Aluko Gabriel A, Husseneder Claudia
Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
J Econ Entomol. 2007 Aug;100(4):1037-46. doi: 10.1603/0022-0493(2007)100[1037:cdotfs]2.0.co;2.
The success of evaluating areawide control of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), in urban landscapes hinges on detailed understanding of colony movement and plasticity of the breeding system. Most previous studies of colony affiliation and breeding systems of C. formosanus have been conducted in relatively undisturbed park-like areas. However, disturbance in the form of landscaping, construction, and nearby treatment may impact termite colony dynamics in urban habitats. Therefore, we used microsatellite genotyping to identify the number of colonies, assess colony movement, and investigate the breeding structure of colonies surrounding the Supreme Court Building in New Orleans, LA. During 4 yr, 18 distinct colonies were identified in the study area. In contrast to earlier studies in park-like areas, which indicated stable foraging areas, colonies in this study moved frequently into and out of inground stations. Five colonies were simple families; two of these colonies were headed by inbred nestmate pairs, and three of these colonies were headed by outbred unrelated pairs. Thirteen colonies were extended families headed by fewer than five neotenic reproductives. During the study, the predominant breeding system shifted; simple family colonies either moved or were eliminated, and they were replaced with new extended family colonies. In one case, a generation turnover within a colony from simple to extended family was observed.
评估城市景观中台湾乳白蚁（Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki，等翅目：鼻白蚁科）区域控制的成功与否，取决于对蚁群移动和繁殖系统可塑性的详细了解。此前大多数关于台湾乳白蚁蚁群归属和繁殖系统的研究都是在相对未受干扰的类似公园的区域进行的。然而，景观美化、建筑施工以及附近的处理等形式的干扰，可能会影响城市栖息地中白蚁蚁群的动态。因此，我们使用微卫星基因分型来确定蚁群数量、评估蚁群移动，并调查路易斯安那州新奥尔良市最高法院大楼周边蚁群的繁殖结构。在4年时间里，研究区域内共识别出18个不同的蚁群。与早期在类似公园区域的研究结果不同，早期研究表明觅食区域稳定，而本研究中的蚁群频繁进出地下站点。有5个蚁群是简单家庭；其中2个蚁群由近亲同窝配对领导，3个蚁群由远亲非亲属配对领导。13个蚁群是扩展家庭，由少于5个补充繁殖蚁领导。在研究期间，主要的繁殖系统发生了变化；简单家庭蚁群要么迁移要么被消灭，取而代之的是新的扩展家庭蚁群。在一个案例中，观察到一个蚁群内部从简单家庭到扩展家庭的一代更替。
