Polyethism in the australian harvester TermiteDrepanotermes (Isoptera, Termitinae)

Abstract

Species ofDrepanotermes show instar-dependent behavioural differences in the worker caste in both nest repair and foraging activity. Immediately following damage to the nest, the frequencies of W1, W2 and W3 at the damaged site decreased, while those of W4+W5 and soldiers increased in bothD. rubriceps andD. perniger. W4+W5 carried out most of the nest repair, and, at least inD. perniger, their frequency was still significantly higher at the damaged site 60 hours after damage. InD. perniger more than 75% of termites in the above-ground foraging parties were W4+W5, and the frequencies of younger workers were related to instar, the earlier the instar the lower the frequency. Soldiers were also over-represented in foraging parties. W4+W5 were not necessarily more abundant in the peripheral galleries than they were in the central nest, despite their predominance in the foraging parties.