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Chen GY, Huang SY, Lin MD, Chouvenc T, Ching YH, Li HF. Hybrids of two destructive subterranean termites established in the field, revealing a potential for gene flow between species. Heredity (Edinb) 2024; 132:257-266. [PMID: 38509263 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-024-00679-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Hybridization between invasive pest species may lead to significant genetic and economic impacts that require close monitoring. The two most invasive and destructive termite species worldwide, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki and Coptotermes gestroi (Wasmann), have the potential for hybridization in the field. A three-year field survey conducted during the dispersal flight season of Coptotermes in Taiwan identified alates with atypical morphology, which were confirmed as hybrids of the two Coptotermes species using microsatellite and mitochondrial analyses. Out of 27,601 alates collected over three years, 4.4% were confirmed as hybrid alates, and some advanced hybrids (>F1 generations) were identified. The hybrid alates had a dispersal flight season that overlapped with the two parental species 13 out of 15 times. Most of the hybrid alates were females, implying that mating opportunities beyond F1 may primarily be possible through female hybrids. However, the incipient colony growth results from all potential mating combinations suggest that only backcross colonies with hybrid males could sometimes lead to brood development. The observed asymmetrical viability and fertility of hybrid alates may critically reduce the probability of advanced-hybrid colonies being established in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guan-Yu Chen
- Department of Entomology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Ying Huang
- Department of Entomology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Der Lin
- Department of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Thomas Chouvenc
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
| | - Yung-Hao Ching
- Department of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
| | - Hou-Feng Li
- Department of Entomology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.
- i- Center for Advanced Science and Technology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.
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Patel JS, Chouvenc T, Wu CC, Li HF, Su NY. Soldier phenotypic differences among 2 invasive and destructive Coptotermes species and their hybrids (Blattodea: Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2023; 23:2. [PMID: 37952215 PMCID: PMC10640870 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iead095] [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: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
With recent evidence of hybridization events in the field, the phenotypic traits of F1 hybrid colonies of 2 destructive subterranean termite species, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki and Coptotermes gestroi (Wasmann) remain to be investigated. In this study, laboratory colonies of 2 conspecific pairings and 2 heterospecific pairings (hybrid F = ♀C. formosanus × ♂C. gestroi, hybrid G = ♀C. gestroi × ♂C. formosanus) were examined in Florida, USA, and in Taiwan. Colony nest architecture for both hybrids displayed disorganized carton materials compared to the defined trabecular carton of both parental species. Soldier head measurements were not a reliable approach for diagnostic purposes, as soldier morphometric traits widely overlapped across all mating combinations, except for hybrid F soldiers displaying abnormally long mandibles. Hybrid F soldiers' mandibles also remained parallel when at rest. However, 4 qualitative morphological differences in soldiers were determined for diagnostic purposes. First, the fontanelle in both hybrids is horizontally ellipsoid whereas subcircular in C. gestroi and trianguliform in C. formosanus. Second, sclerotized striations along the postmental sulcus are present in C. gestroi, absent in C. formosanus, and intermediate in both hybrid soldier types. Third, each lateral margin of the fontanelle is flanked by 2 setae in C. formosanus and both hybrids, while a single seta resides on each side of the fontanelle in C. gestroi. Finally, C. gestroi and hybrid soldiers' heads are characterized by a bulging vertex that is lacking in C. formosanus. Therefore, a combination of these 4 characteristics now allows for soldier identification of hybrid Coptotermes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayshree S Patel
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
- Oncospark Inc., Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Thomas Chouvenc
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
| | - Chia-Chien Wu
- Department of Entomology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Hou-Feng Li
- Department of Entomology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Nan-Yao Su
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
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Patel JS, Lee SB, Chouvenc T, Su NY. Equivalent Colony Growth of Hybrids of Two Invasive Coptotermes Species Can Threaten Urban Areas. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 116:538-545. [PMID: 36749607 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toad020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki and C. gestroi (Wasmann) are economically important structural pests in urban areas. Due to anthropogenic activity, both species have been introduced into the United States, with their respective invasive ranges now overlapping in Florida, and the two species have the capability to hybridize. The potential for structural damage from subterranean termite colonies primarily depends on colony size. However, long-term colony growth and wood consumption capabilities of hybrid Coptotermes colonies remain to be investigated, to determine the potential pest status of field-established hybrid colonies. In this study, we investigated long-term colony development over four years to determine if aging hybrid colonies display vigor in terms of colony growth. In addition, we compared wood consumption rate of hybrid colonies to compare their potential impact as structural pests with the two parental species. In aging colonies (four-year-old), both hybrid mating types displayed a colony growth equivalent to C. formosanus. However, the wood consumption rates of four-year-old colonies of the two parental Coptotermes species and their hybrids were similar, indicating equal damaging potential. We also found multiple secondary reproductives in hybrid colonies, even in the presence of primary reproductives, which may favor their potential establishment and spread. Although hybrid colonies or hybrid alates have yet to be detected in the field, our results suggest that such hybrid colonies would be an additional termite threat in the future if they were established in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayshree S Patel
- Entomology and Nematology Department, Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, 3205 College Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA
| | - Sang-Bin Lee
- Entomology and Nematology Department, Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, 3205 College Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA
| | - Thomas Chouvenc
- Entomology and Nematology Department, Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, 3205 College Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA
| | - Nan-Yao Su
- Entomology and Nematology Department, Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, 3205 College Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA
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Fournier D, Aron S. Hybridization and invasiveness in social insects - The good, the bad and the hybrid. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2021; 46:1-9. [PMID: 33484875 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2020.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Hybridization may help drive biological invasions by reducing Allee effects, increasing genetic variation, and generating novel adaptive genotypes/phenotypes. Social insects (ants, bees, wasps, and termites) are among the world's worst invasive species. In this review, we study the relationship between hybridization and invasiveness in social insects. We examine three types of hybridization based on the reproductive characteristics of first-generation hybrids. We discuss several examples of the association between hybridization and invasiveness, which are predominantly found in bees and termites. However, hybridization also occurs in several non-invasive species, and highly invasive species are not consistently associated with hybridization events, indicating that hybridization is not a main driver of invasiveness in social insects. We discuss why hybridization is not more commonly seen in invasive social insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Fournier
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Serge Aron
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
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Mizumoto N, Lee SB, Valentini G, Chouvenc T, Pratt SC. Coordination of movement via complementary interactions of leaders and followers in termite mating pairs. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20210998. [PMID: 34255998 PMCID: PMC8277464 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.0998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In collective animal motion, coordination is often achieved by feedback between leaders and followers. For stable coordination, a leader's signals and a follower's responses are hypothesized to be attuned to each other. However, their roles are difficult to disentangle in species with highly coordinated movements, hiding potential diversity of behavioural mechanisms for collective behaviour. Here, we show that two Coptotermes termite species achieve a similar level of coordination via distinct sets of complementary leader-follower interactions. Even though C. gestroi females produce less pheromone than C. formosanus, tandem runs of both species were stable. Heterospecific pairs with C. gestroi males were also stable, but not those with C. formosanus males. We attributed this to the males' adaptation to the conspecific females; C. gestroi males have a unique capacity to follow females with small amounts of pheromone, while C. formosanus males reject C. gestroi females as unsuitable but are competitive over females with large amounts of pheromone. An information-theoretic analysis supported this conclusion by detecting information flow from female to male only in stable tandems. Our study highlights cryptic interspecific variation in movement coordination, a source of novelty for the evolution of social interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuaki Mizumoto
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
- Okinawa Institute of Science & Technology Graduate University, Onna-son, Okinawa 940-0495, Japan
| | - Sang-Bin Lee
- Entomology and Nematology Department, Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA
| | | | - Thomas Chouvenc
- Entomology and Nematology Department, Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA
| | - Stephen C. Pratt
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
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