RESUMO
Termites are well recognized by their complex development trajectories, involving dynamic differentiation process between non-reproductive castes, workers and soldiers. These insects are associated with endosymbiotic microorganisms, which help in lignocellulose digestion and nitrogen metabolism. Aiming to identify genes harbouring biotechnological potential, we analyzed workers and soldiers RNA-Seq data of three neotropical termites: Heterotermes tenuis (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), Velocitermes heteropterus (Isoptera: Termitidae) and Cornitermes cumulans (Isoptera: Termitidae). We observed differences in the microbiota associated with each termite family, and found protists' genes in both Termitidae species. We found an opposite pattern of caste-biased gene expression between H. tenuis and the termitids studied. Moreover, the two termitids are considerably different concerning the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Functional annotation indicated considerable differences in caste-biased gene content between V. heteropterus and C. cumulans, even though they share similar diet and biological niche. Among the most DEGs, we highlighted those involved in caste differentiation and cellulose digestion, which are attractive targets for studying more efficient technologies for termite control, biomass digestion and other biotechnological applications.
Assuntos
Isópteros/genética , Microbiota/genética , Transcriptoma , Animais , Celulose/metabolismo , Isópteros/metabolismo , Isópteros/microbiologia , SimbioseRESUMO
Czerwinski (1901) (sometimes spelled Tscherwinsky) described four new termite taxa in a publication about the termite collection of the former Zoological Cabinet of the Imperial Warsaw University (currently Museum and Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, MZPW): Eutermes burmeisteri and Eutermes rippertii iheringi from southern Brazil, Eutermes canariensis from the Canary Islands, and Eutermes nasonovi from Madagascar.
Assuntos
Isópteros , Animais , Brasil , Madagáscar , EspanhaRESUMO
The neotropical termite genus Neocapritermes Holmgren (1912) was revised by Krishna & Araujo (1968), who recognized 14 valid species. Two additional species were described by Constantino (1991), and another one by Bandeira & Cancello (1992). However, the imago of most species of Neocapritermes remain unknown. In this paper we describe for the first time the imago of Neocapritermes utiariti based on specimens from the State of Rondônia, Brazil. The examined material will be deposited in the Invertebrate Collection of the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil (INPA). Comparisons with other imagoes of Neocapritermes were made based on descriptions and figures from Krishna & Araújo (1968). The measurements were taken with an ocular micrometer following Roonwal's (1970) system of morphometric characters.
Assuntos
Isópteros , Animais , Brasil , OlhoRESUMO
Coendutermes Fontes, 1985 is a monotypic South American termite genus. Coendutermes tucum Fontes, 1985, was described based on morphological characters from soldiers and workers collected in Mato Grosso, Brazil, and Jodensavanne, Suriname. Herein, I describe the imago caste of C. tucum for the first time with additional notes on soldiers, workers, and new distributional records. The studied material is deposited at the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (MZUSP). I use the terminology of Fontes (1987) to describe worker mandibles, and that of Noirot (2001) for the different parts of the digestive tube of workers. I measured the imagoes morphometric characters following Roonwal (1970): LH, length of head capsule (9); WH, width of head capsule without eyes (18); OF, occipito-fontanelle distance (23); DE, diameter of eye (48); LO, length of ocellus (55); WO, width of ocellus (56); EOD, eye-ocellus distance (57); LP, length of pronotum (65); WP, width of pronotum (68); LT, length of hind tibia (85). I took photographs of all castes with a stereomicroscope (Leica M205C) attached to a video camera (Leica DFC295) and images of gizzard and enteric valve under a microscope (Leica DM750B) attached to a video camera (Leica ICC50HD), then I combined the stacks of images with the software Leica LAS EZ 2.0 or Helicon Focus 5.2.11 X64. For the scanning electron micrographs (SEM), one soldier was dried to critical point while directly mounted on a stub with double face adhesive tape, then coated with gold and photographed with the SEM (Zeiss LEO 440 ®).
Assuntos
Isópteros/fisiologia , Isópteros/ultraestrutura , Distribuição Animal , Animais , Brasil , Feminino , Especificidade da EspécieRESUMO
A new species of termite, Macuxitermes colombicus Postle & Scheffrahn is described from soldiers and workers collected from Departamento Magdalena, Colombia. The soldier of Macuxitermes colombicus differs from its lone congener in having no protuberances on the head capsule.
RESUMO
A taxonomic study of Cylindrotermes Holmgren (Isoptera, Termitidae, Termitinae) is presented, with a redescription of the genus, a description of three new species C. caata, C. capixaba and C. sapiranga, and a redescription of four out of the five previously known species: C. parvignathus, C. brevipilosus, C. macrognathus and C. flangiatus. The imagos of C. brevipilosus and C. macrognathus are described for the first time. Illustrations of all soldiers and imagos are provided, as well as an identificaton key based on soldiers.
O trabalho é um estudo taxonômico de Cylindrotermes Holmgren (Isoptera, Termitidae, Termitinae), incluindo a redescrição do gênero, a descrição de três espécies novas C. caata, C. capixaba e C. sapiranga, além da redescrição de quatro, das cinco espécies anteriormente conhecidas: C. parvignathus, C. brevipilosus, C. macrognathus e C. flangiatus. Os alados de C. brevipilosus e C. macrognathus são descritos pela primeira vez. Há ilustrações de todos os soldados e alados das espécies estudadas, bem como uma chave dicotômica de identificação baseada nos soldados.
RESUMO
A taxonomic study of Cylindrotermes Holmgren (Isoptera, Termitidae, Termitinae) is presented, with a redescription of the genus, a description of three new species C. caata, C. capixaba and C. sapiranga, and a redescription of four out of the five previously known species: C. parvignathus, C. brevipilosus, C. macrognathus and C. flangiatus. The imagos of C. brevipilosus and C. macrognathus are described for the first time. Illustrations of all soldiers and imagos are provided, as well as an identificaton key based on soldiers.
O trabalho é um estudo taxonômico de Cylindrotermes Holmgren (Isoptera, Termitidae, Termitinae), incluindo a redescrição do gênero, a descrição de três espécies novas C. caata, C. capixaba e C. sapiranga, além da redescrição de quatro, das cinco espécies anteriormente conhecidas: C. parvignathus, C. brevipilosus, C. macrognathus e C. flangiatus. Os alados de C. brevipilosus e C. macrognathus são descritos pela primeira vez. Há ilustrações de todos os soldados e alados das espécies estudadas, bem como uma chave dicotômica de identificação baseada nos soldados.
RESUMO
This paper reports on ant and termite species inhabiting the mounds (murundus) found in three wetland sites in Santo Antonio da Patrulha. Ants and termites were found in 100% of the mounds of two sites and in 20% of those in the third site. Colonies of Camponotus fastigatus were found inhabiting all the mounds, while colonies of Brachymyrmex sp., Linepithema sp., Pheidole sp., and/or Solenopsis sp. were collected in less than 30% of the mounds. In the mounds of the three sites, colonies of Anoplotermes sp. and/or Aparatermes sp. termites were found together with the ant colonies. Another cohabiting termite species, Cortaritermes sp., was found only in the mounds of one site. The results suggest that C. fastigatus is the species building the mounds, with the other species, whether ants or termites, being the inquilines.
Neste trabalho são relatadas as espécies de formigas e de térmitas co-habitantes dos murundus em três áreas de zonas úmidas, no município de Santo Antônio da Patrulha, RS. Em todos os murundus foram encontradas colônias de formigas, sendo que Camponotus fastigatus ocorreu em 100% deles e, em menos de 30%, também havia colônias de Brachymyrmex sp., Linepithema sp., Pheidole sp. e/ou de Solenopsis sp. Co-habitando com as formigas, nos murundus das três áreas, foram encontradas colônias dos térmitas Anoplotermes sp. e/ou de Aparatermes sp. Uma terceira espécie de térmita co-habitante, Cortaritermes sp., foi encontrada apenas nos murundus de uma das áreas. Os dados obtidos sugerem que C. fastigatus seria a espécie construtora dos murundus e as demais espécies de formigas e de térmitas seriam inquilinas.