Summary
Eggs removed from mature field-colonies ofNasutitermes exitiosus and reared in the laboratory by small groups of workers and soldiers, isolated from another field-colony two months before, developed not only into workers but also into nymphs. The incidence of nymphal development depended on the donor-colony, not on laboratory culture conditions, indicating that the outcome of the first larval moult is determined before the egg is laid, presumably by maternal influence.
Zusammenfassung
Aus Eiern aus reifenN. exitiosus Freilandkolonien, die im Labor von kleinen Gruppen aus Arbeitern und Soldaten aufgezogen wurden, welche zwei Monate früher aus einer anderen Feldkolonie isoliert worden waren, entwickelten sich nicht nur Arbeiter, sondern auch Nymphen.
Die Rate der entstandenen Nymphen war von der Geberkolonie und nicht von den Haltungsbedingungen im Labor abhängig. Dies ist ein Hinweis dafür, dass die nach der ersten Larvalhäutung in Erscheinung tretende Kastenausprägung bereits im Ei veranlagt wird, wahrscheinlich unter mütterlichem Einfluss.
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Watson, J.A.L., Abbey, H.M. Maternal determination of reproductivevs sterile castes inNasutitermes exitiosus (Hill) (Isoptera: Termitidae). Ins. Soc 34, 291–297 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02224361
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02224361