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Comparative reproductive biology of pre-, imaginal, and neotenic castes of the Asian termite Coptotermes gestroi (Blattaria, Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 May 2022

Ana Maria Costa-Leonardo Open the ORCID record for Ana Maria Costa-Leonardo [Opens in a new window] ,
Vanelize Janei Open the ORCID record for Vanelize Janei [Opens in a new window]  and
Iago Bueno da Silva Open the ORCID record for Iago Bueno da Silva [Opens in a new window]
Ana Maria Costa-Leonardo*
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Cupins, Departamento de Biologia Geral e Aplicada, Instituto de Biociências, UNESP – Univ Estadual Paulista, Av. 24A, No. 1515, 13506-900, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
Vanelize Janei
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Cupins, Departamento de Biologia Geral e Aplicada, Instituto de Biociências, UNESP – Univ Estadual Paulista, Av. 24A, No. 1515, 13506-900, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
Iago Bueno da Silva
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Cupins, Departamento de Biologia Geral e Aplicada, Instituto de Biociências, UNESP – Univ Estadual Paulista, Av. 24A, No. 1515, 13506-900, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
*
Author for correspondence: Ana Maria Costa-Leonardo, Email: ana.costa-leonardo@unesp.br
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Abstract

The Asian subterranean termite Coptotermes gestroi is a worldwide structural pest, although its reproductive biology has been poorly investigated due to a cryptic habit and occurrence of polycalic nests. In this study, we investigated ovarian development and oogenesis in different-aged females of C. gestroi: fourth-instar nymphs, non-functional neotenics, alates, and functional queens. We show that the ovaries develop gradually according to their age and functionality, as younger individuals possess immature oocytes, whereas alates and functional queens always undergo vitellogenesis. Oocytes were classified into previtellogenic (stages I, II, and III) or vitellogenic (stages IV, V, and VI). Ovary development varied among non-functional neotenics, and a rapid differentiation and/or the presence of primary reproductives are believed to influence such a maturation. Immature oocyte stages were shared between fourth-instar nymphs and neotenics. These characteristics, together with other neotenic features (wing buds, body pigmentation, and eye color), should be evaluated in detail aiming to clarify which nymphal instars differentiate into secondary reproductives. Oogenesis was not uniform among alate females, and cross-sectional area of terminal oocytes was significantly smaller in alates when compared to functional queens, suggesting different degrees of maturation in swarming individuals. Functional queens always had mature terminal oocytes (stage VI). Ovariole number and oocyte maturation in C. gestroi relies on several factors and may therefore differ among individuals of the same caste. Future studies should take into account these reproductive features to evaluate how they impact colony development.

Keywords

Oogenesisovary developmentpest speciesreproduction
Type
Research Paper
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 112 , Issue 6 , December 2022 , pp. 827 - 836
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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