Resolving relationships in some African fungus-growing termites (Termitidae, Macrotermitinae) using molecular phylogeny, morphology, and field parameters

The Macrotermitinae are a large and successful subfamily of fungus-growing termites, characterised by their symbiotic association with white-rot fungi of the genus Termitomyces. The taxonomy of the subfamily, and in particular of the largest genus Odontotermes, is problematic. We used sequences of the mitochondrial 16S gene from termites occurring in East Africa and Malawi to explore the phyletic relationships within the genus Odontotermes and to place the genus in the broader context of other fungus-growing termites. We also interpret this phylogeny in relation to classical morphological taxonomy in the form of absolute and relative dry weights of the sterile castes, and in relation to innate behaviour as shown by nest architecture and fungus comb structure. This work lays the foundations of a complete taxonomic revision of the Macrotermitinae. The phylogeny supports one clear subdivision, here called the “tanganicus” group, within the genus Odontotermes. It also supports the significance of field observations on the structure of fungus combs, as the whole “tanganicus” group builds fungus combs of the sponge type (or modified forms thereof) which are hardly known elsewhere. Other phyletic relationships are less clear, the residual sequences being referred to as the “latericius” group. We recognise three probable miniature species within the “tanganicus” group and another possible one in the residual “latericius group”. Received 16 January 2007; revised 30 October 2007 and 11 March 2008; accepted 4 April 2008.     

Microtermes aethiopicus sp.n., a fungus-growing termite (Isoptera: Termitidae: Macrotermitinae) from Ethiopia

Abstract Microtermes aethiopicus , a new species of fungus-growing termite (Macrotermitinae), is described from Ethiopia, where it is widespread in the central, southern and western provinces. It is distinguished from other Microtermes spp. by the soldiers' possession of distinct mandibular teeth.     

On the elevated intestinal pH of higher termites (Isoptera: Termitidae)

Summary The pH of the gut contents was measured in 52 species of higher termites (Termitidae), representing 36 genera in all four subfamilies. A statistically significant trend was shown from lower termites with low mean gut pH through to the Termitinae with higher mean gut pHs. Elevation of the pH occurred principally in the first and third proctodaeal segments, reaching values as high as 10.5 in 8 soil-feeding genera and 1 wood-feeding genus of Termitinae. Elevation of gut pH within the Termitidae appears to be independent of the general nature of the feeding substrate.     

Intraspecific interactions in a community of arboreal nesting termites (Isoptera: Termitidae)

In coconut plantations of northern New Guinea, the arboreal nesting termite community comprises three species:Nasutitermes princeps, N. novarumhebridarum, andMicrocerotermes biroi. In orde to assess the importance of intraspecific interactions in this community, we conducted pairwise encounters between batches of individuals in the laboratory and between entire nest populations in seminantural conditions. Three levels of agonism were defined in laboratory bioassays: anagonism, moderate agonism, and strong agonism. Anagonism was observed during all control tests with homocolonical groups and in some tests with allocolonial groups of all species. Moderate agonism included initial aggressiveness that subsequently faded out, and initially passive encounters where aggression progressively built up and led to fighting. Strong agonism corresponded to initial aggressiveness and fighting. Results obtained in alboratory bioassays were consistent with bioassays in seminatural conditions. WhenNasutitermes colonies were anagonists in laboratory bioassays, their foraging trails merged without aggression in field tests.N. princeps nests that were moderately agonistic in laboratory tests fought and either continued to avoid each other or finally joined after elimination of the most aggressive individuals. The most aggressiveM. biroi andN. princeps colonies fought and their foraging trails diverged afterward. Direct attacks on alien nests were winnessed inM. biroi. In all species, anagonism occurred in 21–34% of the combinations tested, between either geographically close or distantcolonies. An exeption was a group of 112 anagonist nests ofN. princeps, which most probably constituted a supercolony. The level of agonism betweenNasutitermes colonies was constant during the wet and dry season. Termite colonies excluded each other, both intra- and interspecifically, from the coconut trees, and their territories seem distributed in a mosaic pattern. Agonism between colonies may result in the elimination of the weakest colonies or in trail divergence, maintaining this mosaic. In cotrast, lack of agonism between some colonies suggests the possibility of colony fusion and gene exchanges without nuptial flights.     

Intraspecific aggression, colony identity and foraging distances in Sudanese Microtermes spp. (Isoptera: Termitidae: Macrotermitinae)

Abstract. 1. Intraspecific aggression between termite major workers was used to obtain estimates of foraging distances for three Microtermes species in Sudan.
2. Maximum foraging distance recorded for M. sp. nr albopartitus (Sjöstedt) in Khartoum was 11.3 m, giving an estimated minimum colony area of 100 m². This is probably an underestimate. In the Tokar Delta, individuals from single colonies of M. najdensis Harris were encountered up to 42 m apart, giving a colony area of 1390 m².
3. Intraspecific aggression could not be used reliably to distinguish members of different colonies of M. lepidus Sjöstedt. Soil barrier formation between groups of workers in petri dishes may be of use as a supplementary technique, especially for species showing no clear aggression.
4. Experiments on isolated laboratory colonics of M. sp. Nr lepidus Sjöstedt, established from alates collected in Khartoum, further confirmed the value of inter-colony aggression for indicating colony identity.
5. The complications introduced into estimation of subterranean termite foraging areas by overlap and interdigitation of colonies are discussed.     

Development of physogastry in the queen of the fungus-growing termite Macrotermes michaelseni (Isoptera: Macrotermitinae)

Female reproductives of the fungus-growing termite Macrotermes michaelseni never showed signs of physogastry if they were kept in petri dishes to establish an incipient colony. During the 200 days of observation, their corpora allata volume, juvenile hormone titre and number of active ovarioles remained on a more or less constant level, and their gut was filled with soil. In contrast, these parameters are enhanced in partially and especially in fully physogastric queens, and these females had only a transparent liquid in the gut.Application of the juvenile hormone mimic ZR 515 to young females accelerated yolk incorporation, increased the number of active ovarioles and brought about the release of the soil from the gut. The same changes were induced by adding workers to increase the population of incipient colonies from about 45 to 400. This also resulted in an increase of the corpus allatum volume and of the juvenile hormone titre in young females. Their intestine was in this case filled with transparent liquid associated with the increased population of workers. It was, therefore, concluded that the development of physogastry depends on a positive feedback: the more workers are with the young female, the more nutrients are available and the more juvenile hormone the female produces, the more eggs are laid and the more workers can again develop to nurture the queen.     

Experimental manipulation of termites (Isoptera,Macrotermitinae) foraging patterns in a Sahelo-Sudanese savanna: effect of litter quality

Summary The foraging pattern of four sympatric fungus-growing termite species was followed for five months of the dry season in a semi-arid savanna (Senegal). Experimental plots were established with and without termites (exclusion with insecticide) and amended with different litter quality: Acacia leaves, millet canes, ground millet (<500 µm), Combretum wood and cattle manure. Results showed different foraging patterns between the fungus-growing species. Odontotermes nilensis, for example, rapidly developed its foraging activity on the litter. In contrast, Macrotermes subhyalinus delayed its foraging activity but, extensively collected the food after its discovery. Differences in food preference were evident between the termite species: Odonto-termes nilensis foraged preferentially on millet, canes and Acacia leaves, Macrotermes subhyalinus preferred cane and ground millet. Ancistrotermes guineensis selected the millet, and Microtermes sp. was mostly recorded foraging on pieces of dead wood. Relationships between different foraging parameters were established to assess the relative intensity of this activity over the dry season. The comparison between untreated plots and plots treated with Fipronil® (Aventis) clearly demonstrated that the exclusion of termites from part of the savanna is possible and that this possibility can be used to study their role on the soil and organic matter cycle in situ.     

Microsatellite markers in soil‐feeding termites (Cubitermes subarquatus,Isoptera, Termitidae,Termitinae)

Seven microsatellite markers were isolated from Cubitermes subarquatus belonging to the soil‐feeding termite trophic group that plays a key role in tropical rain forests. A variability study performed by using a population of C. subarquatus (n = 73) sampled in the La Lopé forest reserve (Gabon) from 42 nests revealed from 4 to 12 alleles per locus and an heterozygosity from 0.28 to 0.84. Tests for cross‐species amplification realized in the sympatric C. intercalatus and in eight other sympatric termite genera indicated a wider application of the primers isolated from Cubitermes in soil‐feeding termites.     

The termites of Early Eocene Cambay amber, with the earliest record of the Termitidae (Isoptera)

The fauna of termites (Isoptera) preserved in Early Eocene amber from the Cambay Basin (Gujarat, India) are described and figured. Three new genera and four new species are recognized, all of them Neoisoptera – Parastylotermes krishnai Engel & Grimaldi, sp. n. (Stylotermitidae); Prostylotermes kamboja Engel & Grimaldi, gen. et sp. n. (Stylotermitidae?); Zophotermes Engel, gen. n., with Zophotermes ashoki Engel & Singh, sp. n. (Rhinotermitidae: Prorhinotermitinae); and Nanotermes isaacae Engel & Grimaldi, gen. et sp. n. (Termitidae: Termitinae?). Together these species represent the earliest Tertiary records of the Neoisoptera and the oldest definitive record of Termitidae, a family that comprises >75% of the living species of Isoptera. Interestingly, the affinities of the Cambay amber termites are with largely Laurasian lineages, in this regard paralleling relationships seen between the fauna of bees and some flies. Diversity of Neoisoptera in Indian amber may reflect origin of the amber deposit in Dipterocarpaceae forests formed at or near the paleoequator.     

Parasitism of subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae: Termitidae) by entomopathogenic nematodes (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae; Heterorhabditidae)

In laboratory bioassays, Steinernema riobrave Cabanillas, Poinar and Raulston (355 strain), Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser) (Mexican 33 strain), Steinernemafeltiae (Filipjev) (UK76 strain), and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar (HP88 strain) were all capable of infecting and killing three termite species, Heterotermes aureus (Snyder), Gnathamitermes perplexus (Banks), and Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) in laboratory sand assays. S. riobrave and S. feltiae caused low levels of Reticulitermes virginicus (Banks) mortality under the same conditions. At 22 degrees C, significant mortality (> or = 80%) of worker H. aureus and G. perplexus was caused by S. riobrave, in sand assays, indicating the need for further study. Because of the short assay time (3 d maximum), reproduction of the nematodes in the target host species was not recorded. All nematode species were observed to develop to fourth-stage juveniles, preadult stages, or adults in all termite species with the exception of R. virginicus. Only S. riobrave developed in R. virginicus. Nematode concentration and incubation time had significant effects on the mortality of worker H. aureus. S. riobrave consistently generated the highest infection levels and mortality of H. aureus in sand assays.     

Confirmation of soil-feeding termites (Isoptera; Termitidae; Termitinae) in Australia using stable isotope ratios

1. Carbon (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) stable isotope ratios of termites (Isoptera) were examined in Darwin, northern Australia. It is suggested that the stable isotope technique, together with phylogenetics, is a useful tool to understand the evolution of functional groups in detritivores.
2. A high δ¹⁵N value was observed in the Termes-Capritermes branch of the subfamily Termitinae and the genus Amitermes , two distinct taxonomic groups that evolved from wood-feeding to soil-feeding in Australia. Among eight Termes-Capritermes branch species, only two species ( Xylochomitermes melvillensis and Ephelotermes melachoma ) were discernible as wood/soil interface feeders, the remaining six species analysed were soil-feeders, where the diet preference was identified by using δ¹⁵N of workers.
3. The Termes-Capritermes group in Australia contains both wood/soil interface feeders and soil-feeders, whereas wood/soil interface feeders in Cameroon are from the Termes-Capritermes branch while soil-feeders are from Cubitermes group. The result confirmed that soil-feeding forms evolved both in Australia and Africa, but from different phylogenetic groups.     

Sex-pairing pheromone of Ancistrotermes dimorphus (Isoptera: Macrotermitinae)

Ancistrotermes dimorphus is a common Macrotermitinae representative, facultative inquiline by its life-style, occurring in South-East China. Sex pheromone is used for couple formation and maintenance, and it is produced by and released from the female sternal gland and is highly attractive to males. Based on our combined behavioral, chemical and electrophysiological analyses, we identified (3Z,6Z)-dodeca-3,6-dien-1-ol as the female sex pheromone of A. dimorphus as it evoked the tandem behavior at short distance, and the active quantities ranged from 0.01 ng to 10 ng. Interestingly, GC–MS analyses of SPME extracts showed another compound specific to the female sternal gland, (3Z)-dodec-3-en-1-ol, which showed a clear GC-EAD response. However, this compound has no behavioral function in natural concentrations (0.1 ng), while higher amounts (1 ng) inhibit the attraction achieved by (3Z,6Z)-dodeca-3,6-dien-1-ol. The function of (3Z)-dodec-3-en-1-ol is not fully understood, but might be linked to recognition from sympatric species using the same major compound, enhancing the long-distance attraction, or informing about presence of other colonies using the compound as a trail-following pheromone. The sternal gland secretion of Ancistrotermes females contains additional candidate compounds, namely (3E,6Z)-dodeca-3,6-dien-1-ol and (6Z)-dodec-6-en-1-ol, which are not perceived by males’ antennae in biologically relevant amounts.     

Evaluation of different woods against fungus-growing termite Odontotermes obesus (Rambur) (Blattodea: Termitidae: Macrotermitinae) for use in bait stations

Fungus-growing termites are important pests in buildings and agriculture in Pakistan and are difficult to control with existing bait systems. Development of bait systems requires the knowledge of foraging behavior of termite species. Behavior of foraging workers depends upon the quality and quantity of the food placed in the bait stations. In the current study, we tested 16 different woods (of varying density) for their susceptibility to an important fungus-growing termite, Odontotermes obesus (Rambur). The aim was to find a highly susceptible wood for use in bait stations. The woods were evaluated in no-choice and choice feeding experiments in the field by mass loss and visual ratings to the termites. Statistically significant differences were recorded (P?<?.001). Woods having low density were preferred to high density woods. Highest mass losses (%) were recorded from Ficus religiosa (86.49–87.8%), Bombax malabaricum (86.53–88.43%) and Populus euramericana (75.62–76.31%) in both no-choice and choice tests under “very heavy attack (almost collapsed) to completely consumed” visual rating category. The woods having least mass losses were Albizia lebbeck heartwood (7.03–9.91%), Syzygium cumini (14.25–19.89%) and Dalbergia sissoo heartwood (14.35–24.88%) and had “slightly to superficial attack” with minimum rating values. Ficus religiosa, B. malabaricum and P. euramericana appear suitable woods for use in bait stations for fungus-growing termites.     

Ergatoid reproductives in Nasutitermes columbicus (Isoptera,Termitidae)

Numerous functional ergatoid replacement reproductives were found in one colony of Nasutitermes columbicus in Panama. Their morphology was mainly workerlike, although several imaginal characters such as the compound eyes and variable wing buds were more or less developed. The sex organs were fully mature and the fat body of the females, not of the males, was of the “royal” type. The development of the eyes was not accompanied by the differentiation of the optic lobes of the brain, nor was the presence of wing buds correlated with a development of the wing muscles.