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Termite colony ontogeny: supplemental data in the long-term assessment of reproductive lifespan, female neotenic production and colony size in Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 May 2007

C.E. Long ,
B.L. Thorne  and
N.L. Breisch
C.E. Long*
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, 4112 Plant Science Building, College Park, MD 20742, USA
B.L. Thorne
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, 4112 Plant Science Building, College Park, MD 20742, USA
N.L. Breisch
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, 4112 Plant Science Building, College Park, MD 20742, USA
*
*Fax: (301) 314 9290 E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) colonies established by field-collected alates were reared in the laboratory for 11 years. Weights of members of each caste and full-colony censuses were performed regularly; the most recent 2003–2004 data are reported. Colonies averaged 11623.5±910 individuals, and with the exception of primary queens from one genetic lineage, mean weights for all castes had increased since 2001. Female replacement reproductives, or neotenics, developed to replace dead queens in clusters of either few, large individuals or many, small individuals. Regardless of cluster size, female neotenics comprised more reproductive biomass per colony than primary queens. The number and size of female neotenics was independent of colony size or time elapsed since a founding queen's death.

Keywords

Reticulitermes flavipescolony growthneotenic development
Type
Short Communication
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 97 , Issue 3 , June 2007 , pp. 321 - 325
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

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