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Physiological changes of primary reproductives after founding incipient colonies in the subterranean termite Reticulitermes chinensis Snyder

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Abstract

Investigation on the physiological change in founders is helpful for understanding the strategy of termites to overcome severe and nutrition-limited condition in incipient colonies. Physiological changes of primary reproductives were analyzed 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 and 7.5 months after founding incipient female-female (FF) colonies or female-male (FM) colonies in the subterranean termite R. chinensis Snyder. We found that the fresh weight of FM_king or FM_queen was significantly lower than those of FF_queen at 7.5 months, suggesting that FM_king and FM_queen underwent dehydration and hardening to improve their cold resistance. There was a significantly negative linear correlation in the protein titer between FF_queen and FM_queen at 3.5 months. The decrease in protein titer of FF_queen may be due to oviposition and eggs-guarding at 1.5 months, and the subsequent increase may be due to swallowing eggs. The increase in protein titer of FM_queen at 1.5 months may be because the king can replenish the queen with protein through the transfer of proctodeal pellets, while the subsequent decrease may be due to sharply increased consumption of protein by incubation and brooding. There was marginally significant negative correlation between glucose and triglyceride titers in FM_queen and FM_king at 3.5 months, respectively. These findings suggested that indirect mutual conversion of glucose and triglyceride may occur without external nutritional supplement in primary reproductives of R. chinensis.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the anonymous reviewers for providing valuable comments on earlier drafts of this manuscript. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31601891 and 31772516).

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  1. G. H. Li and J. C. Zhou are co-first authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hubei Key Laboratory of Edible Wild Plants Conservation and Utilization, Hubei Normal University, Huangshi, Hubei, China

    G. H. Li & J. C. Zhou

  2. Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China

    G. H. Li & Q. Y. Huang

  3. University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China

    Y. X. Huang

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  1. G. H. Li
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  2. J. C. Zhou
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Correspondence to Q. Y. Huang.

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Li, G.H., Zhou, J.C., Huang, Y.X. et al. Physiological changes of primary reproductives after founding incipient colonies in the subterranean termite Reticulitermes chinensis Snyder. Insect. Soc. 68, 23–31 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00040-020-00795-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00040-020-00795-0

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