Morphology of the head-associated exocrine glands in Cornitermes cumulans with the description of a novel gland for the worker caste.

Exocrine glands are important mediators of communication in eusocial insects and the description of novel glands reflects the complex context in which these animals live. Here we revisit the head-associated glands in workers of the Neotropical termite Cornitermes cumulans through histological analysis and describe a novel gland for this caste, the intramandibular glands. This structure is located underneath the cuticle of the dorsodistal part of each mandible.

Secretory oviducts contribute to the high egg-laying rate of physogastric termite queens (Isoptera: Termitidae).

Physogastric termite queens are characterized by a notorious enlargement of the abdomen triggered by an equal development of the ovaries. Other physogastry-related modifications have been reported on the fat body, cuticle, midgut, tracheal system, and hemolymph. Surprisingly, modifications on the lateral oviducts of these females, important sites for ovulation and egg transport, have received little attention.

Differentiation of workers into soldiers is associated with a size reduction of higher-order brain centers in the neotropical termite Procornitermes araujoi.

Comparing the size of functionally distinct brain regions across individuals with remarkable differences in sensory processing and cognitive demands provides important insights into the selective forces shaping animal nervous systems. We took advantage of the complex system of worker-to-soldier differentiation in the termitid Procornitermes araujoi, to investigate how a profound modification of body morphology followed by an irreversible shift in task performance are translated in terms of brain structure and size. This behavioural shift is characterised by a reduction of the once wide and complex behavioural repertoire of workers to one exclusively dedicated to nest defence (soldiers).

Functional Morphology and Development of the Colleterial Glands in Non- and Egg-Laying Females of the Pest Termite Coptotermes gestroi (Blattaria, Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae).

Colleterial glands of female insects are accessory glands responsible for producing secretions associated with egg-laying. Within Dictyoptera, they synthesize compounds of the ootheca. However, their morphology and role in termites are poorly understood.

On the reproductive strategies post-colony foundation: major termite pest species with distinct ecological habits differ in their oviposition dynamics.

Termite colony foundation precedes the incipient stage, when the first oviposition cycle takes place, followed by months of reproductive inactivity. The royal couple is supposed to cease oviposition during this period, investing energy to care for the first brood. When a suitable number of alloparents differentiate, egg-laying resumes.

Mating- and oviposition-dependent changes of the spermatheca and colleterial glands in the pest termite Cryptotermes brevis (Blattaria, Isoptera, Kalotermitidae).

The spermatheca and colleterial glands of female insects are organs associated with the reproductive system, responsible for sperm storage and secretion of egg coverings, respectively. Here we compared the development, secretory activity, and chemical nature of the secretion in the spermatheca and colleterial glands of different-aged females of the drywood termite Cryptotermes brevis. We also provide the ultrastructure of these organs in alate females.

Post-embryonic development of the female reproductive system of the Neotropical termite Silvestritermes euamignathus (Isoptera: Termitidae: Syntermitinae).

In termites, the maturation of the female reproductive system is progressive following post-embryonic development. In Silvestritermes euamignathus, the imaginal line is characterized by five nymphal instars that develop into the imago, but it can deviate in some instars to neotenic reproductives. In order to understand the rate of development of the female reproductive system throughout post-embryonic development, we analyzed the morphology of the reproductive system of nymphs, characterizing the stage of development and comparing it with neotenics and primary queens.

First Neotropical record of the association between brown sclerotium-forming fungi and termite eggs in a nest of Coptotermes gestroi (Blattaria, Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae).

Insects and fungi are abundant in many environments, in which facultative and/or obligate associations involving these groups have been established during evolution. In termites, mutualism with fungi is well reported for some termite lineages (e.g.

Oxidative cleavage of polysaccharides by a termite-derived boosts the degradation of biomass by glycoside hydrolases.

Wood-feeding termites effectively degrade plant biomass through enzymatic degradation. Despite their high efficiencies, however, individual glycoside hydrolases isolated from termites and their symbionts exhibit anomalously low effectiveness in lignocellulose degradation, suggesting hereto unknown enzymatic activities in their digestome. Herein, we demonstrate that an ancient redox-active enzyme encoded by the lower termite , a Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD-1), plays a previously unknown role in plant biomass degradation.

Comparative reproductive biology of pre-, imaginal, and neotenic castes of the Asian termite (Blattaria, Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae).

The Asian subterranean termite is a worldwide structural pest, although its reproductive biology has been poorly investigated due to a cryptic habit and occurrence of polycalic nests. In this study, we investigated ovarian development and oogenesis in different-aged females of : fourth-instar nymphs, non-functional neotenics, alates, and functional queens. We show that the ovaries develop gradually according to their age and functionality, as younger individuals possess immature oocytes, whereas alates and functional queens always undergo vitellogenesis.

Salivary glands in workers of Ruptitermes spp. (Blattaria, Isoptera, Termitidae, Apicotermitinae): a morphological and preoteomic approach.

Salivary glands are omnipresent in termites and occur in all developmental stages and castes. They function to produce, store, and secrete compounds, ranging from a feeding function to defensive mechanisms. Here, we provide a complete morphological overview of the salivary glands in the soldierless species Ruptitermes reconditus and R.

Proteomic-components provide insights into the defensive secretion in termite workers of the soldierless genus Ruptitermes.

Termite soldiers constitute the defensive frontline of the colonies, despite workers also perform such tasks, especially within the Neotropical Apicotermitinae, in which all species are soldierless. Workers of the genus Ruptitermes display an extreme form of defense, characterized by body rupture and release of a sticky secretion. Previous observations suggested that such behavior may be advantageous against enemies, but the chemical composition of this secretion has been neglected.

A Glycoproteinaceous Secretion in the Seminal Vesicles of the Termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae).

is a subterranean termite with colonies generally headed by a pair of primary reproductives, although neotenics may occur. In this study, the male reproductive system was compared during different life stages of nymphs, alates, neotenic reproductives, and kings of , focusing on the modifications of this system along the maturation of these individuals. The structure of the male reproductive system follows the pattern described for insects, although males do not exhibit conspicuous penises and differentiated accessory glands.

Facing death: How does the subterranean termite Coptotermes gestroi (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) deal with corpses?

Social insects display a range of sophisticated behaviors to deal with cadavers, which together act to guarantee the health and social homeostasis of their colonies. In termites, cadaver management involves an entire repertoire of activities, such as antennation, grooming, retreat, alarm and agonistic behaviors. We performed different bioassays to evaluate whether postmortem-age, origin and caste of a cadaver influence the behavior of Coptotermes gestroi.

Ergatoid reproductives in the Neotropical termite Nasutitermes aquilinus (Holmgren) (Blattaria: Isoptera: Termitidae): developmental origin, fecundity, and genetics.

Termite colonies are usually headed by primary reproductives, which establish nests during the swarming season. However, secondary reproductives may develop in some species and become supplementary or replacement breeders, extending colony lifespan. Here we investigate the developmental origin, fecundity and genetic characterization of ergatoid reproductives in the Neotropical termite Nasutitermes aquilinus (Holmgren), using morphometrical and histological techniques, five microsatellite loci and the COI mitochondrial DNA.

Development and comparative morphology of the reproductive system in different aged males of the drywood termite Cryptotermes brevis (Blattaria, Isoptera, Kalotermitidae).

Termites are eusocial cockroaches, which have received great attention due to their diversity of reproductive strategies. Although these novelties allow new interpretations concerning the mating biology of these insects, studies highlighting the structure of the reproductive system are limited to some termite lineages. Here we provide the first comparative analysis of the reproductive system of a drywood termite, using different aged males of Cryptotermes brevis as models.

Microbial Communities of the Gut and Nest of the Humus- and Litter-Feeding Termite Procornitermes araujoi (Syntermitinae).

The evolution of the symbiotic association with microbes allowed termites to decompose ingested lignocellulose from plant-derived substrates, including herbivore dung and soil humus. Representatives of the Syntermitinae (Termitidae) range in their feeding habits from wood and litter-feeding to humus-feeding species. However, only limited information is available about their feeding ecology and associated microbial communities.

Behavioural repertoire of termites in corpse management: A comparison between one-piece and multiple-pieces nesting termite species.

Corpse disposal is an essential adaptation to social life. This behaviour promotes nest hygiene and prevents the spread of pathogens in the colony of social insects. The current study verified the corpse management in two termite families towards cadavers of different origins.

Food Storage by the Savanna Termite Cornitermes cumulans (Syntermitinae): a Strategy to Improve Hemicellulose Digestibility?

It has been suggested that food storage inside the nest may offer termites with a nutritional provision during low resource availability. Additionally, feces employed as construction material provide an excellent environment for colonization by microorganisms and, together with the storage of plant material inside the nest, could thus provide some advantage to the termites in terms of lignocellulose decomposition. Here, we conducted for the first time a comprehensive study of the microbial communities associated to a termite exhibiting food storage behavior using Illumina sequencing of the 16S and (ITS2) regions of rRNA genes, together with enzymatic assays and data collected in the field.

Hypopharynx in termites: Morphological and functional aspects.

The hypopharynx morphology in workers, pseudergates, and soldiers was described in six families of Isoptera using scanning electronic microscopy. This is the first comparative study to detail the hypopharynx among different species of termites, and included 4 one-piece type (OP) and 9 multiple-pieces type termites (MP). The results showed different arrangements of the hypopharynx trichomes, with fewer of these structures in the frontal region of the hypopharynx in pseudergates and soldiers of OP termites.

Expanding the Knowledge on Lignocellulolytic and Redox Enzymes of Worker and Soldier Castes from the Lower Termite .

Termites are considered one of the most efficient decomposers of lignocelluloses on Earth due to their ability to produce, along with its microbial symbionts, a repertoire of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes). Recently, a set of Pro-oxidant, Antioxidant, and Detoxification enzymes (PAD) were also correlated with the metabolism of carbohydrates and lignin in termites. The lower termite is considered the main urban pest in Brazil, causing damage to wood constructions.

Unrelated secondary reproductives in the neotropical termite Silvestritermes euamignathus (Isoptera: Termitidae).

A termite colony is usually founded by a pair of alates, the primary reproductives, which produce all the nestmates. In some species, secondary reproductives appear to either replace the primaries or supplement colony reproduction. In termites, secondary reproductives are generally ergatoids derived from workers or nymphoids derived from nymphs.