Eur. J. Entomol. 101 (2): 227-230, 2004

Ability of primary and secondary reproductives to inhibit the development of neotenics in Kalotermes flavicollis (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae)

Jiøí KINDL
Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Flemingovo nám. 2, 166 10 Praha 6, Czech Republic, e-mail: kindl@uochb.cas.cz

The inhibitory potential of primary and secondary reproductives was studied using half-orphaned colonies of Kalotermes flavicollis. Both primary and secondary reproductives (neotenics) were equally effective in inhibiting the development of replacement reproductives. Single females totally inhibited the development of female secondary reproductives but did not affect the development of male secondary reproductives. Single males had neither a stimulatory nor inhibitory effect on the development of secondary reproductives. The inhibitory ability of pairs of primary reproductives shortly after dealation and at the stage of incipient colony formation (couple with the first batch of eggs) was also examined. While pairs of freshly dealated reproductives were not able to inhibit the development of neotenics, pairs of primary reproductives that had their first batch of eggs, fully inhibited the development of neotenics.

Keywords: Half-orphaned colonies, incipient colonies, inhibition of neotenics, replacement reproductives

Received: November 3, 2003; Revised: January 29, 2004; Accepted: March 4, 2004; Published: June 25, 2004  Show citation

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KINDL, J. (2004). Ability of primary and secondary reproductives to inhibit the development of neotenics in Kalotermes flavicollis (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae). EJE, 101(2), 227-230
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