Maternal determination of soldier proportion and paternal determination of soldier sex ratio in hybrid Reticulitermes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) termite colonies.

ABSTRACT: Altruistic caste, including worker and soldier (derived from worker), plays a critical role in the ecological success of social insects. The proportion of soldiers, soldier sex ratios, and the number of workers vary significantly between species, and also within species, depending on colony developmental stage and environmental factors. However, it is unknown whether there are sex-linked effects from parents on controlling the caste fate or not. Here, we compared soldier sex ratios, soldier proportions, and population size among a four mating types of Reticulitermes amamianus (Ra) and R. speratus (Rs) (male × female, mRa × fRa, mRa × fRs, mRs × fRa, mRs × fRs) and demonstrate that the soldier sex ratio and worker population size of hybrid colonies skew to colonies of king's species, while

SUBMITTER: Wu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10621947 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature