Parthenogenetic reproductive behavior and initial colony foundation in the termite, Reticulitermes aculabialis
Author of the article:XING LianXi**LIU MingHuaKONG XiaoHongLIU XiaoSU XiaoHongYIN LingFangTAN JiangLi
Author's Workplace：College of Life Sciences, Nortwest University, Xi’an710069, China
Key Words：subterranean termite, femalefemale pairs, femalemale pairs, parthenogenesis, caste differentiation, colony fundation
Abstract：In order to confirm parthenogenetic reproductive behavior in Reticulitermes aculabialis Tsai et Hwang and explore developmental characteristics during the initial stage of colony foundation by alates, we established and compared femalefemale (FF) with female-male (FM) colonies of R. aculabialis. The results show that there were no significant differences in the timing and behaviour of nest building between FF and FM colonies. The death rate in FF colonies was 1133%, higher than the 2.67% observed in FM colonies after 5 days. All females in FM and FF colonies had mature oocytes and a physogastric abdomen after 5 weeks, indicating that female individuals in FF colonies had the ability to lay eggs. The number of offspring in FF and FM were 7.00±1.58 and 10.33±1.21, respectively. All offspring in FF colonies were worker caste, whereas FM colonies soldiers could be differentiated from third and fourthinstar workers. The results demonstrate that R. aculabialis can produce offspring parthenogenetically, and that there is a significant difference in development between FF and FM colonies. This suggests that alate adult R. aculabialis may establish new colonies by parthenogenesis in the wild.