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Hokkaido University Collection of Scholarly and Academic Papers >
Graduate School of Environmental Science / Faculty of Environmental Earth Science >
Peer-reviewed Journal Articles, etc >
Differences in mechanosensory hairs among castes of the damp-wood termite Hodotermopsis sjostedti (Isoptera: Termopsidae)
| Title: | Differences in mechanosensory hairs among castes of the damp-wood termite Hodotermopsis sjostedti (Isoptera: Termopsidae) |
| Authors: | Ishikawa, Yuki Browse this author | | Koshikawa, Shigeyuki Browse this author | | Miura, Toru Browse this author |
| Keywords: | caste differentiation | | defensive behavior | | mechanoreceptive sensilla | | sensory system | | soldier | | termite |
| Issue Date: | 2007 |
| Publisher: | California State University, Chico |
| Journal Title: | Sociobiology |
| Volume: | 50 |
| Issue: | 3 |
| Start Page: | 895 |
| End Page: | 907 |
| Abstract: | 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. |
| Type: | article (author version) |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/2115/32361 |
| Appears in Collections: | 環境科学院・地球環境科学研究院 (Graduate School of Environmental Science / Faculty of Environmental Earth Science) > 雑誌発表論文等 (Peer-reviewed Journal Articles, etc)
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Submitter: 石川 由希
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