作者: K. Matsuura , Y. Yamamoto
DOI: 10.1007/S00040-011-0170-1
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摘要: In social insects, the caste systems are based on reproductive division of labor; queens specialize in reproduction and workers primarily maintain colony. Recently, a volatile pheromone containing n-butyl-n-butyrate 2-methyl-1-butanol was identified as termite queen that inhibits differentiation female neotenic reproductives (secondary queens). Although this inhibitory regulates directly, method by which it reaches members without direct contact with large colonies is not well understood. Therefore, additional mechanisms indirect communication must exist, such worker-mediated signal transport. We found exposed to did mediate queens’ Reticulitermes speratus. The experiment assessed worker transfer from groups determined new influenced groups, whereas functional artificial suppress differentiation. This suggests unlikely for colony-wide inhibition majority infertile or eggs, emit same volatiles reproductives, necessary within certain time interval.