Differences in mechanosensory hairs among castes of the damp-wood termite Hodotermopsis sjostedti (Isoptera: Termopsidae)

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Termites are one of the major groups of social insects, which comprise alates, workers (pseudergates), and soldiers within a species. These castes have different roles and behaviors, and undertake division of labor to increase the inclusive fitness of their colony. On the basis of the different behavioral repertoires, caste-specific neural modifications are predicted, such as modification of sensory systems, i.e., inputs into the nervous system. This study evaluated these sensory-system differences based on mechanoreceptive sensilla length among castes of the damp-wood termite Hodotermopsis sjostedti. We found that soldiers and alates had longer sensilla than pseudergates, and that this variation among castes differed with body region. Specifically, the differences were particularly conspicuous on head capsules and pronota, while sensilla on mouthparts and legs were of similar lengths among castes. It is proposed that soldiers and alates use these long mechanoreceptive structures to sense faint vibrations, an important capability for their defensive role in detecting enemies and cracks in nest wood.
California State University, Chicoの論文