Agressivity in Cornitermes cumulans (Kollar) (Insecta: Isoptera) submitted to stress / Agressividade em Cornitermes cumulans (Kollar) (Insecta: Isoptera) submetidos a estresse

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2007

RESUMO

Social insects can recognize nestmates and avoid nests invasion. However, termite nests are frequently invaded by arthropods, mainly insects, including other termite species called inquilines. Mechanisms that allow nest invasion are not completely understood yet. In this work, we focus on intruders which are termite species, and how the colony builder can defend its nest from such intruders. In order to understand how builder individuals may recognize intruders, we need first to comprehend how they can distinguish themselves from other individuals with same morphology and behaviour (non nestmates). Some termite species are able to recognize non nestmate and other species do not. We do not know if inquilines may harm the original builder, or if a weak colony allows inquilines to enter. If it is true that in a stressed colony the process of inquilines settlement is favored, we expect the colony defense system to become less efficient when the colony is subjected to some kind of stress. We tested the hypothesis that the aggressiveness of builder individuals varies with the stress that the colony is subject to. To do so we submitted Cornitermes cumulans workers to different amount of stress, changing how long they spent away from the nest. We checked workers aggressive behaviour and survival in groups only with nestmates or with non-nestmates. In low stress situation C. cumulans was more aggressive against non nestmates than against nestmates. In a high stress situation there was a increase in aggressiveness only in nestmates. This findings may be a indication that colony health is an important factor mediating colony defense against intruders.

ASSUNTO(S)

inquilinos ecologia termite cumpim reconhecimento recognize inquilines

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