Abstract
In most lower termites, colonies are headed by neotenic reproductives of both sexes after the primary reproductives (i.e., the queen and king) are lost. The production of a neotenic sexual is inhibited by the presence of a primary reproductive of the same sex. We found an exception in the caste system of the dry wood termite Neotermes koshunensis (Kalotermitidae). The neotenic caste is exclusively male. Moreover, production of male neotenics is completely inhibited not only by the presence of a king but also by the presence of a queen. Therefore, it is likely to be difficult for N. koshunensis colonies to recover their reproductive pairs.
Highlights
Termites are highly eusocial insects that show reproductive division of labor among morphologically distinguishable castes (Weesner, 1969)
On the basis of their ontogenetic origin, secondary reproductives are classified into neotenics, which are reproductives raised from immature individuals, and adultoids, which are dealate imagoes and are indistinguishable from the primary reproductives (Roisin, 2000)
We found eggs in the normal and queen subcolonies, We collected 22 colonies of N. koshunensis on the main island of Okinawa during 2007–2010
Summary
Termites are highly eusocial insects that show reproductive division of labor among morphologically distinguishable castes (Weesner, 1969). The reproductive castes of termites are classified broadly into primary reproductives, namely the queen and king, which are the dealates that found new colonies after a swarming, and the secondary reproductives, which are recruited within an established colony (Roisin, 2000). On the basis of their ontogenetic origin, secondary reproductives are classified into neotenics, which are reproductives raised from immature individuals (they are called nymphoids, ergatoids, or pseudergatoids, depending on their origin from nymphs, workers or pseudergates), and adultoids, which are dealate imagoes and are indistinguishable from the primary reproductives (Roisin, 2000). The neotenic castes in termites are often bisexual, a biased numerical sex ratio is reported in neotenics of some species (Myles, 1999)
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