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de Mendonça THC, Silva CR, Watanabe SYM, Silva AFN, Santos REC, Cristaldo PF. How to perceive the insecticide? The Neotropical termite Nasutitermes corniger (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae) triggers alert behavior after exposure to imidacloprid. Behav Processes 2023; 209:104887. [PMID: 37150334 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2023.104887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
In eusocial insects, alarm signaling is used to inform nestmates about threats such as predators, competitors, and pathogens. Such behavior is important for the survival of colonies. However, studies evaluating the effect of insecticides on the alarm in termites have not yet been reported. Here, we inspected the effects of insecticide on alarm communication in Nasutitermes corniger. Specifically, we test the following hypotheses: (1) termite groups exposed to insecticide imidacloprid increase the body shaking movements, displaying an alert behavior; and (2) the alert behavior displayed after exposition to insecticide is dose dependent. Bioassays were conducted evaluating the body shaking movements and walking activity of termite groups exposed and non-exposed to insecticide. Thereafter, body shaking movements were evaluated in groups submitted to different doses of insecticide. In general, exposing termite groups to insecticide resulted in significantly higher body shaking movements compared to non-exposed groups. There was a positive effect of imidacloprid doses on the shaking movements. Walking activity, however, decreases in those groups exposed to the insecticide. Our results demonstrate the existence of 'insecticide alert behavior' in N. corniger and it appears to be a previously unrecognized communication mechanism in termites that allows for reducing the intoxication risks in the colony.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiago H C de Mendonça
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Entomologia, Departamento de Agronomia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil; Laboratório de Ecologia de Insetos, Departamento de Agronomia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil
| | - Cátila R Silva
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Insetos, Departamento de Agronomia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil
| | - Sara Y M Watanabe
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Entomologia, Departamento de Agronomia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil; Laboratório de Ecologia de Insetos, Departamento de Agronomia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil
| | - Aline F N Silva
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Entomologia, Departamento de Agronomia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil; Laboratório de Ecologia de Insetos, Departamento de Agronomia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil
| | - Renan E C Santos
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Insetos, Departamento de Agronomia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil
| | - Paulo F Cristaldo
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Entomologia, Departamento de Agronomia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil; Laboratório de Ecologia de Insetos, Departamento de Agronomia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
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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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Silva ANF, Silva CR, Santos REC, Arce CCM, Araújo APA, Cristaldo PF. Resource selection in nasute termite: The role of social information. Ethology 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aline Nascimento Filgueira Silva
- Synanthropic Insect Laboratory Department of Agronomy Federal Rural University of Pernambuco Recife Brazil
- Post Graduate Program in Entomology Department of Agronomy Federal Rural University of Pernambuco Recife Brazil
| | - Cátila Regina Silva
- Synanthropic Insect Laboratory Department of Agronomy Federal Rural University of Pernambuco Recife Brazil
| | - Renan Edson Campelo Santos
- Synanthropic Insect Laboratory Department of Agronomy Federal Rural University of Pernambuco Recife Brazil
| | - Carla Cristina Marques Arce
- Laboratory of Fundamental and Applied Research in Chemical Ecology University of Neuchâtel Neuchâtel Switzerland
| | - Ana Paula Albano Araújo
- Ecological Interactions Laboratory Post Graduate Program in Ecology and Conservation Federal University of Sergipe São Cristóvão Brazil
| | - Paulo Fellipe Cristaldo
- Synanthropic Insect Laboratory Department of Agronomy Federal Rural University of Pernambuco Recife Brazil
- Post Graduate Program in Entomology Department of Agronomy Federal Rural University of Pernambuco Recife Brazil
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