Macrotermes subhyalinus

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

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). 

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. 

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). 

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. 

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... 

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