Differences in the morphological classification of Reticulitermes chinensis Snyder
Author of the article:XU Peng** CHEN Shang-Hai ZHANG Liang ZENG Xiao-Hu
Author's Workplace:(Chengdu Research Center of Termite Control, Chengdu 610010, China)
Key Words:Isoptera; Reticulitermes chinensis; morphological characteristics
Abstract:
[Objectives] To investigate differences in the morphological classification of Reticulitermes chinensis Snyder. [Methods] Single factor analysis of
variance (ANOVA), Duncan’s multiple comparison (P<0.05) and Principal component analysis
were used to analyze the morphological characteristics of soldiers and alates
in SPSS19.0. [Results] Variation in 9 parameters of soldiers;
length from head to mandible, head width, central setae on the pronotum,
pronotum length, pronotum width, postmentum length, postmentum width, the least
right-side antennal fragment, left-side antennal fragment and right-side
antennal fragment, in the 6 populations examined was relatively small.
Variation in 7 parameters of alates; fore-wing length, distance between the ocellus
and compound eye, length from compound eye to head, the least left-side
antennal fragment, right-side antennal fragment, length from head to mandible
and branches of the fore cubitus, in the 6 populations was also relatively
small. However, Principal component analysis indicated a significant difference
in common parameters between soldiers and alates. In addition, there was a
certain amount of overlap between the parameters of termites of different
species. [Conclusion] The
morphological classification of termites should be verified using multiple
morphological parameters of soldiers and alates. Overlap between intraspecific
morphological taxonomic criteria and interspecific morphological taxonomic
criteria can easily lead to synonymy. The taxonomy of termites should therefore
combine morphological taxonomy with modern molecular, and other, techniques.