Reproductive Behaviors and Pairing Modes of totermes fomosanus (Shiraki) Alates

[ Objectives ] To study the reproductive behaviors and the effect of different pairing modes on the developmental status of incipient colonies'of Odontote- rmes fomosanus (Shiraki). [ Methods ] We observed the reproductive behaviors of male alates, female Mates and mated alates respectively. Male an...

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Published inPlant Diseases and Pests(植物病虫害研究:英文版) Vol. 5; no. 6; pp. 1 - 7
Main Author Ji Shilin Ji Baozhong Liu Shuwen Cao Dandan Liu Jiajia Yang Jinjin Zhang Xinwei Zhao Zhengping Wang Liping Ehsan SOLEYMANINEJADIAN
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published 2014
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ISSN2152-3932

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Summary:[ Objectives ] To study the reproductive behaviors and the effect of different pairing modes on the developmental status of incipient colonies'of Odontote- rmes fomosanus (Shiraki). [ Methods ] We observed the reproductive behaviors of male alates, female Mates and mated alates respectively. Male and female Mates had 9 pairing modes and founded 170 incipient colonies under laboratory conditions. The effect of pairing mode on incipient colonies' developmental status was ana- lyzed. [ Results ] Two peaking hours of mating activity within the daily circadian rhythm of Mate activity appeared from 09:00 to 10:00, and from 21:00 to 22:00, respectively. Courtship behavior before mating consisted of touching with antennae, connecting into a ring (head-to-end), and licking. The reproductive behavior ( calling, pairing, tandem, mating and oviposition) of nestmate pairs was different to that of non-nestmate pairs. The pairing time of non-nestmate pairs was signifi- candy longer than that of alates paired with siblings (P 〈 0.05 ). The non-swarming alates could mate with swarming or non-swarming Mates and lay fertile eggs which hatched successfully. However, the survival rate of colonies founded by non-swarming alates was very low. The death rate of incipient colonies was in the range of 0.61% -0. 99% after three months, while the death rate of the colonies founded by swarming alates was in the range of 0.22% -0.58%. Females that had been experimentally prevented from mating could lay eggs, but the eggs did not hatch. [ Conclusion] There are two distinct hourly peaks of mating activity within each 24 hour period. Incipient colonies founded by outbreeding have the highest probability of survival.
Bibliography:[ Objectives ] To study the reproductive behaviors and the effect of different pairing modes on the developmental status of incipient colonies'of Odontote- rmes fomosanus (Shiraki). [ Methods ] We observed the reproductive behaviors of male alates, female Mates and mated alates respectively. Male and female Mates had 9 pairing modes and founded 170 incipient colonies under laboratory conditions. The effect of pairing mode on incipient colonies' developmental status was ana- lyzed. [ Results ] Two peaking hours of mating activity within the daily circadian rhythm of Mate activity appeared from 09:00 to 10:00, and from 21:00 to 22:00, respectively. Courtship behavior before mating consisted of touching with antennae, connecting into a ring (head-to-end), and licking. The reproductive behavior ( calling, pairing, tandem, mating and oviposition) of nestmate pairs was different to that of non-nestmate pairs. The pairing time of non-nestmate pairs was signifi- candy longer than that of alates paired with siblings (P 〈 0.05 ). The non-swarming alates could mate with swarming or non-swarming Mates and lay fertile eggs which hatched successfully. However, the survival rate of colonies founded by non-swarming alates was very low. The death rate of incipient colonies was in the range of 0.61% -0. 99% after three months, while the death rate of the colonies founded by swarming alates was in the range of 0.22% -0.58%. Females that had been experimentally prevented from mating could lay eggs, but the eggs did not hatch. [ Conclusion] There are two distinct hourly peaks of mating activity within each 24 hour period. Incipient colonies founded by outbreeding have the highest probability of survival.
Odontotermesfomosanus (Shiraki) ; Reproductive behavior; 24-hour circadian rhythm; Pairing modes; Nest founded indoor
ISSN:2152-3932