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Khan Z, Khan MS, Bawazeer S, Bawazeer N, Suleman, Irfan M, Rauf A, Su XH, Xing LX. A comprehensive review on the documented characteristics of four Reticulitermes termites (Rhinotermitidae, Blattodea) of China. BRAZ J BIOL 2022; 84:e256354. [PMID: 35319619 DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.256354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Termites are known as social insects worldwide. Presently in China 473 species, 44 genera and 4 families of termites have been reported. Of them, 111 Reticulitermes species are widely spread in different zones of China. The dispersion flight season of these Chinese Reticulitermes species are usually started from February to June, but in some regions different species are distributed, sharing their boundaries and having overlapping flight seasons. These reasons become important sources of hybridization between two different heterospecific populations of termites. It was confirmed that the fertilized eggs and unfertilized eggs of some Reticulitermes termites have the capacity of cleavage. While the unfertilized eggs of R. aculabialis, R. chinensis and R. labralis cleaved normally and the only R. aculabialis unfertilized eggs develop in embryos. While, the R. flaviceps and R. chinensis were observed with their abnormal embryonic development, and not hatching of eggs parthenogenetically. They were reported more threatening to Chinese resources as they propagate with parthenogenesis, hybridization and sexual reproduction. Eggshell and macrophiles of eggs play important roles in species identification and control. Although, they are severe pests and cause a wide range of damages to wooden structures and products in homes, buildings, building materials, trees, crops, and forests in China's Mainland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Khan
- Northwest University, College of Life Sciences, Xi'an, China.,University of Swabi, Zoology Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - M S Khan
- University of Swabi, Zoology Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - S Bawazeer
- Umm Al-Qura University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacognosy, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - N Bawazeer
- Minister of Interior General Directorate of Prison's Health, Pharmacy Department, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Suleman
- University of Swabi, Zoology Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - M Irfan
- Abdul Wali Khan University, Department of Botany, Mardan, Pakistan.,University of Swabi, Department of Botany, Swabi, Pakistan.,Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO, U.S.A
| | - A Rauf
- University of Swabi, Department of Chemistry, Anbar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - X-H Su
- Northwest University, College of Life Sciences, Xi'an, China.,Northwest University, Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, Xi'an, China.,Northwest University, Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology, Xi'an, China
| | - L-X Xing
- Northwest University, College of Life Sciences, Xi'an, China.,Northwest University, Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, Xi'an, China.,Northwest University, Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology, Xi'an, China
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Sinotte VM, Conlon BH, Seibel E, Schwitalla JW, de Beer ZW, Poulsen M, Bos N. Female-biased sex allocation and lack of inbreeding avoidance in Cubitermes termites. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:5598-5605. [PMID: 34026032 PMCID: PMC8131773 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexually reproducing organisms face a strong selective pressure to find a mate and ensure reproduction. An important criterion during mate-selection is to avoid closely related individuals and subsequent potential fitness costs of resulting inbred offspring. Inbreeding avoidance can be active through kin recognition during mate choice, or passive through differential male and female-biased sex ratios, which effectively prevents sib-mating. In addition, sex allocation, or the resources allotted to male and female offspring, can impact mating and reproductive success. Here, we investigate mate choice, sex ratios, and sex allocation in dispersing reproductives (alates) from colonies of the termite Cubitermes tenuiceps. Termites have a short time to select a mate for life, which should intensify any fitness consequences of inbreeding. However, alates did not actively avoid inbreeding through mate choice via kin recognition based on genetic or environmental cues. Furthermore, the majority of colonies exhibited a female-biased sex ratio, and none exhibited a male-bias, indicating that differential bias does not reduce inbreeding. Sex allocation was generally female-biased, as females also were heavier, but the potential fitness effect of this costly strategy remains unclear. The bacterium Wolbachia, known in other insects to parasitically distort sex allocation toward females, was present within all alates. While Wolbachia is commonly associated with termites, parasitism has yet to be demonstrated, warranting further study of the nature of the symbiosis. Both the apparent lack of inbreeding avoidance and potential maladaptive sex allocation implies possible negative effects on mating and fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica M. Sinotte
- Department of BiologySection for Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagen EastDenmark
| | - Benjamin H. Conlon
- Department of BiologySection for Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagen EastDenmark
| | - Elena Seibel
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection BiologyHans‐Knöll‐InstituteJenaGermany
| | - Jan W. Schwitalla
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection BiologyHans‐Knöll‐InstituteJenaGermany
| | - Z. Wilhelm de Beer
- Department of Microbiology and Plant PathologyForestry and Agriculture Biotechnology InstituteUniversity of PretoriaPretoriaSouth Africa
| | - Michael Poulsen
- Department of BiologySection for Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagen EastDenmark
| | - Nick Bos
- Department of BiologySection for Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagen EastDenmark
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Zimmermann BL, Cardoso GM, Bouchon D, Pezzi PH, Palaoro AV, Araujo PB. Supergroup F Wolbachia in terrestrial isopods: Horizontal transmission from termites? Evol Ecol 2021; 35:165-182. [PMID: 33500597 PMCID: PMC7819146 DOI: 10.1007/s10682-021-10101-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Horizontal transmission between distantly related species has been used to explain how Wolbachia infect multiple species at astonishing rates despite the selection for resistance. Recently, a terrestrial isopod species was found to be infected by an unusual strain of supergroup F Wolbachia. However, only Wolbachia of supergroup B is typically found in isopods. One possibility is that these isopods acquired the infection because of their recurrent contact with termites—a group with strong evidence of infection by supergroup F Wolbachia. Thus, our goals were: (1) check if the infection was an isolated case in isopods, or if it revealed a broader pattern; (2) search for Wolbachia infection in the termites within Brazil; and (3) look for evidence consistent with horizontal transmission between isopods and termites. We collected Neotroponiscus terrestrial isopods and termites along the Brazilian coastal Atlantic forest. We sequenced and identified the Wolbachia strains found in these groups using coxA, dnaA, and fpbA genes. We constructed phylogenies for both bacteria and host taxa and tested for coevolution. We found the supergroup F Wolbachia in other species and populations of Neotroponiscus, and also in Nasutitermes and Procornitermes termites. The phylogenies showed that, despite the phylogenetic distance between isopods and termites, the Wolbachia strains clustered together. Furthermore, cophylogenetic analyses showed significant jumps of Wolbachia between terrestrial isopods and termites. Thus, our study suggests that the horizontal transmission of supergroup F Wolbachia between termites and terrestrial isopods is likely. Our study also helps understanding the success and worldwide distribution of this symbiont.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Laís Zimmermann
- Instituto Federal de Ciências e Tecnologia do Rio Grande Do Sul. Rua Nelsi Ribas Fritsch, 1111, Bairro Esperança, Ibirubá, Rio Grande Do Sul CEP 98200-000 Brazil
| | - Giovanna M Cardoso
- Centro de Estudos em Biologia Subterrânea, Departamento de Biologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia Aplicada, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Campus Universitário, CP 3037, Lavras, Minas Gerais CEP 37200-900 Brazil
| | - Didier Bouchon
- CNRS UMR 7267, Laboratoire Ecologie Et Biologie Des Interactions, Université de Poitiers, 5 Rue Albert Turpain, Batiment B8-B35, TSA 51106, 86073 Poitiers, France
| | - Pedro H Pezzi
- Departamento de Zoologia, Laboratório de Carcinologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Bairro Agronomia, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande Do Sul CEP 91501-970 Brazil
| | - Alexandre V Palaoro
- LUTA do, Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Artur Riedel, 275, Bairro Eldorado, Diadema, São Paulo CEP 09972-270 Brazil
| | - Paula B Araujo
- Departamento de Zoologia, Laboratório de Carcinologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Bairro Agronomia, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande Do Sul CEP 91501-970 Brazil
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Laranjo LT, da Silva IB, Costa-Leonardo AM. Development and comparative morphology of the reproductive system in different aged males of the drywood termite Cryptotermes brevis (Blattaria, Isoptera, Kalotermitidae). PROTOPLASMA 2020; 257:31-42. [PMID: 31321554 DOI: 10.1007/s00709-019-01417-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Termites are eusocial cockroaches, which have received great attention due to their diversity of reproductive strategies. Although these novelties allow new interpretations concerning the mating biology of these insects, studies highlighting the structure of the reproductive system are limited to some termite lineages. Here we provide the first comparative analysis of the reproductive system of a drywood termite, using different aged males of Cryptotermes brevis as models. This species represents an important structural pest in tropical regions, and most aspects of its reproductive biology remain unknown, especially on males. The reproductive apparatus of C. brevis is equipped with paired testes, composed of seven testicular lobes, in which developing spermatozoa are located. The basal portion of the lobes connects to the vasa deferentia and transport spermatozoa to a pair of enlarged chambers, the seminal vesicles. These structures join in a median ejaculatory duct, which opens to the external region through a retractile penis. Spermatozoa were observed in all C. brevis males, exhibiting elongated morphology and measuring about 10 μm in length/4 μm in width. Compared with last-instar nymphs and alates, functional kings showed enlarged testes and seminal vesicles, as well as an intense secretory activity towards the lumen of the latter structures. Histochemical tests evidenced strongly PAS and xylidine Ponceau positive reactions of the secretion only in functional kings, indicating the occurrence of glycoproteins. Thus, we suggest that morphophysiological changes establish during the maturation of the reproductive system in C. brevis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Teixeira Laranjo
- Laboratório de Cupins, Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista UNESP, Av. 24A, No. 1515, Rio Claro, SP, 13506-900, Brazil
| | - Iago Bueno da Silva
- Laboratório de Cupins, Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista UNESP, Av. 24A, No. 1515, Rio Claro, SP, 13506-900, Brazil
| | - Ana Maria Costa-Leonardo
- Laboratório de Cupins, Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista UNESP, Av. 24A, No. 1515, Rio Claro, SP, 13506-900, Brazil.
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