Interações entre cupins (Insecta: Isoptera) e termitófilos / Interactions between termites (Insecta: Isoptera) and termitophiles

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2008

RESUMO

Termites are eussocial insects that usually build their own nests. These nests are frequently invaded by other animal species - including termites - such invaders being known respectively as termitophiles or inquilines. The reasons for termites tolerance to invaders, as well as the interactions between termitophiles and their termites host, are poorly understood. This work aims (i) to compile the current knowledge on such interactions and (ii) to test the hypothesis that positive or neutral interactions occur between Cornitermes cumulans and one of the termitophiles. Among the theoretical possibilities for cohabitation between termite and termitophiles, we identified positive, negative, and neutral interactions, which would arise from two basic strategies employed by the invader. Firstly, termitophiles could occupy the termite nest without being found by their hosts. Secondly, despite being found, termitophiles could succeed through mimetic mechanisms or even positive interactions. Among the several known cases of cohabitations between termites and termitophiles, several can be tipified as one of the three likely interactions. However, as no experiment has been reported to explicitly tests these interactions, we present here a test of the hypothesis referred to above. Data were collected in a Atlantic forest remnant in Viçosa, Brazil and specimens were identified to the lowest possible taxon. Results did not show significant differences in the survival of C. cumulans workers when confined together with (i) only termite individuals, (ii) beetle larvae, and (iii) plasticine fake larvae, indicating that termites did not profit either directly from any exsudate from the beetle larva, neither from the mere physical presence of it. Moreover, this shows also that the beetle larva did not present any negative interaction to the termites.

ASSUNTO(S)

interactions interações termites termitófilos cupins termitophiles ecologia

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

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