Rare production of nymphs in an Asian subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) incipient colony
Keywords:
Coptotermes, replacement reproductive, neotenic, developmental plasticityAbstract
Coptotermes colonies usually produce nymphs when a colony reaches maturity. In this study, we describe a rare case of nymph production from a 10-mo-old colony that previously had lost a primary reproductive. Such replacement reproductives are not functional. We suggest that the unusual developmental plasticity we observed may be the result of a vestigial developmental pathway that may partially regain its functionality in mature colonies.
Sumario
Colonias de Coptotermes suelen producir ninfas cuando la colonia alcanza la madurez. En este estudio, se describe un raro caso de producción de ninfas por una colonia de 10 meses de edad, que anteriormente habían perdido su estado reproductivo primario. Tales reproductoras de reemplazo no son funcionales. Sugerimos que la plasticidad del desarrollo no usual que observamos puede ser el resultado de una manera de desarrollo vestigial que puede recuperar parcialmente su funcionalidad en las colonias maduras.
Downloads
Additional Files
Issue
Section
License
Copyright for any article published in Florida Entomologist is held by the author(s) of the article. Florida Entomologist is an open access journal. Florida Entomologist follows terms of the Creative Commons, Attribution Non-Commercial License (cc by-nc). By submitting and publishing articles in Florida Entomologist, authors grant the FOJ and Florida Entomologist's host institutions permission to make the article available through Internet posting and electronic dissemination, and to otherwise archive the information contained both electronically and in a hard printed version. When used, information and images obtained from articles must be referenced and cited appropriately. Articles may be reproduced for personal, educational, or archival purposes, or any non-commercial use. Permission should be sought from the author(s) for multiple, non-commercial reproduction. Written permission from the author(s) is required for any commercial reproduction.