Loss of males from mixed-sex societies in termites.

摘要: Sexual reproduction is the norm in almost all animal species, and many advanced societies, both males females participate social activities. To date, complete loss of from lineages has been reported only ants honey bees (Hymenoptera), whose workers are always female display no helping behaviors even normal sexual species. Asexuality not previously observed colonies another major group insects, termites, where ubiquitous presence male soldiers indicate that play a critical role beyond reproduction. Here, we report asexual societies lineage termite Glyptotermes nakajimai. We investigated composition mature ten distinct populations Japan, finding six characterized by lack any reproductive, soldier, worker castes their colonies, an absence sperm spermathecae queens, development unfertilized eggs at level comparable to for fertilized this Phylogenetic analyses indicated single evolutionary origin populations, with divergence sampled occurring about 14 million years ago. Asexual differ having more uniform head size all-female soldier caste, fewer proportion other individuals, suggesting increased defensive efficiencies arising morphology. Such may have contributed persistence spread lineage. Cooperative colony foundation multiple single-site nesting life history common lineages, occasional without fertilization traits likely present ancestors facilitated transition asexuality. Our findings demonstrate completely can evolve mixed-sex providing evidence dispensable maintenance which they played active role.