Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Antennal cropping in the Asian dry-wood termite, Neotermes koshunensis

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Insectes Sociaux Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Antennal cropping, a behavior inferred to exist because queens and kings have shorter antennae than fresh alates, is widespread in termites. However, the proximate and ultimate mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain unclear. We studied the occurrence of antennal cropping in queens and kings of the dry-wood termite Neotermes koshunensis (Kalotermitidae). Observation of the antennal tip structure with scanning electron microscopy and the occurrence of antennal cropping in new kings and queens reared in isolation indicated that self-cropping is an important proximate mechanism. Previous studies inferred that antennal cropping may play a key role in the life-history of alates at the colony-founding stage. However, we also found antennal cropping in adultoid reproductives (secondary reproductives) that had not experienced a colony founding. We propose a new hypothesis that antennal cropping is important for individuals in regulating their physiology when they change from the non-reproducing to the reproducing phase.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abe T. 1987. Evolution of life types in termites. In: Evolution and Coadaptation in Biotic Communities (Kawano S., Connell J.H. and Hidaka T., Eds), University of Tokyo Press, Tokyo, pp 125-148

  • Costa-Leonardo A.M. and Barsotti R.C. 1998. Swarming and incipient colonies of Coptotermes havilandi (Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae). Sociobiology 31: 131-142

    Google Scholar 

  • Heath H. 1903. The habits of California termites. Biol. Bull. 4: 47-63

    Google Scholar 

  • Hewitt P.H., Watson J.A.L., Nel J.J.C. and Schoeman I. 1972. Control of the change from group to pair behavior by Hodotermes mossambicus reproductives. J. Insect Physiol. 18: 143-150

    Google Scholar 

  • Ikehara S. 1966. Distribution of termites in Ryukyu Archipelago. Bulletin of Arts and Science Division, University of the Ryukyus (Mathematics and Natural Sciences) 9: 49-178

  • Katoh H., Matsumoto T. and Miura T. 2007. Alate differentiation and compound-eye development in the dry-wood termite Neotermes koshunensis (Isoptera, Kalotermitidae). Insect. Soc. 54: 11-19

    Google Scholar 

  • Lüscher M. 1961. Social control of polymorphism in termites. R. Entomol. Soc. London. 1: 57-67

    Google Scholar 

  • Mensa-Bonsu A. 1976. The biology and development of Porotermes adamsoni (Froggatt) (Isoptera, Hodotermitidae). Insect. Soc. 23: 155-156

  • Myles T.G. 1999. Review of secondary reproduction in termites (Insecta: Isoptera) with comments on its role in termite ecology and social evolution. Sociobiology 33: 1-91

    Google Scholar 

  • Nalepa C.A., Evans T.A. and Lenz M. 2011. Antennal cropping during colony foundation in termites. ZooKeys 148: 185-196

    Google Scholar 

  • Nel J.J.C. 1968. Aggressive behaviour of the harvester termites Hodotermes mossambicus (Hagen) and Trinervitermes trinervoides (Sjöstedt). Insect. Soc. 15: 145-156

  • Roisin Y. 2000. Diversity and evolution of caste patterns. In: Termites: Evolution, Sociality, Symbioses, Ecology (Abe T., Bignell D.E. and Higashi M., Eds), Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, pp 95-119

  • Watson J.A.L., Nel J.J.C. and Hewitt P.H. 1972. Behavioral changes in founding pairs of the termite Hodotermes mossambicus. J. Insect Physiol. 18: 373-387

    Google Scholar 

  • Weesner F.M. 1969. External anatomy. In: Biology of Termites, Vol. 1 (Krishna K. and Weesner F.M., Eds), Academic Press, New York, pp 19-47

  • Yamamoto Y. and Matsuura K. 2011. Queen pheromone regulates egg production in a termite. Biol. Lett. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2011.0353

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank S. Dobata (PhD of University of Ryukyus) and K. Matsuura (Professor of Kyoto University) who gave us invaluable advice, and H. Iwakiri (Associate Professor of University of Ryukyus) for assistance in using the scanning electron microscope system.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science and Conservation Biology, United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, 890-8580, Japan

    Y. Miyaguni & K. Tsuji

  2. Department of Science Education, Faculty of Education, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, 903-0213, Japan

    K. Sugio

  3. Entomological Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, 903-0213, Japan

    K. Tsuji

Authors
  1. Y. Miyaguni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. K. Sugio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. K. Tsuji
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Y. Miyaguni.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Miyaguni, Y., Sugio, K. & Tsuji, K. Antennal cropping in the Asian dry-wood termite, Neotermes koshunensis . Insect. Soc. 60, 223–229 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00040-013-0286-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00040-013-0286-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation