven species of Termites belonging to three families (Rhiotermitidae, Kalotermitidae, and Termitidae) have been reported till date from Haryana belonging to eleven genera (Odontotermes, Microtermes, Microcerotermes, Heterotermes, Coptotermes, Trinervitermes, Bifiditermes, Neotermes, Speculitermes, Eremotermes and Angulitermes). As geography of Haryana varies from hills, semi desert, sandy plains to river plains, more number of species should be present. Present study reviews the work done till date on identification of termites in Haryana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several species of millimetric-sized termites across Africa, Asia, Australia, and South America collectively construct large, meter-sized, porous mound structures that serve to regulate mound temperature, humidity, and gas concentrations. These mounds display varied yet distinctive morphologies that range widely in size and shape. To explain this morphological diversity, we introduce a mathematical model that couples environmental physics to insect behavior: The advection and diffusion of heat and pheromones through a porous medium are modified by the mound geometry and, in turn, modify that geometry through a minimal characterization of termite behavior. Our model captures the range of naturally observed mound shapes in terms of a minimal set of dimensionless parameters and makes testable hypotheses for the response of mound morphology to external temperature oscillations and internal odors. Our approach also suggests mechanisms by which evolutionary changes in odor production rate and construction behavior coupled to simple physical laws can alter the characteristic mound morphology of termites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symbiotic bacteria in the termite gut system may play an important role in lignin degradation that can assist the subsequent saccharification process. Pseudocitrobacter anthropi MP-4, which is capable of degrading lignin components and rapidly growing on various lignin analogue dyes, was successfully screened from the gut of a wood-feeding termite Microtermes pakistanicus. Further decolorization tests with this strain showed that the strain MP-4 potentially produced some relevant extracellular enzymes to participate in lignin degradation. The removal rate of chemical oxygen demand by this strain was recorded as high as 52.1% when it was incubated in a mineral-salt medium with lignin as the sole carbon source. For the degrading process of MP-4 on lignin, it was proposed through a series of evaluations by field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy, that the lignin degradation mechanism of the strain MP-4 would primarily include the cleavage of various chemical linkages and the demethylation reactions. This resulted in a change in the S/G ratio and the disappearance of the biphenyl structure in the lignin components. Thus, these findings suggested that the strain MP-4 uniquely presented an attractive capability to deconstruct lignin components from biomass, which may be potentially valuable for a future industrial exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Termites consume substantial amounts of plant material across tropical and subtropical ecosystems. During the process of lignocellulose digestion, the symbiotic methanogenesis within termites' guts produces the potent greenhouse gas methane (CH4). Termites contribute an estimated 1%–5% of global CH4 emissions, with these estimates derived from the product of termite biomass and termite CH4 production rate per unit of termite biomass. However, termite CH4 production rates vary significantly across species, genus, family, and feeding group, yet our understanding of this variation remains poor. Here, we reviewed papers published from 1975 to 2021 to create a single consistently derived list of species‐level termite CH4 production rates. We searched the Google Scholar using two key words: termite and methane. We only included studies that had measured termite CH4 production rates using the incubation method. For each eligible study, we extracted and tabulated termite CH4 production rates and other relevant variables (e.g., feeding groups). We used μg CH4 g−1(termite) h−1 as the standardized unit, and if other units were presented, we converted them into this standardized unit. Overall, these data include 134 termite species from 65 genera and 5 families. Termite CH4 production rates ranged from 0 to 25.26 μg CH4 g−1(termite) h−1, with an average rate of 3.74 (standard deviation = 4.08, n = 251). Reported CH4 production rates were largely concentrated in the family Termitidae. Across feeding groups, soil feeders tended to have higher CH4 production rates than wood feeders. However, published data represent fewer than 5% of described termite species, and therefore we hope that our study will initiate a community‐wide effort to fill data gaps and advance our understanding of the role of termites in critical biogeochemical cycles and other ecosystem processes. The data set is in the public domain under a Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license waiver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Colombiana de Entomología is the property of Universidad del Valle and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Symbiotic digestion of lignocellulose in wood-feeding higher termites (family Termitidae) is a two-step process that involves endogenous host cellulases secreted in the midgut and a dense bacterial community in the hindgut compartment. The genomes of the bacterial gut microbiota encode diverse cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic enzymes, but the contributions of host and bacterial symbionts to lignocellulose degradation remain ambiguous. Our previous studies of Nasutitermes spp. documented that the wood fibers in the hindgut paunch are consistently colonized not only by uncultured members of Fibrobacteres, which have been implicated in cellulose degradation, but also by unique lineages of Spirochaetes. Here, we demonstrate that the degradation of xylan, the major component of hemicellulose, is restricted to the hindgut compartment, where it is preferentially hydrolyzed over cellulose. Metatranscriptomic analysis documented that the majority of glycoside hydrolase (GH) transcripts expressed by the fiber-associated bacterial community belong to family GH11, which consists exclusively of xylanases. The substrate specificity was further confirmed by heterologous expression of the gene encoding the predominant homolog. Although the most abundant transcripts of GH11 in Nasutitermes takasagoensis were phylogenetically placed among their homologs of Firmicutes, immunofluorescence microscopy, compositional binning of metagenomics contigs, and the genomic context of the homologs indicated that they are encoded by Spirochaetes and were most likely obtained by horizontal gene transfer among the intestinal microbiota. The major role of spirochetes in xylan degradation is unprecedented and assigns the fiber-associated Treponema clades in the hindgut of woodfeeding higher termites a prominent part in the breakdown of hemicellulosesc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited studies pertaining to evolutionary history and intraspecific diversity of Macrotermes genus have been carried out by researchers. Such studies are vital as from phylogeny we can understand the origin of species in a particular region. Thus, in this study, we investigated the phylogenetic relationships and genetic diversity among the population of Macrotermes carbonarius around USM campus. Seventeen Macrotermes carbonarius colonies were used to conduct a molecular genotyping study and the mitochondrial (COII) gene was used as marker. The data obtained were analyzed using T-Coffee, Clustal X, Mega 7.0 and DnaSP software programs. Our results show one main monophyletic clade that consists of two groups: HP1 and HP2. The samples from Stadium Hoki were classified in HP2, differing from the other populations studies by one singleton base. Our HP2 shows some similarity with some sequence from Pasoh Forest Reserved Malaysia, suggesting a state diversity connection. The disparity index suggests that all the samples are homogeneous populations, supported by the low value of mean pairwise distance between the samples. This study will serve as a platform for scientific community to enhance the knowledge on the phylogeny and genetic diversity of Macrotermes genus in South East Asia region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Pericapritermes, P. travancorensis sp. nov. (Isoptera, Termitidae, Termitinae), is described from Kerala, India, based on the characters of the king, queen, imago, soldiers, and workers. Morphological measurements of the king, queen, imago, soldiers, and workers are given with suitable illustrations. List of species of the genus Pericapritermes from the Oriental region is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil termiticide treatment by creating a continuous barrier surrounding the structure is one of the means to control termite population and protect structures from termite invasion. However, termiticides may degrade due to several environmental factors such as moisture, temperature and soil pH. Thus, estimation of degradation could provide a useful information on the persistence of the termiticides after application in the soil. In this study, the degradation and half-life of three commercially available termiticides i.e. fipronil, bifenthrin and imidacloprid were examined using UPLC-PDA analysis. All termiticides highly degraded with fipronil being the most persistent termiticide as 1.4% of its residual remained in the soil after 20 months and was consistent over two years of application compared to the other two termiticides. Imidacloprid degraded the most, exhibiting ~98% of degradation in the first month and completely degraded after one year of application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new termitophilous species Scutacarus termitophilus sp. nov. is described from nests of and phoretic on termites, Trinervitermes trinervoides (Sjöstedt, 1911) (Isoptera: Termitidae), from South Africa. The association between mites of the genus Scutacarus and termites is recorded for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungus-growing termites (Macrotermitinae) are important pests in tropical countries. They are difficult to control with existing baiting methods, as chitin synthesis inhibitors are not effectual as active ingredients. We tested two neurotoxins, fipronil and imidacloprid, as potential bait active ingredients against Macrotermes gilvus (Hagen) in Singapore. In laboratory bioassays, M. gilvus showed no preference for doses of 0-64 ppm fipronil, or for doses of 0-250 ppm imidacloprid, indicating no repellence. We tested each insecticide in toilet paper as a bait matrix in a field experiment. After 28 days, termites had eaten 5-13% of the fipronil treated toilet paper, abandoned bait and monitoring stations, contacted no new stations, and repaired poorly their experimentally damaged mounds. Termites ate no imidacloprid treated toilet paper, abandoned bait stations although contacted new stations, and repaired fully their damaged mounds. Termites ate 60-70% of the control toilet paper, remained in bait stations, and fully repaired damaged mounds. After 56 days, all five fipronil colonies were eliminated, whereas all of the imidacloprid and control colonies were healthy. The results suggest that fipronil could be an effective active ingredient in bait systems for fungus-growing termites in tropical countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro efficacy of the combination of entomopathogenic nematodes and non-synthetic insecticides in the control of Nasutitermes spp. (Isoptera: Termitidae). Bioassays were performed upon insect collection from areas with the high incidence of this pest. The experimental arena for insecticide assays consisted of 80-mL plastic containers with a screened cover. We tested six insecticides and the nematode species Heterorhabditidis bacteriophora RS58, Steinernema glaseri RS38, and Heterorhabditis sp. isolates AL39, AL40, AL41, AL42, AL43, AL44, AL46, and AL47, all of which were grown in last-instar larvae of Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). The insecticides Codipirol®, Pure Neem Oil®, and Pyroligneous Acid Extract® caused high mortality in adults of Nasutitermes. The nematode Heterorhabditis sp. AL40 presented a median lethal concentration of 7976 infectious juveniles per adult of Nasutitermes sp. In addition, the mixture of these three non-synthetic products at a concentration of 3% caused complete mortality in Heterorhabditis sp. AL40 and S. glaseri RS38. Future trials should be encouraged in order to evaluate the field efficiency of non-synthetic insecticides mixed or not with entomopathogenic nematodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Termites are major decomposers in tropical regions and play critical roles in many soil-related processes. Studies conducted in Asia and the Neotropics suggest that habitat modification can strongly affect termite assemblages, but data on termite communities from forests in Africa, especially West Africa, are scarce. Here, we measured the short-term impact of slash-and-burn agriculture on termite assemblages in an agricultural region of central Côte d'Ivoire. We assessed termite diversity and relative abundance in four habitat types: secondary forest, cleared forest, burned forest, and crop fields. The secondary forest had higher species richness compared with the other habitats, but all habitat types had similar assemblage structures. Fungus-growing termites were the most abundant feeding group in all habitats. Soil feeders were most abundant in secondary forest, intermediately abundant in cleared and burned forests, and almost entirely absent in crop fields. Wood-feeding species showed clear responses to burning; their abundances decreased after fire. We conclude that slash-and-burn agriculture does not appear to severely erode the diversity of termite assemblages. This could be due to the dominance of ecologically versatile fungus growers or to the relatively long time between clearing and burning. However, forest clearing negatively affects soil feeders, with the Apicotermitinae most affected by canopy loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epigeal termites alter ecosystem-level processes through foraging and mound building. These effects are proportional to density. Whilst much is known about the factors influencing mound density in natural settings, how termites respond to livestock grazing has been overlooked. We compared the characteristics and density ofTrinervitermes trinervoides(Isoptera: Termitidae) mounds in the Karoo (South Africa) within an exclosure and continuously-grazed plot from a >75-year grazing experiment. Specifically, we asked whether long-term livestock grazing impacted (1) termite mound density, volume, basal area and size, (2) mound occupancy and age, (3) vegetation characteristics and (4) soil properties. Long-term grazing increased mound density two-fold. This was coupled with a decrease in mean mound size, an increase in the size of the largest mounds and range of mound sizes, and an increase in the proportion and numbers of young, active mounds. However, these changes did not alter landscape-scale mound basal area or volume. Vegetation was unaffected by long-term grazing but it did cause soil phosphorus, magnesium and calcium depletion. We suggest that livestock grazing provides additional forage resources for termites through litter breakup and dung production, leading to greater mound recruitment and thus densities, whilst allowing mounds to achieve greater maximum size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disjunctitermes insularis gen. n. & sp. n. is described from workers collected on Guadeloupe and in Peru and is the first soldierless termite found on a deep-water island. As with many soldierless and soil-feeding termite species, the enteric valve morphology is an essential diagnostic character of D. insularis. The D. insularis sequence cluster, derived from a barcode analysis with twelve other described genera of New World Apicotermitinae, is well resolved. Results of a stochastic dynamic spread model suggest that the occurrence of D. insularis on Guadeloupe may be the result of a pre-Colombian overwater dispersal event from mainland South America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Nasutitermes is among the most abundant wood-feeding Termitidae and an extremely diverse and heterogeneous group in terms of its biogeography and morphology. Despite the major role of several Nasutitermes species as structural pests, the phylogenetic status of this genus is still unclear, along with a confused taxonomy and species identification remaining difficult. The first aim of this review was thus to gather and discuss studies concerning the taxonomic status of the genus Nasutitermes in order to clarify this crucial point. Then, our goal was to gain new insights into the management of N. corniger, considered to be the most economically detrimental pest of this genus in South America and a Nasutitermes model species, while filtering available information concerning its biology through the prism of termite control, as well as critically examine the existing methods. We indeed strongly believe that increasing our knowledge of this species' biological strategies is the key to progress in the challenging question of their sustainable management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Localities in the Commonwealth of Dominica, an island in the Lesser Antilles, were surveyed for Odontomachus spp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in June 2015. Odontomachus ants, commonly known as trap-jaw ants, have elongated mandibles which they use for capturing prey. Some species within the genus are invasive in the United States, however, little is known about their biology or nesting preferences in the Commonwealth of Dominica. Specimens were collected in nest series and details nesting locality, substrate, and co-habitation with termites (Blattodea: Termitidae) and other formicids were recorded. Two species of Odontomachus were found, most prominently O. bauri Emery, 1892 and, in a single sample, O. ruginodis Smith, 1937. Many Odontomachus colonies were found to be co-habitating in terrestrial termite mounds or rotting wood along with their termitid inhabitants. No Odontomachus spp. were found at elevations higher than 1686 ft above sea level. High resolution images of each species collected are included. The specimens of O. ruginodis that were collected are new records for the Commonwealth of Dominica. Our study provides implications for further biological and ecological studies on Odontomachus, particularly their relationships with other ant species and termites, as well as their distribution throughout the Commonwealth of Dominica and the Caribbean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Termite nests often are referred to as the most elaborate constructions of animals. However, some termite species do not build a nest at all and instead found colonies inside the nests of other termites. Since these so-called inquilines do not need to be in direct contact with the host population, the two colonies usually live in separate parts of the nest. Adaptations of both the inquiline and its host are likely to occur to maintain the spatial exclusion and reduce the costs of potential conflicts. Among them, mutual avoidance, based on chemical cues, is expected. We investigated chemical aspects of cohabitation between Constrictotermes cavifrons (Nasutitermitinae) and its obligatory inquiline Inquilinitermes inquilinus (Termitinae). Inquiline soldiers produce in their frontal glands a blend of wax esters, consisting of the C alcohols (3 Z)-dodec enol, (3 Z,6 Z)-dodecadienol, and dodecanol, esterified with different fatty acids. The C alcohols appear to be cleaved gradually from the wax esters, and they occur in the frontal gland, in soldier headspace, and in the walls of the inquiline part of the nest. Electrophysiological experiments revealed that (3 Z)-dodecenol and (3 Z,6 Z)-dodecadienol are perceived by workers of both species. Bioassays indicated that inquiline soldier heads, as well as the two synthetic compounds, are attractive to conspecific workers and elicit an arresting behavior, while host soldiers and workers avoid these chemicals at biologically relevant amounts. These observations support the hypothesis that chemically mediated spatial separation of the host and the inquiline is an element of a conflict-avoidance strategy in these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grass-feeding termites, Gnathamitermes sp., can be considered beneficial in pastureland, where they aerate topsoil, recycle nutrients from grasses and forbs, and excavate and redistribute soil. The primary objective of this report is to illustrate and determine the average physical dimensions of Gnathamitermes tubiformans soldiers by measuring key body parts, including left mandible length, as well as discuss observed foraging behavior. G. tubiformans soldiers have unique mandibles that can be used for accurate identification. Workers are morphologically similar compared with some other arid-land termite species, thus soldier characteristics are used for identification. The secondary objective is to describe observations of G. tubiformans foraging behavior. This report also provides detailed line drawings and a watercolor illustration for aid in identification. Termites were collected near Temple, Cotton County, Oklahoma, and measured with high precision microscopy. To ensure accurate identification, fourteen different soldier body measurements were determined. The ability to identify termites that are potentially beneficial or detrimental to forage grass biomass production may aid efforts to enhance livestock production on pastures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The termite genus Parvitermes is now recognized on the Central American mainland to include P. mexicanus, new combination (previously in Nasutitermes) and two new species, P. mesoamericanus sp. n. and P. yucatanus sp. n., herein described from soldiers and workers. These three species, nine West Indian Parvitermes, and Antillitermes subtilis all share characteristic enteric valve spines that orientate against intestinal flow. All species are subterranean nesters and cellulose feeders. Evidence is mounting that genericlevel endemicity may be completely absent among the West Indian nasutitermitine fauna and that its origins stem from Central America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three termite species currently placed into Nasutitermes Dudley, 1890 (Isoptera: Termitidae), occurring in Taiwan, N. kinoshitai (Hozawa, 1915), N. parvonasutus (Nawa, 1911), and N. takasagoensis (Nawa, 1911), are redescribed and keyed. The soldier and worker castes of N. kinoshitai are described for the first time. Neotypes are designated for N. parvonasutus and N. takasagoensis. Significant difference in their morphology and gene sequences of mitochondrial 16S rRNA and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) indicate that N. kinoshitai and N. parvonasutus do not belong to Nasutitermes; however, as the genus and several morphologically similar and systematically related genera are in need of revision, currently it is not possible to propose a revised generic placement. Based on 438 colony samples, the distribution pattern, dispersal flight season, polymorphism of soldier and worker castes, and termitophiles of the three species are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Termites are an important component of savannah ecosystems throughout Africa. Despite their importance in the ecosystem, they can be serious pests of structures, houses, rangelands, tropical forestry, and agriculture. For many decades, chemical insecticides have remained popular for termite management worldwide. However, with the growing environmental concerns over pesticides, biological control using entomopathogenic fungi such as Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin has become an often-considered alternative. Metarhizium anisopliae is an ubiquitous, naturally occurring pathogen, which has been reported infecting over 200 insect species; therefore, there is concern that use of M. anisopliae may affect non-target organisms. The effects of M. anisopliae isolate ICIPE 30 were experimentally tested on the ants which associate with Odontotermes spp. termite mounds. Laboratory bioassays were carried out to assess the effects of direct exposure to M. anisopliae on Crematogaster mimosae and Camponotus spp. In addition, ant diversity was monitored over 18 months fromtermite mounds treated with M. anisopliae in situ near the Mpala Research Centre in Laikipia District of central Kenya. Results obtained revealed no effects of direct exposure to M. anisopliae isolate ICIPE 30 on the mortality of C. mimosae (F1 = 7.29, P = 0.0072) or Camponotus spp. (F1 = 13.01, P = 0.0004) in the laboratory. No significant difference in Shannon indices of ant diversity from treated and untreated mounds (F1 = 0.016, P = 0.8989) was found. It is evident that M. anisopliae has no negative effects on ants that are associated with Odontotermes spp. termites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Termites, and in particular species that remove live plant material, play an important role in rangeland deterioration in the arid areas of the world. In the arid parts of southern Africa, where the sparse vegetation is important for subsistence and large-scale game farming, it is vital to understand termite ecology and feeding behaviour. Here, we focus on the termite species, Baucaliotermes hainesi, the most common termite species within its range in the arid interior of southern Africa. We determine B. hainesi foraging and nest maintenance activities, predator response and the preferred food plants. The study was conducted during 2014 in the Nama-Karoo biome of South Africa. We found that Baucaliotermes hainesi is strictly a nocturnal species and that temperature is the most important abiotic determinant of foraging activity. Below 14 °C, no foraging takes place, whilst maximum foraging activity is observed only above 20 °C. Only three plant species are foraged upon, with the grass Stipagrostis uniplumis utilised the most. We suggest that B. hainesi can significantly reduce grass cover, particularly in overgrazed areas and in dry years. Further studies to elucidate the effects of drought, overgrazing and the role of B. hainesi in veld degradation are critical, in particular under future climate scenarios that the predict aridification of B. hainesi habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Termites are hemimetabolous insects that commonly exhibit a bifurcation in post-embryonic development, with the presence of two lines: (i) the nymphal-imaginal line; and (ii) the apterous line. The former comprises the reproductive imagoes of the colonies and their preceding immature stages, whereas the latter is composed of workers, soldiers and their precursors. In this study, we analyzed the developmental pathways of caste differentiation in the Neotropical termite Silvestritermes euamignathus and compared it to the known sibling species, Silvestritermes holmgreni. Our results show that the apterous line is composed of male and female workers without sexual dimorphism and that soldiers are exclusively females. The imaginal line comprises five instars of nymphs, which may develop into either nymphoid neotenics or alates. Similarities found in our study between caste patterns of S. euamignathus and of S. holmgreni suggest a shared evolutionary history in these termite species. Some biological differences between the species are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Termite colonies are typically founded by a pair of sexually reproducing dispersers, which can sometimes be replaced by some of their offspring. Some Reticulitermes and Embiratermes species routinely practice asexual queen succession (AQS): the queen is replaced by neotenic daughters produced by parthenogenesis, which mate with the primary king. Here, to cast light on the evolution of AQS, we investigated another candidate species, Cavitermes tuberosus (Termitinae). Of 95 nests, 39 contained a primary queen and 28 contained neotenic females (2–667 individuals), usually with the primary king. Microsatellite analyses confirmed that colonies were initiated by single pairs after large dispersal flights. More than 80% of the neotenic females were of exclusively maternal origin and completely homozygous, suggesting automictic parthenogenesis with gamete duplication. Conversely, workers, soldiers, and most alates and primary reproductives were produced sexually. AQS often occurs late, after colonies have reached maturity, whereas early AQS in other species may boost the young colony's growth rate. We suggest additional benefits of AQS in C. tuberosus, related with a smaller size, lesser stability and higher mobility of colonies. Our data add to the phylogenetical dispersion and diversity of modalities of AQS in termites, supporting a multiple evolutionary origin of this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Neotropical termite genus Uncitermes Rocha & Cancello, 2012 was known from a single species, U. teevani (Emerson, 1925). In this paper a new species, Uncitermes almeriae sp. n., is described and illustrated from worker and soldier castes, along with observations on the Uncitermes nest. A distribution map with the occurrences of both species is presented. The new species is distinguished from its congener by the presence of short bristles covering the head capsule and frontal tube. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated the efficacy of fipronil baits in suppressing or eliminating field colonies of Microtermes mycophagus (Desneux) (Blattodea: Termitidae) an important subterranean termite pest in Pakistan. We tested two doses (10 and 30 ppm) of fipronil in toilet paper baits, chosen from laboratory repellency tests. We monitored four colonies for foraging activity for one month before baiting, and mapped foraging territories with termites marked with Nile Blue A and agonistic tests. Before the fipronil baits were installed there were averages of 782-1938 workers and soldiers per bait station in the four colonies. After baiting, the colonies were eliminated as there were no workers per bait station, whereas the control colony had an average of 1142 workers per bait station. The three possibly eliminated colonies consumed around 47 mg of fipronil formulation (4.7 mg active ingredient) in 45- 90 days. Our results suggest that baits containing fipronil could provide an economical and feasible alternative for the management of M. mycophagus in structures and buildings in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]