Beobachtungen uber die Entstehung neuer Kolonien bei tropischen Termiten.

Weyer, F.; Weyer, F

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Beobachtungen uber die Entstehung neuer Kolonien bei tropischen Termiten.

Weyer, F.

Zoologische Jahrbucher, Abteilung fur Systematik, Okologie und Geographie der Tiere 60(3-4): 327-380

1930

ISSN/ISBN: 0044-5193

Accession: 024231522

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Summary

The principal observations were confined to Microcerotermes amboinensis Kemner and Eutermes amboinensis Kemner, although E. undecimus Kemner is also considered. All 3 species (from Amboina, Moluccas) were previously unknown and have not yet been described. Nest construction of the 3 species (the first 2 of which are carton nest builders) is described in detail and illustrated with photographs. In colonies of Microceroterms as well as in Eutermes several queens are frequently found; in the former out of 25% of the colonies studied there was 1 or more substitute queens. In some colonies with normal sexual individuals substitute queens were found. These queens were completely undifferentiated and unpigmentated; the gonads were similar to those found in winged types shortly before swarming. It is therefore very probable that colonies of M. amboinensis multiply by splitting whereby frequently the branch colonies are furnished with substitute individuals. Progressive stages in age and development of colony formation were observed both in M. amboinensis and in E. undecimus. The integrating of such young colonies is described. Young colonies of M. amboinensis occupy decayed or old wood, lying upon or within the earth, while old colonies fasten their carton nests above the ground on fresh coconut palms. Presumably, when the population of a young colony increases, the colony migrates in order to find a place to build a carton nest. A 3d possibility explaining the origin of new colony is illustrated by E. amboinensis in which winged forms may penetrate a branch colony and subsequently become adopted as sexual individuals. This is proved by the fact that this species possesses many branch colonies in which, however, no substitute sexual individuals were ever observed, and that in a colony along with several adult sexual animals young queens and kings were found which had recently shed their wings. Probably these young sexual animals penetrated the colony from the outside. The following are some of the results of adoption experiments E. amboinensis will take a queen of a foreign population of the same species without any difficulty, and even several queens of different colonies were accepted. Microcerotermes, on the other hand, invariably killed the inserted foreign queen. The inter-behavior of termites of the same colony, the reactions of colonies to populations of the same species, and to populations of different species are described. As a rule the species under observation live peacefully among themselves trying to avoid each other as much as possible.

Beobachtungen uber die Entstehung neuer Kolonien bei tropischen Termiten.

Weyer, F.

Zoologische Jahrbucher, Abteilung fur Systematik, Okologie und Geographie der Tiere 60(3-4): 327-380

1930

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Summary

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