白蚁表皮碳氢化合物研究进展

近年来,固相微萃取等现代技术的使用显著促进了白蚁表皮碳氢化合物研究的开展。至今,已有约29种白蚁的表皮碳氢化合物组分得到鉴定,分属于木白蚁科、鼻白蚁科、原白蚁科和白蚁科,其组分主要为正烷烃、含有不同数量甲基的支链烷烃及少量烯烃。白蚁表皮碳氢化合物不仅具有一定的科、属特异性,大多数种类还具备特有组分,表明其可作为种间识别的指标。表皮碳氢化合物组分在种内个体识别方面的作用,在低等白蚁中多获得了支持性结果,但也有研究认为在这些种类中表皮碳氢化合物不是种内个体识别(同巢个体识别)的唯一指标。发现其与品级分化的相关是近年来白蚁表皮碳氢化合物研究的重要进展。有些种类表皮碳氢化合物的年消长与生殖蚁的分化有关;而另一些种类生殖蚁含有表皮碳氢化合物特有组分,其含量与生殖蚁的生殖状态有关,提示其可能在品级分化中发挥重要作用。作为研究白蚁品级分化和维持机理的新方向,表皮碳氢化合物值得进一步研究探索。

白蚁的食物选择

毒饵技术是防治白蚁最常使用的方法之一,对白蚁取食选择的认识是毒饵技术发展的基础。评述了白蚁嗜食的真菌腐朽物、植物性材料以及糖和氨基酸等取食促进物质研究情况,分析了白蚁对上述物质取食选择的营养消化机制,并对白蚁食物选择研究面临的问题提出了展望。

白蚁采食行为研究进展

从露天采食和隐蔽采食活动过程、不同影响因子对食物搜索定位的调节、踪迹信息素对蚁路定向修筑的影响以及采食活动中召募行为决策系统等方面阐述了白蚁采食行为的研究现状,介绍了采食过程中的行为多型现象,提出了白蚁采食行为研究面临的问题。

白蚁的功能分类

"功能分类"根据功能特性对研究对象进行归类,是全球生态学(Global Ecology)的基本内容。本文介绍了白蚁功能分类的方法、内涵、应用情况及其与形态分类的关系。白蚁功能分类包括Abe的生活类型分类、Donovan等的食性分类、Eggleton和Tayasu的生活方式分类、Davies等的综合分类。目前,食性分类获得较多研究者的认可。功能分类与形态分类的关系较为复杂,低等食草木白蚁一般位于系统发生树的基部,其他类群在此基础上分别产生。不同类群食性进化存在由食木到食土的趋势。虽然功能分类在白蚁不同类群与栖境关系研究中已有较多应用,但食性研究新技术方法的应用还需要进一步加强,白蚁不同功能类群与栖境之间的联系及其机理有待进一步探索。

Reproductive Behaviors and Pairing Modes of Odontotermes fomosanus(Shiraki)Alates

[ Objectives ] To study the reproductive behaviors and the effect of different pairing modes on the developmental status of incipient colonies＇of Odontote- rmes fomosanus （Shiraki）. [ Methods ] We observed the reproductive behaviors of male alates, female Mates and mated alates respectively. Male and female Mates had 9 pairing modes and founded 170 incipient colonies under laboratory conditions. The effect of pairing mode on incipient colonies＇ developmental status was ana- lyzed. [ Results ] Two peaking hours of mating activity within the daily circadian rhythm of Mate activity appeared from 09：00 to 10：00, and from 21：00 to 22：00, respectively. Courtship behavior before mating consisted of touching with antennae, connecting into a ring （head-to-end）, and licking. The reproductive behavior （ calling, pairing, tandem, mating and oviposition） of nestmate pairs was different to that of non-nestmate pairs. The pairing time of non-nestmate pairs was signifi- candy longer than that of alates paired with siblings （P 〈 0.05 ）. The non-swarming alates could mate with swarming or non-swarming Mates and lay fertile eggs which hatched successfully. However, the survival rate of colonies founded by non-swarming alates was very low. The death rate of incipient colonies was in the range of 0.61% -0. 99% after three months, while the death rate of the colonies founded by swarming alates was in the range of 0.22% -0.58%. Females that had been experimentally prevented from mating could lay eggs, but the eggs did not hatch. [ Conclusion] There are two distinct hourly peaks of mating activity within each 24 hour period. Incipient colonies founded by outbreeding have the highest probability of survival.

Polyethism in Termites

Polyethism or division of works among workers of social insects is always a hot issue among entomologists. Honey bees, ants, and wasps are the main target for scientists to study the division of works. Studying polyethism in termites has been increased recently due to the damages to the forests, buildings, boats and even water preserving monuments. Every year a huge amount of money is spent to control these isopteran social insects in the south east of Asia, the US, Australia and other tropical and subtropical regions. As understanding the polyethism in these social insects can be a hand in controlling them, in this review we have tried to explain different kinds of polyethism and their importance in these social insects.

黑翅土白蚁长翅生殖蚁生殖行为及配对方式研究

【目的】研究黑翅土白蚁Odontotermes fomosanus（Shiraki）生殖行为及不同配对方式对新巢发育的影响。【方法】分别对雌虫、雄虫和配对的雌雄成虫生殖行为进行观察。将雌、雄虫组合成9种配对方式，室内建立170个新巢，分析初建巢生长发育状况。【结果】成虫日活动节律的两个高峰期分别位于9：00--10：00和21：00--22：00，交配集中在高峰期进行，交配前雌雄成虫有触角触碰、首尾衔接成环、互相舔食的标志性行为。生殖蚁来源于同巢和异巢的处理组，在召唤、配对、串联、交配和产卵等生殖行为中均存在差异，来源于异巢的生殖蚁，其配对时间显著长于同巢（P〈0．05）.未经分飞的成虫可交配、产卵且成功孵化，3个月后，新巢死亡率为0．61％～0．99％，而分飞蚁新建巢的死亡率为0．22％～0．58％。孤雌生殖可产卵，但卯不能孵化。【结论】成虫的生殖行为有两个高峰期；远亲交配分飞蚁新建巢的生存竞争力最强。