Distinct chemical blends produced by different reproductive castes in the subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes

Abstract The production of royal pheromones by reproductives (queens and kings) enables social insect colonies to allocate individuals into reproductive and non-reproductive roles. In many termite species, nestmates can develop into neotenics when the primary king or queen dies, which then inhibit t...

Descripción completa

Guardado en:

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales:	Pierre-André Eyer, Jared Salin, Anjel M. Helms, Edward L. Vargo
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Nature Portfolio 2021
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/1668243dce1545819c2f23e49a86e1fe
Etiquetas:	Agregar Etiqueta Sin Etiquetas, Sea el primero en etiquetar este registro!

id	oai:doaj.org-article:1668243dce1545819c2f23e49a86e1fe
record_format	dspace
spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:1668243dce1545819c2f23e49a86e1fe2021-12-02T13:20:13ZDistinct chemical blends produced by different reproductive castes in the subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes10.1038/s41598-021-83976-62045-2322https://doaj.org/article/1668243dce1545819c2f23e49a86e1fe2021-02-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-83976-6https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322Abstract The production of royal pheromones by reproductives (queens and kings) enables social insect colonies to allocate individuals into reproductive and non-reproductive roles. In many termite species, nestmates can develop into neotenics when the primary king or queen dies, which then inhibit the production of additional reproductives. This suggests that primary reproductives and neotenics produce royal pheromones. The cuticular hydrocarbon heneicosane was identified as a royal pheromone in Reticulitermes flavipes neotenics. Here, we investigated the presence of this and other cuticular hydrocarbons in primary reproductives and neotenics of this species, and the ontogeny of their production in primary reproductives. Our results revealed that heneicosane was produced by most neotenics, raising the question of whether reproductive status may trigger its production. Neotenics produced six additional cuticular hydrocarbons absent from workers and nymphs. Remarkably, heneicosane and four of these compounds were absent in primary reproductives, and the other two compounds were present in lower quantities. Neotenics therefore have a distinct ‘royal’ blend from primary reproductives, and potentially over-signal their reproductive status. Our results suggest that primary reproductives and neotenics may face different social pressures. Future studies of these pressures should provide a more complete understanding of the mechanisms underlying social regulation in termites.Pierre-André EyerJared SalinAnjel M. HelmsEdward L. VargoNature PortfolioarticleMedicineRScienceQENScientific Reports, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-11 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q Pierre-André Eyer Jared Salin Anjel M. Helms Edward L. Vargo Distinct chemical blends produced by different reproductive castes in the subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes
description	Abstract The production of royal pheromones by reproductives (queens and kings) enables social insect colonies to allocate individuals into reproductive and non-reproductive roles. In many termite species, nestmates can develop into neotenics when the primary king or queen dies, which then inhibit the production of additional reproductives. This suggests that primary reproductives and neotenics produce royal pheromones. The cuticular hydrocarbon heneicosane was identified as a royal pheromone in Reticulitermes flavipes neotenics. Here, we investigated the presence of this and other cuticular hydrocarbons in primary reproductives and neotenics of this species, and the ontogeny of their production in primary reproductives. Our results revealed that heneicosane was produced by most neotenics, raising the question of whether reproductive status may trigger its production. Neotenics produced six additional cuticular hydrocarbons absent from workers and nymphs. Remarkably, heneicosane and four of these compounds were absent in primary reproductives, and the other two compounds were present in lower quantities. Neotenics therefore have a distinct ‘royal’ blend from primary reproductives, and potentially over-signal their reproductive status. Our results suggest that primary reproductives and neotenics may face different social pressures. Future studies of these pressures should provide a more complete understanding of the mechanisms underlying social regulation in termites.
format	article
author	Pierre-André Eyer Jared Salin Anjel M. Helms Edward L. Vargo
author_facet	Pierre-André Eyer Jared Salin Anjel M. Helms Edward L. Vargo
author_sort	Pierre-André Eyer
title	Distinct chemical blends produced by different reproductive castes in the subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes
title_short	Distinct chemical blends produced by different reproductive castes in the subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes
title_full	Distinct chemical blends produced by different reproductive castes in the subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes
title_fullStr	Distinct chemical blends produced by different reproductive castes in the subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes
title_full_unstemmed	Distinct chemical blends produced by different reproductive castes in the subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes
title_sort	distinct chemical blends produced by different reproductive castes in the subterranean termite reticulitermes flavipes
publisher	Nature Portfolio
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/1668243dce1545819c2f23e49a86e1fe
work_keys_str_mv	AT pierreandreeyer distinctchemicalblendsproducedbydifferentreproductivecastesinthesubterraneantermitereticulitermesflavipes AT jaredsalin distinctchemicalblendsproducedbydifferentreproductivecastesinthesubterraneantermitereticulitermesflavipes AT anjelmhelms distinctchemicalblendsproducedbydifferentreproductivecastesinthesubterraneantermitereticulitermesflavipes AT edwardlvargo distinctchemicalblendsproducedbydifferentreproductivecastesinthesubterraneantermitereticulitermesflavipes
_version_	1718393195031691264

Distinct chemical blends produced by different reproductive castes in the subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes

Ejemplares similares