Macrotermes

Affolter J. and Leuthold R. H. (2000) Quantitative and qualitative aspects of trail pheromones in Macrotermes subhyalinus (Isoptera, Termitidae). Insectes Soc. 47, 256-262. 

Peppuy A., Robert A., Semon E., Ginies C., Lettere M., Bonnard O. and Bordereau C. (2001b) (Z)-dodec-3-en-l-ol, a novel termite trail pheromone identified after solid phase microextraction from Macrotermes annandalei. J. Insect Physiol. 47, 445 -53. 

Bagine, R.K.N., Brandi, R. and Kaib, M. (1994). Species delimitation in Macrotermes (Isoptera Macrotermitidae) Evidence from epicuticular hydrocarbons, morphology, and ecology. Am. Entomol. Soc. Am., 87, 498-506. 

Collins N. M. (1979) The nests of Macrotermes bellicosus (Smeathman) from Mokwa, Nigeria. Insectes Soc. 26, 240-246. 

Obt. from cuticle of the cockroach Periplaneta japonica and from secretions of the soldiers of the East African fungus-growing termite Macrotermes subhyalinus. Mating stimulant pheromone of the little house fly Fannia canicularis. 

The diterpenes from Rabdosia (syn. Isodon) species (La-miaceae) exhibit an inhibitory effect on the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation of the ovary of a termite queen of Macrotermes subhyalinus. Among the compounds tested were isodonal (86), enmein (43), oridonin (87), and nodosin (88) (Kubo et al., 1981). 

Biting with simultaneous addition of a toxic substance from the frontal gland Amitermes, Cubitermes, Macrotermes, Odontotermes and Noditermes). 

In the second category are also Macrotermes subhyalinus and Ami-termes species. Soldiers of M. subhyalinus emit a secretion composed primarily of a mixture of long chain saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons (161-166) (510). Chemical defensive secretions isolated from the soldiers of the genus Amitermes vary widely, making them of little value for interspecific systematic comparison (546). A. unidentatus produces a mixture of four 2-ketones with 12, 14, 16 and 18 carbon atoms (167-170) while A.messinae secretes limonene(25) and 4,11-epoxy-cw-eudesmene (171) (545). A.evuncifer also produces 4,11-... 

B.A. Bierl, E.D. Devilbiss, and M.P.B. Chaudhury Soldier Frontal Glands of the Termite Macrotermes subhyalinus Morphology, Chemical Composition and Use in Defense. J. Chem. Ecol. 3, 579-590 (1977). 

Bruinsma, O. H. (1979) An analysis of building behaviour of the termite Macrotermes subhyalinus. Doctoral thesis. Agricultural University, Wegenigen, Holland. 

The hydrocarbon secretion of S. grandis also caused ataxia in Brazilian Camponotus, although only in about 20% of treated ants. It remains possible that the secretion is anticoagulant in action, as in Macrotermes (see below), increasing the severity of wounds caused by the large cutting mandibles in this species. 

Both closed and open mounds of Macrotermes exist in the Kajiado district of Kenya (van der Werff, 1981). Those of the open type are M. subhyalinus, while the closed type are now referred to as M. michaelseni. Along with morphometric data, details of nest structure, and behavior, the composition of the soldier frontal gland secretion has been used to separate the species. Af. subhyalinus... 

Fig. 16.19 (a) Soldier of Macrotermes carbonarius showing position of the hyper-tophied labial gland 0>lack) and reservoir (stippled) (after Maschwitz et al., 1972) (b) Soldier of Macrotermes subhyalinus showing the position of the frontal gland (stippled) and fontanelle (after Prestwich et al., 1977). 

Noirot (l%9b) has shown that the development of castes in the Termitidae is largely determined by sexual mechanisms. Thus, in Macrotermes bellicosus male larvae give rise to major workers and female larvae to minor workers, and major or minor soldiers. Sexual forms develop through six nymphal stages. 

Bordereau, C. (1975) Determinisme des castes chez les termites superieurs mise en evidence d un controle royal dans la formation de la caste sexuee chez Macrotermes bellicosus Smeathman (Isoptera, Termitidae). Insectes Sociaux, 22, 363-74. 

Luscher, M. (1955) Der Sauerstoffverbrauch bei Termiten und die Ventilation des Nestes bei Macrotermes natalensis (Haviland). Acta Tropica, 12, 289-307. 

Maschwitz, U., Jander, R. and Burkhardt, D. (1972) Wehrsubstanzen und Wehrver-halten der Termite Macrotermes carbonarius. J. Insect Physiol., 18, 1715-20. 

Okot-Kotber, B. M. (1977) Changes in corpora allata volume during development in relation to caste differentiation in Macrotermes subhyalinus. Proc. VIII Int. Cong. lUSSI, Pudoc, Wageningen, pp. 262-4. 

Prestwich, G. D., Bierl, B. A., Devilbiss, E. D. and Chaudhury, M. F. B. (1977) Soldier frontal glands of the termite Macrotermes subhyalinus Morphology, chemical composition and use in defense. 7. Chem, EcoL, 3, 579-90. 

Van der Werff, P. A. (1981) Two mound types of Macrotermes near Kajiado (Kenya) intraspecific variation or interspecific divergence In Biosystematics of Social Insects (Howse, P. E. and Clement, J.-L., eds) pp. 231-48. Academic Press, New York. 

Mammalian cellulases are very rare but cellulose was found to be digested in the mid-gut of the termite, Macrotermes natalensisJ However, the termite is a fungus feeder and the cellulase enzymes are acquired from the fungi and not secreted by the animal s own digestive tract. 

The role of acquired digestive enzymes in the digestion of cellulase in the mid-gut of the fungus-growing termite Macrotermes matalensis has been studied. ... 

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