Widespread occurrence of asexual reproduction in higher termites of the Termes group (Termitidae: Termitinae).

ABSTRACT:

Background

A decade ago, the mixed reproductive strategy Asexual Queen Succession (AQS) was first described in termites. In AQS species, the workers, soldiers and dispersing reproductives are produced through sexual reproduction, while non-dispersing (neotenic) queens arise through automictic thelytokous parthenogenesis, replace the founding queen and mate with the founding king. As yet, AQS has been documented in six species from three lineages of lower (Rhinotermitidae) and higher (Termitinae: Termes group and Syntermitinae) termites. Independent evolution of the capacity of thelytoky as a preadaptation to AQS is supported by different mechanisms of automixis in each of the three clades. These pioneering discoveries prompt the question on the extent of thelytoky and AQS in the di

SUBMITTER: Hellemans S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6588926 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature