Acta Entomologica Sinica (1998) 41, 376-381

Jianhua Zhang (1998)
[Polyethism in Reticulitermes fukienensis a preliminary study]
Acta Entomologica Sinica 41 (4), 376-381
Abstract: This paper deals with the polyethism in Reticulitermes fukienensis Light. Experiment showed that the older workers undertake the scouting behavior even when soldiers are absent, and foraging polyethism exists inside the termite colonies. After observing the gut contents of the larvae and workers it was found there is no semi-solid dark brown materials inside the larva's gut parts and a large amount of semi-solid dark brown materials inside the gut parts of workers, it can be inferred that larvae feed themselves on liquid foods through trophallaxis and sucking and workers feed themselves on fiber materials. On the aspect of the gut structure for larvae and workers, their paunches have undergone developmental change, from slender tubular gut to expanding sac. Age seems to play a role in the polyethism in R. fukienensis.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
(original language: Chinese)

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Reticulitermes fukienensis