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Heterotermes

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Heterotermes
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Blattodea
Infraorder: Isoptera
Family: Rhinotermitidae
Genus: Heterotermes
Froggatt, 1896

Heterotermes is a genus of termites belonging to the family Rhinotermitidae.[1]

The genus has almost cosmopolitan distribution.[1]

General overview

Heterotermes is a termite genus from the Rhinotermitidae Family. One of their closest relatives is Reticulitermes. And like its relative, some Heterotermes have also been considered pests because they form pretty large colonies; to feed all their members, they need food in massive amounts. Therefore, Heterotermes try to feed themselves by gathering cellulose food from dead tree logs, stumps, and branches, to man-made wooden structures in buildings, books, paper, etc.

Heterotermes are also one of the most adaptive termites around, and they have a relatively fast growth rate in mature colonies if they have the perfect conditions to thrive. They can be found in very dry areas and also somewhat humid areas with plenty of wood. One of the other adaptations in Heterotermes is the relatively fast Neotenic formation within the colony. Unlike Reticulitermes, who can form both Ergatoid neotenic and Nymphoid neotenic reproductives, Heterotermes is only observed to have the Nymphoid neotenic caste as a secondary reproductive.

Heterotermes are very similar looking to Reticulitermes. But this soldier caste in Heterotermes is smaller than the soldier in Reticulitermes. And unlike Reticulitermes soldiers who have a curve in their mandible which starts from the base of the mandible, Heterotermes soldiers have a mandible with a curved tip, and the base area is straighter than Reticulitermes.


Castes

  • Primary reproductive

The alates of many Heterotermes and Reticulitermes are very similar in morphology. But many Heterotermes gynes are more lightly pigmented (color range is usually pale yellow-brown to orange-brown) than Reticulitermes. They are mainly around 7mm-11mm in length. A colony usually consists of a pair of Primary reproductive, but is occasionally found having a few pairs.

Heterotermes alates with eggs. By Dulneth Wijewardana
  • Secondary reproductive

The only found type of secondary reproductive in Heterotermes is Nymphoid neotenic. They usually arise in case of colony isolation or the death of primary reproductive. They start to develop from around 3rd instar nymphs and but older nymphs are also found to molt back into a Nymphoid neotenic in case they are needed. A colony can have multiple Nymphoid neotenic pairs that get physogastric within the first few weeks to produce eggs. Similar to worker they lack visible eyes and are usually lightly pigmented giving a light orange-like tint.

Nymphoid neotenic females of heterotermes, By Dulneth Wijewardana
Nymphoid neotenic pairs among colony with eggs and workers, By Dulneth Wijewardana
  • Workers and Soldiers

Workers build up the majority of a colony along with many soldiers. Workers perform tasks such as food gathering, nest expanding, care for reproductive and brood, while soldiers perform the task of defending intruders. The soldier will excrete a slightly grey-tinted sticky white liquid when disturbed and are also found to bump their heads into nest walls to alert fellow colony members about arriving danger.

Workers and Soldiers found within a heterotermes colony, By Dulneth Wijewardana

Species

References

  1. ^ a b "Heterotermes Froggatt, 1896". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
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