Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers in Labiotermes labralis (Isoptera,Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae)

We report here on the development of six polymorphic microsatellite loci for Labiotermes labralis. This soil‐feeding species is restricted to the Neotropical rainforest and then could represent a major candidate for being a bio‐indicator of anthropic disturbance resulting in the forest fragmentation. The microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized using a microsatellite‐enriched genomic library. The primers were tested on a French Guyanese population of L. labralis, represented by the sampling of one soldier in 22 nests. The primers were also tested against nine species of the same Nasutitermitinae subfamily and were successfully amplified at five loci in Armitermes minutus.     

Microsatellite markers for the polygamous termite Nasutitermes corniger (Isoptera: Termitidae)

We developed eight highly variable microsatellite markers for the termite Nasutitermes corniger. Allele number per locus ranged from nine to 34, and expected heterozygosity from 0.45 to 0.94, in samples from seven sites in the former canal zone of Panama. The utility of these markers was assessed for five congeners varying in phylogenetic distance to N. corniger. The markers will be useful for fine‐scale examination of population and colony genetic structure in N. corniger and other closely related species.     

Development of non-reproductive castes in the neotropical termite generaCornitermes,Embiratermes andRhynchotermes (Isoptera,Nasutitermitinae)

Summary The developmental pattern of the neuter castes was studied in the mandibulate nasute generaCornitermes, Embiratermes andRhynchotermes. InCornitermes walkeri, all the workers and soldiers are male. There are two larval and a single worker instar. Workers can molt into presoldiers. InEmbiratermes chagresi andRhynchotermes perarmatus, both sexes are present among the neuters. A slight sexual dimorphism (males > females) is discernible among both larval instars and among workers ofE. chagresi; female workers can molt into presoldiers. InR. perarmatus, the sexual dimorphism is conspicuous from the first larval instar on. Male larvae go through two instars, then give rise to workers, which do not molt. InR. perarmatus, there is no worker stage in females, but a third larval instar, preceding the presoldier. Hypotheses are proposed as to the evolution of these caste patterns, attempting to conciliate present knowledge of Nasutitermitinae phylogeny and known evolutionary trends affecting termite caste patterns, according to the species' ecology.Research Associate: National Fund for Scientific Research (Belgium).     

Castes in humivorous and litter-dwelling neotropical nasute termites (Isoptera,Termitidae)

Summary The developmental pathways of the neuter castes were studied in three species of Nasutitermitinae from central Panama. The humivorousSubulitermes denisae andCoatitermes clevelandi display several primitive traits: absence of sex dimorphism, representation of both sexes among workers and soldiers, and occurrence of successive worker instars. The litter-dwellingVelocitermes barrocoloradensis has a more complex caste system: female larvae are larger than males and give rise to the large workers, which constitute the bulk of the work force; male larvae proceed to soldiers through a small worker or a special larval instar. The resulting soldier caste is polymorphic. These results support previously formulated hypotheses regarding a link between humivorous diet and reduced polymorphism on the one hand, and between forest-floor foraging and large continuous size variation among soldiers on the other. Whereas the caste systems ofSubulitermes andCoatitermes probably represent a primitive condition,Velocitermes shares derived traits withNasutitermes and the other fully nasute genera previously studied. I therefore hypothesize that ancestors with these advanced features may have spread from the neotropics and be at the origin of most nasute genera, including humivorous taxa, present in other regions.     

First evidence of wasp brood development inside active nests of a termite with the description of a previously unknown potter wasp species

Potter wasps (Vespidae: Eumeninae) are known to exhibit not only sophisticated preying strategies but also a remarkable ability to manipulate clay during nest building. Due to a mixture of plasticity in building behavior and flexibility in substrate preferences during nest building, the group has been reported nesting in a variety of places, including decaying nests abandoned by termite species. Yet, evidence of wasps nesting inside senescent termite mounds is poorly reported, and to date, accounts confirming their presence inside active colonies of termites are absent. Here, we address a novel intriguing association between two species from the Brazilian Cerrado: a previously unknown potter wasp (nest invader) and a termite species (nest builder). Besides scientifically describing Montezumia termitophila sp. nov. (Vespidae: Eumeninae), named after its association with the termite Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Silvestri, 1901) (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae), we provide preliminary information about the new species'' bionomics by including (a) a hypothetical life cycle based on the evidence we collected and (b) a footage showing the first interaction between a recently ecloded wasp and a group of termites. In doing so, we attempt to provoke relevant discussions in the field and, perhaps, motivate further studies with the group. Finally, we describe a solution to efficiently detect and sample termitophilous species from termite nests, an intrinsic yet challenging task of any studies dealing with such a cryptic biological system.     

Chemotaxonomy of Subulitermes and Nasutitermes termine soldier defense secretions. Evidence against the hypothesis of diphyletic evolution of the Nasutitermitinae

The soldier defense secretions of advanced neotropical termites of the genus Subulitermes (Isoptera, Nasutitermitinae) contain diterpenes identicalto those found in Nasutitermes species, while soldiers of the primitive mandibulate nasute genera Cornitermes, Armitermes and Rhynchotermes lack diterpenoid compounds. It now appears improbable that the elongate nasus and intimately associated terpenoid defense secretions evolved from a primitive mandibulate ancestor independently along two phyletic branches. An alternate hypothesis is proposed in which morphological divergence from a common diterpene-producing ancestor may have occurred.