Reduction of a nymphal instar in a dampwood termite: heterochronic shift in the caste differentiation pathways.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Generally in termites, alates differentiate through multiple nymphal instars which gradually develop wing buds. However, in a dampwood termite, Hodotermopsis sjostedti, alates molt directly from a single nymphal instar with short wing buds. In this study, to examine the mechanism underlying the wing formation during the alate differentiation in H. sjostedti, histological and morphological observations were carried out on the developmental process of wing formation during the nymphal instar, in comparison with those in Zootermopsis nevadensis, which has two nymphal instars. Furthermore, the expression patterns of genes that are thought to be responsible for wing formation, i.e., wing-patterning genes and genes encoding hormone-related factors, were qu

SUBMITTER: Nii R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6521406 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature