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Polyethism in the australian harvester TermiteDrepanotermes (Isoptera, Termitinae)

Arbeitsteilung bei australischen Erntetermiten der Gattung Drepanotermes (Isoptera, Termitinae)

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Summary

Species ofDrepanotermes show instar-dependent behavioural differences in the worker caste in both nest repair and foraging activity. Immediately following damage to the nest, the frequencies of W1, W2 and W3 at the damaged site decreased, while those of W4+W5 and soldiers increased in bothD. rubriceps andD. perniger. W4+W5 carried out most of the nest repair, and, at least inD. perniger, their frequency was still significantly higher at the damaged site 60 hours after damage.

InD. perniger more than 75% of termites in the above-ground foraging parties were W4+W5, and the frequencies of younger workers were related to instar, the earlier the instar the lower the frequency. Soldiers were also over-represented in foraging parties. W4+W5 were not necessarily more abundant in the peripheral galleries than they were in the central nest, despite their predominance in the foraging parties.

Zusammenfassung

In einigen Arten vonDrepanotermes zeigen die Arbeiter eine altersabhängige Arbeitsteilung in bezug auf Reparaturen am Nest und Sammelaktivität. Sofort nach der Beschädigung eines Nestes nahm die Anzahl der Arbeiterstadien A1, A2 und A3 ab, während die Arbeiterstadien A4+A5 und die Soldaten häufiger anzutreffen waren. Dies traf fürD. rubriceps als auch fürD. perniger zu. A4+A5 führten den grössten Anteil der Nestreparaturen aus, und zumindestens inD. perniger war die Anzahl dieses Arbeiterstadiums noch 60 Stunden nach der Beschädigung signifikant höher als in unbeschädigten Teilen des Nestes.

An den oberirdisch sammelnden Termitengruppen waren inD. perniger über 75% Arbeiter des Stadiums A4+A5 beteiligt. Die Häufigkeit der jüngeren Stadien nahm stark mit absteigendem Alter ab. Soldaten waren ebenfalls überdurchschnittlich in den Sammelgruppen vertreten. In den peripheren Gallerien waren A4+A5 nicht unbedingt häufiger anzutreffen als im Inneren des Nestes, obwohl sie in den Sammelgruppen deutlich überwogen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Entomology, C.S.I.R.O., 2601, Canberra, A.C.T., Australia

    J. A. L. Watson

  2. Department of Zoology, University of North Carolina, 27514, Chapel Hill, N.C., U.S.A.

    Elizabeth A. McMahan

Authors
  1. J. A. L. Watson
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  2. Elizabeth A. McMahan
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This paper is dedicated to the memory of Pr AlfredE. Emerson.

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Watson, J.A.L., McMahan, E.A. Polyethism in the australian harvester TermiteDrepanotermes (Isoptera, Termitinae). Ins. Soc 25, 53–62 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02224485

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02224485

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