台湾乳白蚁与赭黄乳白蚁的异名关系---基于形态与分子特征的分析(等翅目：鼻白蚁科）

乳白蚁属Coptotermes是鼻白蚁科Rhinotermitidae最具经济意义的属之一,其中的台湾乳白蚁Coptotermes formosanus Shriaki分布广、适应性强,个体在不同种群以及不同巢龄间外部形态存在明显变异,已报道多个同物异名。本研究发现在模式产地重新采集到经形态学鉴定为赭黄乳白蚁Coptotermes ochraceus Ping et Xu的标本,其形态特征与台湾乳白蚁相似度较高,又以线粒体16S rRNA和CO II基因作为分子标记,将两者进行了序列比对,并与美国国立生物技术信息中心(NCBI)中台湾乳白蚁以及其他一些乳白蚁种类的相应序列一起进行了遗传差异比较和同源性分析。结果表明,台湾乳白蚁与赭黄乳白蚁16S rRNA和CO II序列的遗传差异均明显小于台湾乳白蚁与属内其它种之间的差异;在基于两种分子标记构建的支序图中,台湾乳白蚁和赭黄乳白蚁均聚为一支,并得到了很高的自展支持率。综合分子和形态两方面的证据,本研究建议赭黄乳白蚁为台湾乳白蚁的次异名。     

四种白蚁的线粒体DNA限制性片段长度多态性研究（等翅目：鼻白蚁？…

用６种限制性内切酶分析了４种白蚁的线粒体ＤＮＡ限制性片段长度多态性,根据限制性片段差异计算了４种白蚁之间的遗传距离,利用ＵＰＧＭＡ聚类分析法构建了分子聚类图。结果表明：尖唇异白蚁与散白蚁属关系很近,聚类分析结果显示应将其归于散白蚊属。     

台湾乳白蚁和黄胸散白蚁对三种饵剂的嗅觉行为反应

利用“Y”型嗅觉仪,测定了台湾乳白蚁Coptotermesformosanus和黄胸散白蚁Reticulitermesflaviceps对灭蚁灵,氟虫胺,氟铃脲等3种饵剂在不同浓度下的嗅觉行为反应。结果表明2种白蚁对0. 2 5和0 . 5 %灭蚁灵;0 .2 5 ,0 .75和1 %氟虫胺;0 . 5 %氟铃脲均具有明显的趋性,且趋性差异不显著。因此,可将氟虫胺及氟铃脲作为灭蚁灵的替代品来防治白蚁。此外,台湾乳白蚁对1 %灭蚁灵,0 . 5 %氟虫胺,1 %氟铃脲具忌避性;而黄胸散白蚁对0 . 75和1 %灭蚁灵;0. 2 5 ,0. 75和1 %氟铃脲具忌避性,表明2种白蚁对饵剂的嗅觉反应既有相似性,又有不同点;台湾乳白蚁产生趋性的饵剂浓度大于黄胸散白蚁。因此用饵剂防治白蚁时,需根据不同种类的白蚁,采用不同的浓度进行防治。     

黑胸散白蚁和台湾乳白蚁对镇江地区几种常见木材品种的取食偏好性研究

【目的】本文研究了黑胸散白蚁Reticulitermes chinensis和台湾乳白蚁Coptotermes formosanus对镇江几种常见木材树种的取食偏好性,分析了白蚁种类和木材品种对白蚁取食偏好性和死亡率的影响,以期为本地区白蚁治理及预防提供科学依据。【方法】采取白蚁非选择性取食试验,研究两种白蚁分别取食香樟Cinnamonum campora、银杏Ginkgo biloba、水杉Metasequoia glyptostrodoides、垂柳Salix babylonica、广玉兰Magnolia grandiflora、枇杷树Eriobotrya japonica、马尾松Pinus massoniana 7种树种食料的取食偏好和死亡率,取食偏好采用白蚁取食率,即每克白蚁每天取食量(mg)评价。试验数据采用多因素方差分析。【结果】方差分析结果表明,白蚁种类和不同木材对白蚁取食率和死亡率均影响显著。在供试的7种木材中,黑胸散白蚁最喜食垂柳和马尾松,其取食率分别为31.46和30.59 mg;台湾乳白蚁最喜食马尾松、水杉和银杏,其取食率分别为26.53、21.82和21.81 mg。两种白蚁对银杏、垂柳、广玉兰这3种木材的取食率有显著差异,而对其他4种木材的取食率差异不显著。【结论】白蚁取食率和死亡率受白蚁种类和木材品种影响明显。7种供试木材中,两种白蚁都对马尾松显示出明显偏好,且死亡率最低。     

八种散白蚁和一种异白蚁翅面微刻点的扫描电镜观察──(等翅目:鼻白蚁科)

用扫描电镜观察八种散白蚁和一种异白蚁有翅成虫翅面微刻点．结果表明,除了观察到文献中已报道的微刻点类型（舌状乳突、尖头状乳突和粉刺状突起）外,还发现有小刺突和毛．而且同一种白蚁翅背、腹面的微刻点类型存在明显的差异．根据微刻点类型就细颚异白蚁的分类地位作了初步探讨．     

四种白蚁的线粒体DNA限制性片段长度多态性研究(等翅目:鼻白蚁科,木白蚁科)

用６种限制性内切酶分析了４种白蚁的线粒体 Ｄ Ｎ Ａ 限制性片段长度多态性,根据限制性片段差异计算了４种白蚁之间的遗传距离,利用 Ｕ Ｐ Ｇ Ｍ Ａ 聚类分析法构建了分子聚类图。结果表明：尖唇异白蚁与散白蚁属关系很近,聚类分析结果显示应将其归于散白蚊属     

黑翅土白蚁与其它二种白蚁种群间的相容性

将黑翅土白蚁Odontotermes formosanus(Shiraki)与另外2个种群的白蚁按一定比例放置于同一培养皿中观察其斗争情况,研究黑翅土白蚁与台湾乳白蚁Coptotermes formosanus(Shiraki)和黑胸散白蚁Reticulitermes chinensisSnyder的相容性。结果表明,实验一开始,双方的工蚁和兵蚁都立即进入激烈的嘶咬斗争,在不同配比下,开始5min内的斗争次数均在40次左右,5h后开始5min内的斗争次数陡然下降,几乎不发生争斗。各种群白蚁在其数量占优势的情况下均表现出显著的斗争优势;而在双方数量相当时,黑翅土白蚁工蚁的斗争能力明显强于另外2个种群的工蚁。结果表明,自然界中不可能出现黑翅土白蚁与家白蚁和黑胸散白蚁群体的偶然性融合,黑翅土白蚁很可能在其群体建立的地区中占据优势。     

6种糖基化合物对台湾乳白蚁糖基水解酶分泌的影响

白蚁自身及其后肠共生微生物可以分泌多种糖基水解酶用于分解木质纤维素.本研究选用1％木质素、1％羧甲基纤维素钠、1％山梨糖、1％果糖、1％葡萄糖及1％半乳糖6种糖基化合物溶液,诱导台湾乳白蚁Coptotermes formosanus糖基水解酶的分泌,进行了酶活测定.结果显示,FPA活力、内切葡聚糖酶EG、β-葡萄糖苷酶...     

凤眼莲入侵程度对金鱼藻和黑藻生长及种间关系的影响

湿地生态系统中凤眼莲（Eichhornia crassipes）入侵造成湿地植物群落结构退化及功能崩溃,直接影响沉水植物的生长繁殖及初级生产力。目前关于凤眼莲的入侵机制有一定的研究,而关于凤眼莲入侵程度对沉水植物金鱼藻（Ceratophyllum demersum）和黑藻（Hydrilla verticillate）生长及种间关系的影响相对缺乏。以外来入侵植物凤眼莲,沉水植物金鱼藻和黑藻为研究对象,设计凤眼莲入侵程度（无入侵,轻度入侵对应盖度25%,重度入侵对应盖度75%）交叉定植方式（黑藻单种模式、金鱼藻单种模式,金鱼藻和黑藻混种模式）的控制实验,探究凤眼莲入侵强度对沉水植物金鱼藻和黑藻生长及种间关系的影响。结果表明,凤眼莲入侵程度显著降低了金鱼藻的生物量、分枝数;黑藻的株高、分枝数和分节数。无凤眼莲入侵时,两种沉水植物生物量均最大,两者种间竞争关系较强;随凤眼莲入侵盖度增加,两种沉水植物的生物量先急剧降低后略微增加,种间关系经过微弱促进后又变为竞争作用,其中黑藻表现出明显的竞争优势。此外,凤眼莲入侵略微降低了水体中的总氮、总磷含量。结构方程模型分析结果表明凤眼莲入侵以及水体总氮、总磷等水体理化性质对沉水植物生长均有显著负向影响（P<0.05）,且水体理化性质对沉水植物生长的影响强于凤眼莲入侵。总之,凤眼莲入侵显著降低了金鱼藻和黑藻生长繁殖,随着凤眼莲入侵程度增加,两种沉水植物种间关系由竞争转变为促进再转变为竞争。研究结果为凤眼莲入侵有效控制及湿地沉水植被的恢复与重建提供了一定的理论依据和技术支撑。     

基质类型对两种沉水植物种间关系的影响

以外来种伊乐藻与土著种苦草为实验生物,通过室外受控实验研究了基质类型对2种水生植物种间关系的影响.结果表明:伊乐藻在2种不同营养水平的基质中均具有明显竞争优势.植物竞争(混栽伊乐藻)对低密度苦草的生长影响不明显,对密度高苦草抑制显著,然而基质类型对低密度苦草的生长影响显著,对高密度苦草无明显影响.同样,植物竞争(混栽苦草)对低密度伊乐藻的生长无明显影响,对密度高伊乐藻抑制显著,然而,无论种植密度高低,基质类型对伊乐藻的生长均有极大影响.本文还对伊乐藻与苦草的种间竞争关系机理进行了探讨,其研究结果对分析外来种入侵后水生植被的演变规律以及湖泊水生植被的管理有一定参考价值.     

Antitermitic effect of the Lantana camara plant on subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Abstract The insecticidal effects of Lantana camara L. (flowers, leaves, stems and roots) and the soil where lantana had been growing, on foraging activity and survival of the subterranean termites Coptotermes formosanus and Reticulitermes flavipes were examined in a 3-week experiment. The soil in which lantana had been growing had no effect on termite tunneling and survival. Incorporation of chipped fresh lantana leaves and stems into soil had no effect on mortality but caused significant reduction in tunneling. The 5-cm wide barrier of soil with lantana tissue incorporated effectively repelled groups of both species from penetrating the barrier and thus prevented infestation of a piece of wood on the other side of the barrier. C. formosanus was more sensitive in avoiding the barrier than R. flavipes. Leaves, stems and flowers were more repellent than roots. These results provide preliminary evidence that fresh-cut lantana leaves, stems and flowers may have use as additives to garden mulches against termites.     

Hydrogen emission by three wood-feeding subterranean termite species (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae): Production and characteristics

Abstract Hydrogen emission by wood-feeding termites, Coptotermes formosanus, Reticulitermes flavipes and Reticulitermes virginicus, was investigated upon a cellulosic substrate as their food source. The emission rates among the three species tested were significantly different and R. virginicus demonstrated the greatest H₂ emission at 4.78 ± 0.15 μmol/h/g body weight. In a sealed test apparatus, H₂ emission for each termite species showed a quick increase at the initial incubation hours (3–6 h), followed by a slower growth, possibly due to the feedback inhibition by gas accumulation. Further investigation revealed that continuous H₂ emission could be maintained by reducing the H₂ partial pressure in the sealed container. The bioconversion of cellulose to molecular H₂ by the subterranean termites tested could reach as high as 3 858 ± 294 μmol/g cellulose, suggesting that the termite gut system is unique and efficient in H₂ conversion from cellulosic substrate.     

Differential susceptibility of subterranean termite castes to entomopathogenic nematodes

We examined the attachment and infectivity of two entomopathogenic nematode species, Steinernema carpocapsae and Heterorhabditis indica, on soldiers and workers in two subterranean termite species, Coptotermes formosanus and C. vastator. In attachment tests with S. carpocapsae, more nematodes attached to soldiers of C. formosanus and C. vastator in the absence of workers compared to soldiers that were in the presence of workers. In tests with soldiers alone, workers alone, and mixture of equal numbers of workers and soldiers, soldiers in the mixed groups had lower mortality than soldiers alone after 1 and 4 days for both termite species. Exposure of small groups of either termite species to S. carpocapsae resulted in higher mortality of soldiers after 1 and 4 days post exposure. Mortality in soldiers alone exposed to H. indica was not significant compared to mortality in mixed groups at 1 day exposure, but was significant after 4 days. In concentration-mortality tests, a significant two-way interaction existed between nematode concentration and termite caste for C. formosanus exposed to S. carpocapsae for 1 and 4 days. A significant effect of nematode concentration was found for C. vastator exposed to H. indica for 1 day. This termite species had lower mortality when exposed to H. indica after 1 and 4 days compared to C. formosanus. At 4 days post exposure to H. indica, the effects of nematode concentration and termite caste were significant. Steinernema carpocapsae caused higher mortality than H. indica, but mortality of workers was higher when exposed to H. indica. Soldiers of both species experienced rapid mortality when exposed to S. carpocapsae, whereas soldiers of C. vastator experienced lower mortality when exposed to H. indica. Thus, our results show that when soldiers alone or workers alone are exposed to the nematodes, there is a differential susceptibility of soldiers and workers to nematode infection with soldiers being more susceptible than workers. In a mixed group of soldiers and workers or workers alone, it appears that grooming behavior of the workers serves as a mechanism to reduce nematode infection of soldiers and workers. The reason for this differential response to nematode infection is that soldiers do not exhibit grooming behavior.     

Phylogeography illuminates maternal origins of exotic Coptotermes gestroi (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Coptotermes gestroi, the Asian subterranean termite (AST), is an economically important structural and agricultural pest that has become established in many areas of the world. For the first time, phylogeography was used to illuminate the origins of new found C. gestroi in the US Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; Ohio, USA; Florida, USA; and Brisbane, Australia. Phylogenetic relationships of C. gestroi collected in indigenous locations within Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore as well as from the four areas of introduction were investigated using three genes (16S rRNA, COII, and ITS) under three optimality criteria encompassing phenetic and cladistic assumptions (maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and neighbor-joining). All three genes showed consistent support for a close genetic relationship between C. gestroi samples from Singapore and Ohio, whereas termite samples from Australia, Puerto Rico, and Key West, FL were more closely related to those from Malaysia. Shipping records further substantiated that Singapore and Malaysia were the likely origin of the Ohio and Australia C. gestroi, respectively. These data provide support for using phylogeography to understand the dispersal history of exotic termites. Serendipitously, we also gained insights into concerted evolution in an ITS cluster from rhinotermitid species in two genera.     

Juvenile hormone III titers and regulation of soldier caste in coptotermes formosanus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Juvenile hormone (JH) is an important growth hormone in insects that has also been implicated in caste determination in termites. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to establish that the JH in the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, is JH III. JH III titers were measured in workers, pre-soldiers, and soldiers from samples collected from the field. The average titers of JH III in workers and soldiers were about 13 and 25 pg mg(-1), respectively. However, pre-soldiers contained a significantly higher amount, 596 pg mg(-1). As expected, treatment of workers with a JH-analogue, methoprene, triggered rapid formation of pre-soldiers. However, these pre-soldiers had a very low JH III titer (62 pg mg(-1)). It appears that the application of JHA, while inducing pre-soldier formation, does not increase the endogenous JH III titer. The titer, however, increased as the pre-soldiers aged and before transforming into soldiers.     

Subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae): Exploitation of equivalent food resources with different forms of placement

Abstract Coptotermes gestroi and Heterotermes tenuis have been described as important urban pests in Brazil. The establishment of control technologies using baits that consider the social behavior of termites requires a better knowledge of their foraging behavior. Thus, this study analyzed the feeding behavior of these species with three different forms of food placement: food on the surface of a substrate and food either partially or completely buried in the substrate. Experimental arenas were composed of a central chamber connected to three food chambers. Each central chamber contained 550 foragers of C. gestroi or 517 foragers of H. tenuis. Blocks of Pinus elliottii were placed in the different food chambers. After 28 days, the consumption of each wood block and the percentage of foraging individuals recruited for food chambers were verified in relation to the total survival rate obtained for each one of the 20 replicates. Results showed that completely buried food was most consumed for H. tenuis and presented a higher recruitment rate of workers and soldiers for both species. Although the consumption had non‐significant differences for C. gestroi, these termites exhibited a tendency to prefer completely buried food. In these conditions, it can be concluded that the forms of food placement used in the present research influenced the recruitment of individuals for both species. Data also suggests that when the foraging subterranean termites find food resources in the tunneling substrate, they tend to concentrate their efforts on it, a behavior regime that reduces exposure to external environment.     

Hermetically sealed baits for subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Cellulose baits containing 0.5% hexaflumuron were hermetically sealed in a closed cell polyethylene sheet envelope and placed in soil to test their durability and efficacy against field colonies of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, or the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar). The closed cell polyethylene sheet was readily tunneled through by termites, yet it was impervious to water and protected the cellulose baits and hexaflumuron from the environment. Only in a few incidents did the polyethylene envelope become infiltrated by plant roots, resulting in water intrusion and apparent degradation of cellulose baits. After consuming one to three sealed baits, three colonies each of both termite species were eliminated. The sealed baits may be placed in soil for months or years without the need of monitoring, and they are readily penetrated and fed upon by termites when they are present. Application of baits hermetically sealed in a protective sheet may save labor costs by bypassing the monitoring phase, circumvent the station avoidance by some termite species, and enable the use of baiting technologies in large areas such as agricultural fields in which the manual monitoring is impractical.     

Dual origin of gut proteases in Formosan subterranean termites (Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Cellulose digestion in lower termites, mediated by carbohydrases originating from both termite and endosymbionts, is well characterized. In contrast, limited information exists on gut proteases of lower termites, their origins and roles in termite nutrition. The objective of this study was to characterize gut proteases of the Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). The protease activity of extracts from gut tissues (fore-, mid- and hindgut) and protozoa isolated from hindguts of termite workers was quantified using hide powder azure as a substrate and further characterized by zymography with gelatin SDS-PAGE. Midgut extracts showed the highest protease activity followed by the protozoa extracts. High level of protease activity was also detected in protozoa culture supernatants after 24 h incubation. Incubation of gut and protozoa extracts with class-specific protease inhibitors revealed that most of the proteases were serine proteases. All proteolytic bands identified after gelatin SDS-PAGE were also inhibited by serine protease inhibitors. Finally, incubation with chromogenic substrates indicated that extracts from fore- and hindgut tissues possessed proteases with almost exclusively trypsin-like activity while both midgut and protozoa extracts possessed proteases with trypsin-like and subtilisin/chymotrypsin-like activities. However, protozoa proteases were distinct from midgut proteases (with different molecular mass). Our results suggest that the Formosan subterranean termite not only produces endogenous proteases in its gut tissues, but also possesses proteases originating from its protozoan symbionts.     

Control of subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) infesting power poles

A trial was conducted to determine the efficacy of termiticidal dusts (arsenic trioxide, triflumuron, and Metarhizium anisopliae), a timber fumigant (dazomet) and liquid termiticides (bifenthrin, chlorfenapyr, chlorpyrifos, fipronil, and imidacloprid) for controlling subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) infesting in-service power poles in New South Wales, Australia. Dusts were applied to parts of the pole where termites were present. Fumigant was inserted into holes drilled into the base of the pole. Liquid termiticides were mixed with soil around the base of the pole and injected into internal voids if present. Poles were inspected for up to 5 yr, and the time taken for reinfestation to occur was recorded. Before the start of the trial, the major Australian pole owners were surveyed to obtain an estimate of the annual national cost of termite infestation to the power supply industry. The annual costs of termite treatment and replacing damaged poles were estimated at AU$2 million and AU$13 million, respectively. Infestation rates were lower for all treatments compared with controls within the first 12 mo of the study. Dazomet, arsenic trioxide, fipronil, and chlorpyrifos were the most efficacious treatments. Efficacy was positively related to the amount of termiticide applied and negatively related to the infestation severity but was unaffected by geographical location. Survival curves were calculated of the time elapsed before the recurrence of termite infestations (survival absence of reinfestation). Survival was highest for poles treated with liquid termiticides.