The Experts below are selected from a list of 111 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Michael S. Engel - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Treatise on the Isoptera of the World
Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 2013Co-Authors: Kumar. Krishna, David A Grimaldi, Valerie Krishna, Michael S. EngelAbstract:ABSTRACT A comprehensive compendium on the taxonomy and biology of the 3106 living and fossil species of the worlds termites is presented, along with reviews of Isoptera morphology and evolution, identification keys, the history of termite systematics, and summary of the worlds 363 significant pest species. A complete bibliography is provided of nearly 5000 references covering virtually all aspects of termite taxonomy and biology through December 2011. The morphology of Isoptera is thoroughly reviewed and illustrated with original scanning electron micrographs and photomicrographs, covering the cuticular anatomy and those internal organs that are taxonomically and phylogenetically significant, including several new character systems. Terminology is presented for the systems of tibial spines and spurs so as to establish homologs. Keys are presented to the nine living families of termites, and the world subfamilies and genera of Archotermopsidae, Hodotermitidae, Kalotermitidae, Mastotermitidae, Rhinotermiti...
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Primitive Termites in Cretaceous Amber from Spain and Canada (Isoptera)
Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, 2010Co-Authors: Michael S. Engel, Xavier DelclòsAbstract:The first termites in Early Cretaceous (Albian) amber from Spain are described and figured. Morazatermes krishnai Engel and Delclos, new genus and species, is described from an imago (and wings of a second specimen) preserved in fossiliferous resin from Moraza, Burgos Province. A second termite species, Cantabritermes simplex Engel and Delclos, new genus and species, is also recorded from the same deposits but is presently known only from the forewing. Similarly, an isolated forewing in amber from San Just, Teruel Province is described as Aragonitermes teruelensis Engel and Delclos, new genus and species. Lastly, the first termite in Late Cretaceous (Campanian) amber from Grassy Lake, near Medicine Hat, Canada is described from a fragmentary imago lacking wings or much of the body. All of these taxa belong to a primitive grade of unassigned termites between Mastotermitidae and the families Termopsidae, Hodotermitidae, and Archotermopsidae (sensu Engel et al., 2009). Notes are appended on the recently described ''Kalotermes'' burmensis Poinar, from the latest Albian of Myanmar (Burmese amber), and the species transferred to Kachinitermopsis Engel and Delclos, new genus, resulting in the new combination, Kachinitermopsis burmensis. These
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The effects of fossil placement and calibration on divergence times and rates: an example from the termites (Insecta: Isoptera).
Arthropod structure & development, 2009Co-Authors: Jessica L Ware, David A Grimaldi, Michael S. EngelAbstract:Among insects, eusocial behavior occurs in termites, ants, some bees and wasps. Isoptera and Hymenoptera convergently share social behavior, and for both taxa its evolution remains poorly understood. While dating analyses provide researchers with the opportunity to date the origin of eusociality, fossil calibration methodology may mislead subsequent ecological interpretations. Using a comprehensive termite dataset, we explored the effect of fossil placement and calibration methodology. A combined molecular and morphological dataset for 42 extant termite lineages was used, and a second dataset including these 42 taxa, plus an additional 39 fossil lineages for which we had only morphological data. MrBayes doublet-model analyses recovered similar topologies, with one minor exception (Stolotermitidae is sister to the Hodotermitidae, s.s., in the 42-taxon analysis but is in a polytomy with Hodotermitidae and (Kalotermitidae + Neoisoptera) in the 81-taxon analysis). Analyses using the r8s program on these topologies were run with either minimum/maximum constraints (analysis a = 42-taxon and analysis c = 81-taxon analyses) or with the fossil taxon ages fixed (ages fixed to be the geological age of the deposit from which they came, analysis b = 81-taxon analysis). Confidence intervals were determined for the resulting ultrametric trees, and for most major clades there was significant overlap between dates recovered for analyses A and C (with exceptions, such as the nodes Neoisoptera, and Euisoptera). With the exception of isopteran and eusiopteran node ages, however, none of the major clade ages overlapped when analysis B is compared with either analysis A or C. Future studies on Dictyoptera should note that the age of Kalotermitidae was underestimated in absence of kalotermitid fossils with fixed ages.
Ashok K. Raina - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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trail following activity in extracts of sternal glands from anacanthotermes turkestanicus isoptera Hodotermitidae
Sociobiology, 2008Co-Authors: A. S. Khamraev, I. I. Abdullaev, L S Kuchkarova, R N Ahmerov, G C Mirzaeva, N V Hanzafarova, John M Bland, Ashok K. RainaAbstract:The Turkestan termite Anacanthotermes turkestanicus (Isoptera: Hodotermitidae) is a harvester termite found in the Central Asian region. The workers forage before sunrise or late in the evenings. This termite, like most other termites, has a sternal gland under the 4th sternite that produces a pheromone which evokes trail following. Sternal gland extracts were tested in Y-tube and paper-trail assays. The putative trail pheromone was most active at 10 gland equivalents and the activity was significantly reduced or lost after 60 min. Temperature for optimal trail-following activity was 25-26°C. Extracts made from sternal glands of soldiers were less attractive when tested with workers, indicating some caste specificity. Initial fractionation of the extract did not reveal a single active fraction. Chemical identification of the trail pheromone is in progress.
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Food preferences of the turkestan termite Anacanthotermes turkestanicus (Isoptera: Hodotermitidae)
Sociobiology, 2007Co-Authors: A. S. Khamraev, N. I. Lebedeva, T. I. Zhuginisov, I. I. Abdullaev, A. Rakhmatullaev, Ashok K. RainaAbstract:The Turkestan termite Anacanthotermes turkestanicus (Isoptera: Hodotermitidae) is a major pest of wooden structures including some sites of historic importance in Central Asia. In natural habitats, this harvester termite forages for plant material that is then stored in underground nests. In order to use bait technology for the delivery of biorational control agents, we needed to determine the plant species most preferred for feeding by the termites which can be used as a base to develop a bait matrix. Of the 15 materials tested in the laboratory, and 25 in the field, stems of the sunflower Helianthus annus and sweet sorghum Sorghum saccharatum showed consistently high consumption in both tests. In general, grasses and annuals were more preferred than shrubs and trees. The common reed Phragmites australis was the least consumed grass species.
Robert Alain - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Susceptibility of Seven Termite Species (Isoptera) to the Entomopathogenic Fungus Metarhizium anisopliae
HAL CCSD, 2009Co-Authors: Chouvenc Thomas, Su Nan-yao, Robert AlainAbstract:International audienceSeven termite species (Isoptera) from five families were tested for disease susceptibility against the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae using a standard protocol: Mastotermes darwiniensis (Mastotermitidae), Hodotermopsis sjoestedti (termopsidae), Hodotermes mossambicus (Hodotermitidae), Kalotermes flavicollis (Kalotermitidae), Reticulitermes flavipes and Prorhinotermes canalifrons (Rhinotermitidae), and Nasutitermes voeltzkowi (termitidae). Our results showed a large diversity in disease susceptibility against M. anisopliae among the different species tested and we suggest that the evolution of disease resistance mechanisms in Isoptera may be influenced by the selective pressure of the nesting ecology of each species
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The fine structural organization of sternal glands of pseudergates and workers in termites (Isoptera): a comparative survey
'Elsevier BV', 2008Co-Authors: Quennedey André, Sillam-dussès David, Robert Alain, Bordereau ChristianAbstract:1873-5495 (Electronic) Comparative Study Journal ArticleThirty-nine species belonging to different families of termites are studied to give a comprehensive view of the evolution of the sternal glands. Several modifications occurring at cuticular and cytological levels are described in neuter castes. The outer epicuticle is always pierced by epicuticular pores. In advanced termites the epicuticular filaments greatly increase in number and length creating a thick layer. The pore canals gradually enlarge while the cuticle changes into a lattice structure lining an extracellular space in which the secretion is stored. Two classes of cells are present in basal termites (Mastotermitidae, Hodotermitidae, Termopsidae and Kalotermitidae) but their glandular structures greatly differ between families. A more complex organization with three classes of cells is found in the Serritermitidae and Rhinotermitidae. A regressive evolution occurs in the Termitidae where only two classes of cells are present. A dual nervous control (campaniform sensilla and neurosecretory fibers) is found in lower termites, except for the Hodotermitidae which have mechanosensory bristles. In the other families, neurosecretory fibers are lacking. A comparison with phylogenetic data is given. A more versatile role of sternal glands in neuter castes is hypothesized
Christian Bordereau - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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The phylogeny of termites (Dictyoptera: Isoptera) based on mitochondrial and nuclear markers: Implications for the evolution of the worker and pseudergate castes, and foraging behaviors
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 2008Co-Authors: Frederic Legendre, Eliana M Cancello, Christian Bordereau, Michael F. Whiting, Theodore A. Evans, Philippe GrandcolasAbstract:A phylogenetic hypothesis of termite relationships was inferred from DNA sequence data. Seven gene fragments (12S rDNA, 16S rDNA, 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, cytochrome oxidase I, cytochrome oxidase II and cytochrome b) were sequenced for 40 termite exemplars, representing all termite families and 14 outgroups. Termites were found to be monophyletic with Mastotermes darwiniensis (Mastotermitidae) as sister group to the remainder of the termites. In this remainder, the family Kalotermitidae was sister group to other families. The families Kalotermitidae, Hodotermitidae and Termitidae were retrieved as monophyletic whereas the Termopsidae and Rhinotermitidae appeared paraphyletic. All of these results were very stable and supported with high bootstrap and Bremer values. The evolution of worker caste and foraging behavior were discussed according to the phylogenetic hypothesis. Our analyses suggested that both true workers and pseudergates ("false workers") were the result of at least two different origins. Our data support a traditional hypothesis of foraging behavior, in which the evolutionary transition from a one-piece type to a separate life type occurred through an intermediate behavioral form.
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The fine structural organization of sternal glands of pseudergates and workers in termites (Isoptera): a comparative survey.
Arthropod Structure & Development, 2008Co-Authors: André Quennedey, David Sillam-dussès, Christian BordereauAbstract:Thirty-nine species belonging to different families of termites are studied to give a comprehensive view of the evolution of the sternal glands. Several modifications occurring at cuticular and cytological levels are described in neuter castes. The outer epicuticle is always pierced by epicuticular pores. In advanced termites the epicuticular filaments greatly increase in number and length creating a thick layer. The pore canals gradually enlarge while the cuticle changes into a lattice structure lining an extracellular space in which the secretion is stored. Two classes of cells are present in basal termites (Mastotermitidae, Hodotermitidae, Termopsidae and Kalotermitidae) but their glandular structures greatly differ between families. A more complex organization with three classes of cells is found in the Serritermitidae and Rhinotermitidae. A regressive evolution occurs in the Termitidae where only two classes of cells are present. A dual nervous control (campaniform sensilla and neurosecretory fibers) is found in lower termites, except for the Hodotermitidae which have mechanosensory bristles. In the other families, neurosecretory fibers are lacking. A comparison with phylogenetic data is given. A more versatile role of sternal glands in neuter castes is hypothesized.
Sabine Grube - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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surface signs indicating the foraging activity of the harvester termite hodotermes mossambicus hagen isoptera Hodotermitidae a review
Sociobiology, 2002Co-Authors: Sabine GrubeAbstract:The assessment of harvester termite, Hodotermes mossambicus, foraging behavior is difficult because generally the only above ground indicators of colony presence are their foraging holes and soil dumps. There is no directcorrelation between soil dumps and foraging activity in this species. We demonstrate in this study, however, that only the number of foraging holes is a reliable indicator of foraging activity in H. mossambicus.