黑胸散白蚁新群体的建立及发展规律

THE ESTABLISMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF COLONIES IN RETICULITERMES CHINENSIS SNYDER

经十年的室内配对饲养观察,黑胸散白蚁 Reticulitermes chinensis Snyder初期群体配对后5—10天开始产卵,胚胎发育期36—46天,幼蚁经历两个龄期,各龄8—13天,工蚁是幼蚁经两次蜕皮后分化出来,具有上颚自如活动,头宽0.71mm以上;前兵蚁蜕一次皮发育为兵蚁需经历10—13天,触角14—15节,头宽0.81—0.82mm,大于2龄工蚁,初期巢群最早3个半月左右产生兵蚁。当年配对的产卵期3至4个半月,产卵量16—45粒。饲养7—8年后的群体开始出现若蚁(长翅成虫的幼期)。9、10年群体发育成熟即产生长翅成虫。解剖三个成熟群体中一个巢原始蚁王、蚁后均存在,另两巢发现原始蚁王、蚁后均死亡,其中一巢由群体内自行补充上了翅鳞型母蚁1头,无翅补充型生殖蚁1头(较小,性别不清),翅芽型3头。另一巢补充上了无翅型大腹母蚁1头,翅芽型1头。通过室内长期连续饲养观察,对该种白蚁新建群体发育成熟年龄及其内在因素已有一定的了解。

The establishment and development of colonies of Reticuliiermes chinensis Snyder were observed continuously in the laboratory for ten years. Oviposition was initiated by the female termite 5 to 10 days after mating in swarming. The egg stage lasts for 36 to 46 days. The larva has two instars, each of which takes 8 to 13 days. After two moults the larva develops into the ergate which possesses caput about 0.71 mm wide with movable mandibles. The pre-soldier moults once to develop into soldier which possesses caput 0.81-0.82 mm wide, evidently wider than that of the ergate in second instar. The soldiers will appear 3.5 months after the establishment of the colony. Nymphs of winged adults appear in 7-8 years after the establisment of colony, but the colony becomes mature in 9-10 vears where fertile winged adults are produced. The nest of a mature colony will contain kings and queens, which will be compensated by the replacement trnroductives after thei death or loss by accident. In this study much information concerning colony establishment and development of this termite has been obtained.