An antifungal compound secreted by termite workers, phenylacetic acid, inhibits the growth of both termite egg-mimicking fungus and entomopathogenic fungi DOI Creative Commons
Marina Nakashima, Yuki Mitaka, Tatsuya Inagaki

et al.

Insectes Sociaux, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 71(2), P. 221 - 232

Published: May 10, 2024

Abstract Social insects live in closely related family groups but face risks of intrusion and infection by pathogenic parasitic microbes. To cope with the microbes invading their nests feeding sites, social produce various types antimicrobial substances. Subterranean termites occupy microbe-rich decaying wood soil at high density, expanding nest area exploring on outward from royal chamber (room for kings queens). Although agents have been identified many termite species, few studies investigated those used foraging workers under development, which is richer than well-sterilized its surroundings. Here, we report that phenylacetic acid, an antifungal aromatic compound, secreted Japanese subterranean Reticulitermes speratus . The compound was detected gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis ethyl acetate extracts shelter papers infested workers, tests demonstrated it inhibits germination and/or mycelial growth entomopathogenic fungi ( Metarhizium anisopliae Beauveria bassiana ) egg-mimicking fungus Athelia termitophila Our study provides new insights into defense mechanisms termites, including combining different substances castes, thus survival strategy nests.

Language: Английский

Colony size of amazonian stingless bees and its assessment through intrinsic parameters DOI
Kamila Leão Leão, Alistair J. Campbell, Jamille Costa Veiga

et al.

Journal of Apicultural Research, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 10

Published: March 19, 2024

Stingless bees live in populous colonies that vary size from a few hundred individuals to tens of thousands, although information on actual colony is limited. The objectives this study were determine the five Amazonian stingless bee species (Melipona flavolineata, Melipona fasciculata, Scaptotrigona aff. postica, Frieseomelitta longipes, and Plebeia minima), identify biological parameters covary with size. number brood cells, adult bees, food stocks counted under laboratory conditions, alongside field assessments egg-laying rate external activity workers. To covariates size, was regressed against rate, workers, stocks, best candidate models ranked using Akaike Information Criterion. Mean (±s.d.) populations were: M. 1046 ± 185; 593 300; S. 7404 1391; F. 2425 1000 P. minima, 405 254. Thus, we showed parameter, after presents relationship which can be easily evaluated field. Determining sizes measurable are important steps understanding bee's life histories, ecology, evolution, ease their keeping utilization for pollination.

Language: Английский

Citations

3
Inter-clonal competition over queen succession imposes a cost of parthenogenesis on termite colonies DOI
Yao Wu, Tadahide Fujita,

Yusuke Namba

et al.

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 291(2023)

Published: May 1, 2024

In social insect colonies, selfish behaviour due to intracolonial conflict among members can result in colony-level costs despite close relatedness. certain termite species, queens use asexual reproduction for within-colony queen succession but rely on sexual worker and alate production, resulting multiple half-clones of a single primary competing personal reproduction. Our study demonstrates that competition over different clone types leads the overproduction parthenogenetic offspring, production dysfunctional alates. By genotyping 23 field colonies

Language: Английский

Citations

2
An antifungal compound secreted by termite workers, phenylacetic acid, inhibits the growth of both termite egg-mimicking fungus and entomopathogenic fungi DOI Creative Commons
Marina Nakashima, Yuki Mitaka, Tatsuya Inagaki

et al.

Insectes Sociaux, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 71(2), P. 221 - 232

Published: May 10, 2024

Abstract Social insects live in closely related family groups but face risks of intrusion and infection by pathogenic parasitic microbes. To cope with the microbes invading their nests feeding sites, social produce various types antimicrobial substances. Subterranean termites occupy microbe-rich decaying wood soil at high density, expanding nest area exploring on outward from royal chamber (room for kings queens). Although agents have been identified many termite species, few studies investigated those used foraging workers under development, which is richer than well-sterilized its surroundings. Here, we report that phenylacetic acid, an antifungal aromatic compound, secreted Japanese subterranean Reticulitermes speratus . The compound was detected gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis ethyl acetate extracts shelter papers infested workers, tests demonstrated it inhibits germination and/or mycelial growth entomopathogenic fungi ( Metarhizium anisopliae Beauveria bassiana ) egg-mimicking fungus Athelia termitophila Our study provides new insights into defense mechanisms termites, including combining different substances castes, thus survival strategy nests.

Language: Английский

Citations

0