The ontogeny of soldiers in Prorhinotermes simplex (Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae) |
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Authors: | R Hanus J ?obotník I Valterová J Luká? |
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Institution: | (1) Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Flemingovo nám. 2, Praha 6, CZ-166 10, Czech Republic;(2) Faculty of Science at Charles’ University, Albertov 6, Praha 2, CZ-128 43, Czech Republic;(3) Research Institute of Crop Protection, Drnovská 507, Praha 6, CZ-161 06, Czech Republic |
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Abstract: | The ontogeny of the soldier caste in Prorhinotermes simplex is studied with emphasis on the instar origin of soldiers, the duration of the presoldier stage, and changes in external
anatomy during the soldier morphogenesis. The soldiers of different instar origin are compared morphometrically and by analysis
of the soldier defensive secretion. The soldiers were found to develop from larvae of the second up to the eighth instar,
via a short (13–17 days) presoldier stage. The early soldier instars were found exclusively in incipient colonies while the
mature colony contains late instar soldiers only. The abrupt change in the external anatomy occurs in two steps. During the
larva-presoldier moult, the head increases in length but only slightly in width. During the presoldier-soldier moult, both
the length and width of the head increase markedly and the typical cordate shape is attained; the relative size of the pronotum
increases considerably. The long falcate mandibles develop mainly during the larva-presoldier moult. One antennal segment
is added during these two moults. With increasing instar age of soldiers a relative increase of the pronotum and the head
size in its posterior region was observed. No functional differences in external anatomy were found among the six soldier
instars. The composition of the frontal gland secretion is similar in the six soldier instars, an extraordinarily high amount
of a defensive substance, (E)-1-nitropentadecene, was detected together with (Z,E)-α-farnesene, presumably an alarm substance. The strategy of soldier production is discussed. We conclude that the observed
patterns of soldier production in P. simplex correspond well to its ecological strategy of an advanced single-site nester able to migrate and form foraging groups.
Received 16 August 2005; revised 21 November and 6 February 2006; accepted 16 February 2006. |
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Keywords: | Termite soldiers Prorhinotermes ontogeny anatomy biochemistry defensive secretion |
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