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Xu D, Tong Y, Chen B, Li B, Wang S, Zhang D. The influence of first desaturase subfamily genes on fatty acid synthesis, desiccation tolerance and inter-caste nutrient transfer in the termite Coptotermes formosanus. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 33:55-68. [PMID: 37750189 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Desaturase enzymes play an essential role in the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs). In this study, we identified seven "first desaturase" subfamily genes (Cfor-desatA1, Cfor-desatA2-a, Cfor-desatA2-b, Cfor-desatB-a, Cfor-desatB-b, Cfor-desatD and Cfor-desatE) from the Formosan subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus. These desaturases were highly expressed in the cuticle and fat body of C. formosanus. Inhibition of either the Cfor-desatA2-a or Cfor-desatA2-b gene resulted in a significant decrease in the contents of fatty acids (C16:0, C18:0, C18:1 and C18:2) in worker castes. Moreover, we observed that inhibition of most of desaturase genes identified in this study had a negative impact on the survival rate and desiccation tolerance of workers. Interestingly, when normal soldiers were reared together with dsCfor-desatA2-b-treated workers, they exhibited higher mortality, suggesting that desaturase had an impact on trophallaxis among C. formosanus castes. Our findings shed light on the novel roles of desaturase family genes in the eusocial termite C. formosanus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danni Xu
- The Key Laboratory for Quality Improvement of Agricultural Products of Zhejiang Province, College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuxin Tong
- The Key Laboratory for Quality Improvement of Agricultural Products of Zhejiang Province, College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
- School of Forestry and Biotechnology, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Bosheng Chen
- The Key Laboratory for Quality Improvement of Agricultural Products of Zhejiang Province, College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Baoling Li
- The Key Laboratory for Quality Improvement of Agricultural Products of Zhejiang Province, College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shengyin Wang
- The Key Laboratory for Quality Improvement of Agricultural Products of Zhejiang Province, College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Dayu Zhang
- The Key Laboratory for Quality Improvement of Agricultural Products of Zhejiang Province, College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
- School of Forestry and Biotechnology, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
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Mitaka Y, Akino T. A Review of Termite Pheromones: Multifaceted, Context-Dependent, and Rational Chemical Communications. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.595614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Termite colonies, composed of large numbers of siblings, develop an important caste-based division of labor; individuals in these societies interact via intra- or intercaste chemical communications. For more than 50 years, termites have been known to use a variety of pheromones to perform tasks necessary for maintenance of their societies, similar to eusocial hymenopterans. Although trail-following pheromones have been chemically identified in various termites, other types of pheromones have not been elucidated chemically or functionally. In the past decade, however, chemical compositions and biological functions have been successfully identified for several types of termite pheromones; accordingly, the details of the underlying pheromone communications have been gradually revealed. In this review, we summarize both the functions of all termite pheromones identified so far and the chemical interactions among termites and other organisms. Subsequently, we argue how termites developed their sophisticated pheromone communication. We hypothesize that termites have diverted defensive and antimicrobial substances to pheromones associated in caste recognition and caste-specific roles. Furthermore, termites have repeatedly used a pre-existing pheromone or have added supplementary compounds to it in accordance with the social context, leading to multifunctionalization of pre-existing pheromones and emergence of new pheromones. These two mechanisms may enable termites to transmit various context-dependent information with a small number of chemicals, thus resulting in formation of coordinated, complex, and rational chemical communication systems.
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Soldiers of the termite Nasutitermes corniger (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae) increase the ability to exploit food resources. Behav Processes 2020; 181:104272. [PMID: 33049378 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2020.104272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The performance of eusocial insect colonies is optimized by the division of labor among castes. Throughout the evolution of termites, there was an evident increase in the proportion of soldiers in the colonies. In derived termite species, the soldiers have a crucial role in defense and the initial phases of foraging. Here, we evaluated whether the soldiers of the Neotropical termite Nasutitermes corniger improve the foraging decisions. We tested the hypotheses that groups with soldiers (i) are more efficient searching for food, (ii) more efficiently recruit individuals, and (iii) a higher proportion of soldiers results in a more efficient balance between exploitation and exploration of food resources. Using behavioral bioassays under laboratory conditions, we show that the presence of soldiers in termite groups promotes a faster exploitation of the environment that allows them to encounter more food sources simultaneously. However, the presence of soldiers did not significantly increase the attraction of termite groups. Despite that, termite groups with higher soldier proportions were more able to perceive changes in the resource offerings by redirecting individuals to explore more profitable sources. Our results show that the role of soldiers in N. corniger increases the efficiency of termite groups in the exploration and exploitation of food resources.
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Santos AA, Melo CR, Oliveira BMS, Santana AS, Santos ACC, Sampaio TS, Blank AF, Cristaldo PF, Araújo APA, Bacci L. Acute Toxicity and Sub-lethal Effects of the Essential Oil of Aristolochia trilobata and Its Major Constituents on Nasutitermes corniger (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae). NEOTROPICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2019; 48:515-521. [PMID: 30637578 DOI: 10.1007/s13744-018-0665-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Nasutitermes corniger (Motschulsky, 1855) (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae) is an important pest in urban environments and bioinsecticides can be an alternative to its control. Here, we determined the toxicity and repellence of the essential oil (EO) prepared from stems of Aristolochia trilobata L. (Aristolochiaceae) and its major constituents on N. corniger. We also investigated behavioral changes of individuals exposed to limonene. The lethal dose required to kill 50% of N. corniger population (LD50) of EO of A. trilobata was 2.44 μg mg-1. Limonene was the most toxic compound to N. corniger followed by linalool (LD50 = 1.02 and 1.29 μg mg-1, respectively). In addition, all treatments presented median lethal time (LT50) less than 11 h. A. trilobata EO and its constituents showed irritability activity, but only limonene repelled soldiers more than workers. The negative behaviors of N. corniger groups were higher in individuals treated with limonene. A. trilobata EO and its constituents, especially the limonene, are promising for the control of N. corniger due the high toxicity, repellence, and possible disturbance in the colonies.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Santos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agricultura e Biodiversidade (PPGAGRI), Univ Federal de Sergipe, Av. Marechal Rondon, s/n, Rosa Elze, 49100-000, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil
| | - C R Melo
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agricultura e Biodiversidade (PPGAGRI), Univ Federal de Sergipe, Av. Marechal Rondon, s/n, Rosa Elze, 49100-000, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil
| | - B M S Oliveira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agricultura e Biodiversidade (PPGAGRI), Univ Federal de Sergipe, Av. Marechal Rondon, s/n, Rosa Elze, 49100-000, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil
| | - A S Santana
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agricultura e Biodiversidade (PPGAGRI), Univ Federal de Sergipe, Av. Marechal Rondon, s/n, Rosa Elze, 49100-000, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil
| | - A C C Santos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agricultura e Biodiversidade (PPGAGRI), Univ Federal de Sergipe, Av. Marechal Rondon, s/n, Rosa Elze, 49100-000, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil
| | - T S Sampaio
- Depto de Engenharia Agronômica, Univ Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Brasil
| | - A F Blank
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agricultura e Biodiversidade (PPGAGRI), Univ Federal de Sergipe, Av. Marechal Rondon, s/n, Rosa Elze, 49100-000, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil
- Depto de Engenharia Agronômica, Univ Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Brasil
| | - P F Cristaldo
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Entomologia Agrícola, Depto de Agronomia, Univ Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, Brasil
| | - A P A Araújo
- Depto de Ecologia, Univ Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Brasil
| | - L Bacci
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agricultura e Biodiversidade (PPGAGRI), Univ Federal de Sergipe, Av. Marechal Rondon, s/n, Rosa Elze, 49100-000, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil.
- Depto de Engenharia Agronômica, Univ Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Brasil.
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Ferreira DV, Sacramento JJM, Rocha MLC, Cruz JS, Santana DL, Cristaldo PF, Araújo APA. Does Distance Among Colonies and Resource Availability Explain the Intercolonial Aggressiveness in Nasutitermes aff. coxipoensis? NEOTROPICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2018; 47:808-814. [PMID: 30094633 DOI: 10.1007/s13744-018-0625-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 07/19/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Aggressive behaviour can ensure animal access to local resources. To reduce constant costs in the defence of territories, species could save energy with conflicts avoiding aggression with neighbour or in situations with abundance of resources. In the present study, we analysed the effect of distance among colonies and resource availability on the aggression level and responses to chemical cues of Nasutitermes aff. coxipoensis (Holmgren) (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae). Manipulation of resource offer was conducted in the field, where nests with different distances were kept without addition of baits (control), with addition of three or 16 sugarcane baits/nest. After 3 months, aggressiveness, linear and Y-shaped trail-following bioassays were carried out with all pairwise combinations of colonies in each treatment. Our results showed that aggressive index of N. aff. coxipoensis was affected by the resource availability. However, individuals from colonies with 0 and 3 baits/nest showed a higher number of fighting with neighbours than those from non-neighbours colonies. Termite workers from colonies without baits (control) followed shorter distance in the linear trails compared to those from colonies with addition of baits. In all treatments, there was no preference of workers in relation to the choice of chemical cues from own or other colonies. The response of intercolonial aggressiveness in N. aff. coxipoensis seems to be resource-dependent. These results may contribute to the comprehension of the use of space by N. aff. coxipoensis and could be useful to explain patterns of termite co-occurrence at different spatial scales, from local (inside the nest-e.g. cohabitation of nests by inquilines) to regional (e.g. around the nest).
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Affiliation(s)
- D V Ferreira
- Lab de Interações Ecológicas, Depto de Ecologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Univ Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Univ Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil
| | - J J M Sacramento
- Lab de Interações Ecológicas, Depto de Ecologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Univ Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Univ Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil
| | - M L C Rocha
- Lab de Interações Ecológicas, Depto de Ecologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Univ Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Univ Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil
| | - J S Cruz
- Lab de Interações Ecológicas, Depto de Ecologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Univ Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil
| | - D L Santana
- Lab de Interações Ecológicas, Depto de Ecologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Univ Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil
| | - P F Cristaldo
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agricultura e Biodiversidade, Univ Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil
| | - A P A Araújo
- Lab de Interações Ecológicas, Depto de Ecologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Univ Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil.
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Brandão-Costa RM, Araújo VF, Porto ALF. CgTI, a novel thermostable Kunitz trypsin-inhibitor purified from Cassia grandis seeds: Purification, characterization and termiticidal activity. Int J Biol Macromol 2018; 118:2296-2306. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.07.110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2018] [Revised: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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Ferreira DV, Cristaldo PF, Rocha MLC, Santana DL, Santos L, Lima PSS, Araújo APA. Attraction and vibration: Effects of previous exposure and type of food resource in the perception of allocolonial odors in termites. Ethology 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dinamarta V. Ferreira
- Laboratório de Interações Ecológicas, Departamento de Ecologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde; Universidade Federal de Sergipe; São Cristóvão-SE Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal de Sergipe; São Cristóvão-SE Brazil
| | - Paulo F. Cristaldo
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agricultura e Biodiversidade; Universidade Federal de Sergipe; São Cristóvão-SE Brazil
| | - Marcos L. C. Rocha
- Laboratório de Interações Ecológicas, Departamento de Ecologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde; Universidade Federal de Sergipe; São Cristóvão-SE Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal de Sergipe; São Cristóvão-SE Brazil
| | - Daniela L. Santana
- Laboratório de Interações Ecológicas, Departamento de Ecologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde; Universidade Federal de Sergipe; São Cristóvão-SE Brazil
| | - Lucineide Santos
- Laboratório de Interações Ecológicas, Departamento de Ecologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde; Universidade Federal de Sergipe; São Cristóvão-SE Brazil
| | - Paulo S. S. Lima
- Laboratório de Interações Ecológicas, Departamento de Ecologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde; Universidade Federal de Sergipe; São Cristóvão-SE Brazil
| | - Ana P. A. Araújo
- Laboratório de Interações Ecológicas, Departamento de Ecologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde; Universidade Federal de Sergipe; São Cristóvão-SE Brazil
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Cristaldo PF, Almeida CS, Cruz NG, Ribeiro EJM, Rocha MLC, Santos AA, Santana AS, Araújo APA. The Role of Resource Density on Energy Allocation in the Neotropical Termite Nasutitermes aff. coxipoensis (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae). NEOTROPICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2018; 47:329-335. [PMID: 28466145 DOI: 10.1007/s13744-017-0525-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2016] [Accepted: 04/02/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Organisms acquire energy from environment and must allocate it among different life traits (growth, maintenance and reproduction). Social insects must manage the energy allocation to various levels such as colony growth and caste functions. Here, we addressed the question of whether resource density affects the energy allocation to the number of individuals and caste functions as well as nest's growth rate in the Neotropical termite Nasutitermes aff. coxipoensis (Homgren) (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae). In a manipulative field experiment, colonies of N. aff. coxipoensis, with known volume, were maintained in plots with three different resource's density (0.32, 0.64 and 1.92 baits/m2) over 3 months. After this period, the number of individuals as well as the caste identity and nest volume were measured. Surprisingly, our results showed that colonies reared in the extremes of resource's density (0.32 and 1.92 baits/m2) produced a higher number of individuals compared with colonies reared with intermediate resource density (0. 64 baits/m2). The mean number of workers increased linearly with resource density; however, the average number of immature was higher in colonies reared with 0.32 baits/m2 compared with colonies reared with 0.64 and 1.92 baits/m2. No significant differences of resource density were observed in the mean number of soldiers, worker/soldier ratio as well as in the nest's growth rate. In conclusion, the resource's density seems to play an important role in determining the investment of energy in the number of individuals and caste in N. aff. coxipoensis colonies.
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Affiliation(s)
- P F Cristaldo
- Lab de Interações Ecológicas, Depto de Ecologia, Univ Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil.
| | - C S Almeida
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Univ Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil
| | - N G Cruz
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Univ Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil
| | - E J M Ribeiro
- Lab de Interações Ecológicas, Depto de Ecologia, Univ Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil
| | - M L C Rocha
- Lab de Interações Ecológicas, Depto de Ecologia, Univ Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil
| | - A A Santos
- Depto de Engenharia Agronômica, Univ Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil
| | - A S Santana
- Depto de Engenharia Agronômica, Univ Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil
| | - A P A Araújo
- Lab de Interações Ecológicas, Depto de Ecologia, Univ Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil
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Resource availability influences aggression and response to chemical cues in the Neotropical termite Nasutitermes aff. coxipoensis (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-016-2134-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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