白蚁初期群体的形成及其行为的观察

家白蚁Coptotermes formosanus Skiraki和黑翅土白蚁Odontotermes formosanus(Skiraki)在我国是分布广,为害大的二种重要害虫。家白蚁危害建筑材料、房屋、橡胶、塑料、地下电缆、尼龙等有机合成材料,部分金属和农林作物,危害涉及到国民经济各个部门;而黑翅土白蚁严重地为害堤坝,我国南方各省水库堤坝为害率达53—92％,严重地区发生漏水的占20％,为害农林作物亦很严重。对它们的生物学和生态学特性及防治方法,国内外已有不少研究报道,但对它的生殖行为、孵化、脱皮习性,目前尚少有较系统的资料。因此,本试验试图通过家白蚁和黑翅土白蚁初期群体的形成,进行较详细的观察,为深入探讨白蚁的生物学和生态学特性提供真实依据。     

白蚁排泄甲烷的生态环境效应

白蚁是食木昆虫,群体大,个体数量多,分布面广,是一种危害性很大的昆虫。其食料多为含纤维素的物品,如房屋建筑、公路桥梁、农水设施、木材、农林作物,甚至布匹、纸张等均可遭到蛀蚀,已引起人们广泛重视。白蚁排泄甲烷对生态环境的影响,也逐渐引起各国科学家的关注。     

合肥地区白蚁危害及其防治的研究

白蚁是世界性公害之一。本文首次提出报道自７０年代以来对合肥市白蚁分布,危害状况进行了长期采样,鉴定并着手防治研究,换回了消失,取得显著成效,查明合肥地区白蚁有２科３属９种;摸清白蚁在该地区分布规律及传播途径,其主要危害种为普见家白蚁,圆唇散白蚁和黑胸散白蚁三种。     

福建省龙溪蔗区白蚁发生的种类和防治研究初报

随着丘陵山地植蔗面积的不断扩大,不少新垦蔗园大面积遭受白蚁的严重为害,部分生产队因缺乏防治经验,受害后被迫改种其它作物。为急贫下中农所急、及早排除前进道路上的障碍,近年来我组在龙溪地区进行了一些调查研究,现将初步结果整理如下。     

江苏镇江地区主要白蚁种类分布、危害状况及防治策略

【目的】本文旨在明确镇江市白蚁种类分布、危害状况和防治策略。【方法】本文按照镇江市人口密度和园林绿化分布特点,将全市划分为商住区、工业区、园林区三个主要不同的生态区域。通过2012—2013年两年时间的调查与数据收集,在各生态区域共采集185份白蚁标本。运用传统白蚁形态学分类和现代分子生物学技术相结合的方法,对镇江市白蚁主要危害种类进行了鉴别确认。根据白蚁危害严重程度的不同,将镇江市不同生态区域分为蚁害严重区、较重区、一般区,以此确定镇江市白蚁分布危害的特点。【结果】本研究鉴别确认了镇江市主要白蚁种类为2科4属共7种白蚁,分别为黑翅土白蚁Odontotermes formosanus Shiraki、黄翅大白蚁Macrotermes barneyi Light、台湾乳白蚁Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki、黑胸散白蚁Reticulitermes chinensis Snyder、尖唇散白蚁Reticulitermes aculabialis Tasi et Hwang、圆唇散白蚁Reticulitermes Labralis Hsia et Fan和黄胸散白蚁Reticulitermes flaviceps Oshima。根据镇江市主要白蚁种类危害发生空间生态分布情况,镇江市的白蚁危害面广,各区域都有不同程度发生,其中城中区域白蚁分布最为密集。黑胸散白蚁在各个生态区域均有危害分布,且分布范围最广。三个不同生态区域中,蚁害严重区都集中在商住区,且散白蚁危害较大。园林区多为蚁害较重区,且土白蚁危害比较突出。工业区多为白蚁危害一般区,其散白蚁和土白蚁危害程度基本相同。根据镇江市近5年主要白蚁种群及蚁害发生时间,镇江地区的白蚁危害在全年各个月份都有发生,其危害的高峰期主要集中在4—6月,在5月达到高峰值。【结论】通过系统研究与调查,我们掌握了镇江市的白蚁种类以及主要白蚁种群的生态分布区域,明确了镇江地区白蚁发生的时间规律、区域分布特征及其危害严重程度。以此为基础,本文提出了有针对性的镇江地区食木白蚁综合防治策略,为今后更有效地开展白蚁防治工作,保护珍贵园林树种及古典建筑,进一步提高我国白蚁防治和管理水平提供了有效的科学依据及其防治策略。     

四川省白蚁之研究Ⅱ——成都地区的木鼻白蚁

成都地区位于四川盆地,气候温暖潮湿,木鼻白蚁属(Stylotermes Holmgren)分布较广,近年来作者等在成都地区陆续采集到一批木鼻白蚁属标本,除高道蓉、朱本忠已鉴定一种成都木鼻白蚁Stylotermes chengduensis外,尚有2个新种,兹记述如下。 模式标本保存于中国科学院上海昆虫研究所、成都市白蚁防治研究所、南京市白蚁防治研究所。     

湘潭市白蚁防治研究初探

湘潭市是湖南省白蚁危害地区之一。通过调查,我市发现白蚁近４０种,造成直接经济损失５００多万元,现就近几年在白蚁防治方面所做的研究整理如下。１白蚁防治调查１．１不同药剂诱杀家白蚁的防治效果用白蚁喜食的材料做成诱杀箱,埋放在白蚁经常出没的地方,待诱集到一定数量的白蚁后,用灭蚁灵粉剂或砒粉剂喷杀,其防治效果见表１。１．２不同药剂防治散白蚁的防治效果用氯丹、溴氰菊酯、砷铜合剂全面喷洒蚁害活动区,或用灭蚁灵剂喷入分飞孔内及对危害区域多点喷施,其防治效果见表２。１．３不同药剂防治土栖白蚁的防治效果用氯丹、溴…     

白蚁的分子生物学研究进展

白蚁是危险性社会昆虫,建立安全有效的白蚁防治方法有赖多学科的参与,分子生物学已经成为白蚁研究的重要工具。目前,DNA序列分析方法已应用于白蚁鉴定和分类,其中线粒体基因是最通用的分子标记;基因工程技术成功构建了可用于白蚁防治的白蚁肠道工程菌;Hexamerin、COX Ⅲ、纤维素酶等白蚁功能基因以及白蚁品级分化相关的若干蛋白相继得到了分离和鉴定。文章从白蚁分类、防治、功能基因、品级分化4个方面综述白蚁分子生物学的研究进展,为白蚁的防治提供新的方法和思路。     

桑树白蚁的防治

为害桑树的白蚁,在我省主要是家白蚁Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki,作者防治实践中看到,在历史性家白蚁为害地区,几乎90％古老桑树有蚁巢,它不仅直接蛙食树身,并且常伸展到建筑物上为害。如钟祥县邵台的白蚁在桑树根部营巢,使附近八间民房     

钻孔设饵法防治房屋建筑散白蚁的研究

散白蚁属Reticulitermes的白蚁广布于温带及亚热带地区，是我国分布最广、种类最多的一个属[1,2]。散白蚁能广泛危害房屋建筑，而且近年来在有些地方的危害呈上升趋势[3]。散白蚁由于群体多，每群体的个体数量少，无定型巢居结构，群体受惊易转移等原因，造成防治的困难。散白蚁的防治方法，目前各地多数采用液剂喷洒，即喷洒5％～10％亚砷酸钠、3％～5％五氯酚钢或1％的氯丹水溶液，也有部分地区（武汉、临安）采用喷粉法防治，即喷施灭蚁灵或砷粉。上述两种防治方法除了防治效果欠理想外，还存在对环境污染严重和影响施工人员健康、只能…     

Genetically engineered termite gut bacteria (Enterobacter cloacae) deliver and spread foreign genes in termite colonies

Indigenous gut bacteria of the Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) were used as shuttle systems to deliver, express and spread foreign genes in termite colonies. The gut bacterium Enterobacter cloacae was transformed with a recombinant plasmid (pEGFP) containing genes encoding ampicillin resistance and green fluorescent protein (GFP). In laboratory experiments, termite workers and soldiers from three colonies were fed with filter paper inoculated with transformed bacteria. Transformed bacteria were detected in termite guts by growing the entire gut flora under selective conditions and checking the cultures visually for fluorescence. We demonstrated that (1) transformed bacteria were ingested within a few hours and the GFP gene was expressed in the termite gut; (2) transformed bacteria established a persistent population in the termite gut for up to 11 weeks; (3) transformed bacteria were efficiently transferred throughout a laboratory colony, even when the donor (termites initially fed with transformed bacteria) to recipient (not fed) ratio was low; (4) transformed E. cloacae were transferred into soil; however, they did not accumulate over time and the GFP plasmid was not transferred to other soil bacteria. In the future, transgenic bacteria may be used to shuttle detrimental genes into termite colonies for improved pest control.     

Termite mound emissions of CH4 and CO2 are primarily determined by seasonal changes in termite biomass and behaviour

Termites are a highly uncertain component in the global source budgets of CH₄ and CO₂. Large seasonal variations in termite mound fluxes of CH₄ and CO₂ have been reported in tropical savannas but the reason for this is largely unknown. This paper investigated the processes that govern these seasonal variations in CH₄ and CO₂ fluxes from the mounds of Microcerotermes nervosus Hill (Termitidae), a common termite species in Australian tropical savannas. Fluxes of CH₄ and CO₂ of termite mounds were 3.5-fold greater in the wet season as compared to the dry season and were a direct function of termite biomass. Termite biomass in mound samples was tenfold greater in the wet season compared to the dry season. When expressed per unit termite biomass, termite fluxes were only 1.2 (CH₄) and 1.4 (CO₂)-fold greater in the wet season as compared to the dry season and could not explain the large seasonal variations in mound fluxes of CH₄ and CO₂. Seasonal variation in both gas diffusivity through mound walls and CH₄ oxidation by mound material was negligible. These results highlight for the first time that seasonal termite population dynamics are the main driver for the observed seasonal differences in mound fluxes of CH₄ and CO₂. These findings highlight the need to combine measurements of gas fluxes from termite mounds with detailed studies of termite population dynamics to reduce the uncertainty in quantifying seasonal variations in termite mound fluxes of CH₄ and CO₂.     

Intra- and interspecific comparisons of bacterial diversity and community structure support coevolution of gut microbiota and termite host

We investigated the bacterial gut microbiota from 32 colonies of wood-feeding termites, comprising four Microcerotermes species (Termitidae) and four Reticulitermes species (Rhinotermitidae), using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and clonal analysis of 16S rRNA. The obtained molecular community profiles were compared statistically between individuals, colonies, locations, and species of termites. Both analyses revealed that the bacterial community structure was remarkably similar within each termite genus, with small but significant differences between sampling sites and/or termite species. In contrast, considerable differences were found between the two termite genera. Only one bacterial phylotype (defined with 97% sequence identity) was shared between the two termite genera, while 18% and 50% of the phylotypes were shared between two congeneric species in the genera Microcerotermes and Reticulitermes, respectively. Nevertheless, a phylogenetic analysis of 228 phylotypes from Microcerotermes spp. and 367 phylotypes from Reticulitermes spp. with other termite gut clones available in public databases demonstrated the monophyly of many phylotypes from distantly related termites. The monophyletic "termite clusters" comprised of phylotypes from more than one termite species were distributed among 15 bacterial phyla, including the novel candidate phyla TG2 and TG3. These termite clusters accounted for 95% of the 960 clones analyzed in this study. Moreover, the clusters in 12 phyla comprised phylotypes from more than one termite (sub)family, accounting for 75% of the analyzed clones. Our results suggest that the majority of gut bacteria are not allochthonous but are specific symbionts that have coevolved with termites and that their community structure is basically consistent within a genus of termites.     

广西南宁市园林树木白蚁发生种类及危害情况

2009年311月对南宁市园林树木白蚁为害情况进行了调查。结果表明,台湾乳白蚁Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki是危害园林树木的优势种;调查的57种树木中,45种树木受到了白蚁的侵害,占总数的78.95%,树木受害株率达13.11%,严重受害株率为1.66%。银桦、侧柏和樟树等树种受白蚁危害最为严重。     

Termite damage to maize grown in agroforestry systems, traditional fallows and monoculture on nitrogen-limited soils in eastern Zambia

Abstract 1 Termites cause significant damage to maize and other crops in southern Africa. Several studies were conducted with the objective of determining the difference in termite damage to maize in various land use systems between monoculture maize, maize grown using traditional fallows and improved fallows. 2 In an experiment conducted at four sites on noncoppicing fallows, maize planted after Tephrosia candida 02971 fallows had lower termite damage compared with fully fertilized monoculture maize. However, the termite suppression was not low enough to warrant rotation of noncoppicing fallows for termite management.. 3 In four experiments comparing termite damage to maize grown in monoculture and in coppicing fallows, fully fertilized monoculture maize had a higher percentage of lodged plants compared with maize grown in pure Leucaena leucocephala, Gliricidia sepium and Acacia anguistissima fallows or in a mixture of A. anguistissima + Sesbania sesban or Tephrosia vogelii + S. sesban. 4 More than 50–75% of the variance in maize yield was explained by preseason inorganic nitrogen and termite damage. However, termite damage to maize was not influenced by inorganic nitrogen, which represents nitrogen readily available to maize. The decomposition rate of biomass (related to lignin + polyphenol to nitrogen ratio) and water retention under fallows also appeared to influence termite damage. 5 It is concluded that maize grown in L. leucocephala, G. sepium, A. anguistissima and S. sesban fallows suffers less termite damage and produces maize yields comparable with conventionally tilled and fully fertilized monoculture maize.     

Geophagic termite mounds as one of the resources for African elephants in Ugalla Game Reserve,Western Tanzania

Knowledge of the distribution and nutrient values of key resources supporting the survival of wildlife species is integral for an effective conservation planning and management of the species. In the Miombo ecosystem of the Ugalla Game Reserve, African elephants (Loxodonta africana Blumenbach 1797), eat soil, that is geophagy, from certain termite mounds. We mapped that all the geophagic termite mounds are exclusively situated in the flood plain. To understand why soils from some termite mounds are eaten, we collected and analysed soil samples from 10 geophagic termite mounds, seven nongeophagic termite mounds and 13 samples from the surrounding flood plain. Percentage of clay content did not differ significantly among the soil samples. Soils from geophagic termite mounds were richer in mineral elements compared with other soil samples. The results demonstrate that the driver for geophagic behaviour is related to rich mineral element contents found in geophagic termite mounds made of the mineral‐enriching termites (Macrotermes). Thus, geophagic termite mounds play a role in elephant's dietary needs and possibly influence their movement patterns in Ugalla, as the elephants cannot obtain enough minerals from their feeds. Geophagic termite mounds should be protected from potential destructive land uses, such as airstrip construction.     

Termite- and Mulch-Mediated Rehabilitation of Vegetation on Crusted Soil in West Africa

The rehabilitation of vegetation on structurally crusted soils by triggering termite activity through mulch was studied on three soil types in northern Burkina Faso, West Africa. A split-plot design was used in a fenced environment for the experiment. Insecticide (Dieldrin) was used at a rate of 500 g a.i. (active ingredient)/ha to create nontermite and termite plots. Three mulch types consisting of straw (Pennisetum pedicellatum), woody material (Pterocarpus lucens), and a composite mulch (straw and woody material) applied at a rate of 3, 6, and 4 tons/ha, respectively, were used to trigger termite activity. The grasses and woody species on the plots were surveyed. Nontermite plots responded weakly to mulch treatments, but even in the first year vegetation established on termite + mulch plots. Termite activity resulted in the increase of plant cover, plant species number, phytomass production, and rainfall use efficiency. Infiltrated water use efficiency and plant diversity were not statistically different among treatments during the first 2 years but were in the third. Woody species established only on termite plots. The three types of mulch plots showed greater vegetation development than bare plots, which remained bare throughout the experiment. Analysis of the termite and mulch interaction indicated that mulch plots without termites did not perform better than bare plots, especially in the case of woody plant regeneration. Vegetation rehabilitation was best with composite and straw mulches with termites, followed by woody mulch with termites; it was worst on bare plots.     

Intra- and Interspecific Comparisons of Bacterial Diversity and Community Structure Support Coevolution of Gut Microbiota and Termite Host

We investigated the bacterial gut microbiota from 32 colonies of wood-feeding termites, comprising four Microcerotermes species (Termitidae) and four Reticulitermes species (Rhinotermitidae), using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and clonal analysis of 16S rRNA. The obtained molecular community profiles were compared statistically between individuals, colonies, locations, and species of termites. Both analyses revealed that the bacterial community structure was remarkably similar within each termite genus, with small but significant differences between sampling sites and/or termite species. In contrast, considerable differences were found between the two termite genera. Only one bacterial phylotype (defined with 97% sequence identity) was shared between the two termite genera, while 18% and 50% of the phylotypes were shared between two congeneric species in the genera Microcerotermes and Reticulitermes, respectively. Nevertheless, a phylogenetic analysis of 228 phylotypes from Microcerotermes spp. and 367 phylotypes from Reticulitermes spp. with other termite gut clones available in public databases demonstrated the monophyly of many phylotypes from distantly related termites. The monophyletic “termite clusters” comprised of phylotypes from more than one termite species were distributed among 15 bacterial phyla, including the novel candidate phyla TG2 and TG3. These termite clusters accounted for 95% of the 960 clones analyzed in this study. Moreover, the clusters in 12 phyla comprised phylotypes from more than one termite (sub)family, accounting for 75% of the analyzed clones. Our results suggest that the majority of gut bacteria are not allochthonous but are specific symbionts that have coevolved with termites and that their community structure is basically consistent within a genus of termites.     

Termite mounds differ in their importance for herbivores across savanna types,seasons and spatial scales

Herbivores do not forage uniformly across landscapes, but select for patches of higher nutrition and lower predation risk. Macrotermes mounds contain higher concentrations of soil nutrients and support grasses of higher nutritional value than the surrounding savanna matrix, attracting mammalian grazers that preferentially forage on termite mound vegetation. However, little is known about the spatial extent of such termite influence on grazing patterns and how it might differ in time and space. We measured grazing intensity in three African savanna types differing in rainfall and foliar nutrients and predicted that the functional importance of mounds for grazing herbivores would increase as the difference in foliar nutrient levels between mound and savanna matrix grasses increases and the mounds become more attractive. We expected this to occur in nutrient‐poor areas and during the dry season when savanna matrix grass nutrient levels are lower. Tuft use and grass N and P content were measured along transects away from termite mounds, enabling calculation of the spatial extent of termite influence on mammalian grazing. Using termite mound densities estimated from airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR), we further upscaled field‐based results to determine the percentage of the landscape influenced by termite activity. Grasses in close proximity to termite mounds were preferentially grazed at all sites and in both seasons, but the strength of mound influence varied between savanna types and seasons. In the wet season, mounds had a relatively larger effect on grazers at the landscape scale in the nutrient‐poor, wetter savanna, whereas in the dry season the pattern was reversed with more of the landscape influenced at the nutrient‐rich, driest site. Our results reveal that termite mounds enhance the value of savanna landscapes for herbivores, but that their functional importance varies across savanna types and seasons.     

Valuation of efficacy and nonrepellency of indoxacarb and fipronil-treated soil at various concentrations and thicknesses against two subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

The efficacy and nonrepellency of indoxacarb (150 SC, 150 g [AI]/liter) and fipronil (Termidor SC, 9.1% [Al]) against field-collected eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), and the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, were evaluated for mortality and penetration into treated soil in laboratory glass tube bioassays. Both insecticides were tested at five concentrations (0, 1, 10, 50, and 100 ppm) and two thicknesses (20 and 50 mm) of treated soil. Indoxacarb caused significantly greater mortality than controls at all treatment thicknesses of > or = 10 ppm, but not at 1 ppm. Concentration and treatment thickness of indoxacarb significantly affected termite mortality. Eastern subterranean termites were significantly more susceptible to indoxacarb than Formosan subterranean termites, but there were no intercolony differences in either species. Termites completely penetrated through all treatment thickness of indoxacarb-treated soil at all concentrations, except one of the six Formosan subterranean termite replicates of 50 mm at 50 ppm, when all termites were killed before tunneling through the treated soil. Fipronil resulted in significantly faster and greater termite mortality than indoxacarb at corresponding concentrations. Concentration and treatment thickness of fipronil also significantly affected termite mortality. There was no intercolony difference in susceptibility to either insecticide in either termite. Both termite species completely penetrated 20-mm treatments of all tested fipronil concentrations, as well as 50-mm soil treated with fipronil at < or = 10 ppm. At 50 and 100 ppm fipronil, termites tunneled only a mean of 87 +/- 0.21 and 47 +/- 0.18% deep into 50-mm treated soil, respectively, before death. Both insecticides demonstrated a delayed mode of activity and nonrepellency against the two termite species.