Search results for "Reticulitermes"
showing 10 items of 10 documents
Inhibition of Metarhizium anisopliae in the alimentary tract of the eastern subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes
2009
Reticulitermes flavipes workers were individually inoculated with 10,000 conidia of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae. After being kept in groups of 20 individuals for 1–6 d, histopathological approach showed that most of the inoculated conidia were groomed from the surface of the cuticle by nestmates within 24 h, and that a large number of conidia was subsequently found in different parts of the gut of the groomers. Our observations showed that, among thousands of conidia found in the termite's gut, conidial germination never occurred in all inspected specimens, even when the conidia had the chance to bind to the surface of the cuticular lining of the gut. In addition, whe…
INHIBITION OF THE FUNGAL PATHOGEN METARHIZIUM ANISOPLIAE IN THE ALIMENTARY TRACTS OF FIVE TERMITE (ISOPTERA) SPECIES
2010
We previously showed that in the subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes conidia of Metarhizium anisopliae did not germinate in the alimentary tract of living termites and the antifungal activity remained for 2 d post mortem in the gut. We have confirmed that this mechanism is common throughout the termite phylogeny by extending our observations to 5 additional species, from 5 different families. Grooming and ingestion of microorganisms from the cuticle ofnestmate was found to be consistent in all the species and none of the conidia found in the alimentary tracts germinated.
Cellular encapsulation in the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera), against infection by the entomopathogenic fungus Meta…
2009
Reticulitermes flavipes workers were topically inoculated with approximately 10,000 conidia of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae. After being kept in groups of 20 individuals for 1-9 d, histopathological examination showed that termites had an individual immune reaction. The nodule formation at the point of entrance of the fungal hyphae was identified as a cellular encapsulation and the different steps in the nodule formation are described. The relative number of hemocytes per termite increased 24h after fungal exposure and remained high in the hemolymph for at least 3 d before decreasing back to pre-exposure levels. The role of an individual immune cellular reaction in soc…
Effects of starvation on survival, cannibalism, body mass, and intestinal protozoan profile in the subterranean termite Reticulitermes lucifugus
2019
Scarcity or inadequate nutrition can affect biological and behavioural aspects of subterranean termites and their intestinal protozoan profile. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in survival, cannibalism, body mass, and protist community structure of Reticulitermes lucifugus Rossi subspecies “Sicily” following starvation to provide basic knowledge for the development of more specific studies on a possible survival strategy under stressful conditions. In nature, this termite consumes many food sources and its feeding activity is continuous during the year. In a 35-day laboratory experiment, groups of 50 termites (worker/soldier ratio 49:1) were subjected to two diets, starvatio…
Differences in Cellular Encapsulation of Six Termite (Isoptera) Species Against Infection by the Entomopathogenic FungusMetarhizium anisopliae
2011
Termites (Isoptera) are eusocial insects, which live in an environment that can favor the spread of pathogens. To reduce the chance of an epizootic within a colony, termites have evolved many defense mechanisms. Most studies have focused on the social aspect of disease resistance, while the individual capacity of a termite to survive an infection remains poorly documented. We previously showed that when the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), was exposed to the entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae (Metch.) Sorokin, cellular encapsulation of the penetrating fungus was one of the last lines of defense for individual termites to prevent internal mycosis. …
Analisi della comunità microbica intestinale di Reticulitermes lucifugus (Rossi) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae).
2009
L’intestino delle termiti ospita una comunità microbica di batteri e flagellati anaerobi, responsabile della degradazione del materiale lignocellulosico. La digestione della lignocellulosa da parte delle termiti dipende dalla simbiosi con microrganismi procarioti ed eucarioti che vivono nel loro intestino. I microrganismi trasformano la cellulosa in zuccheri e acetato, producendo idrogeno, metano e anidride carbonica. Abbiamo analizzato la comunità microbica intestinale di Reticulitermes lucifugus lucifugus, una delle due specie di termiti italiane, che vive in ambienti sotterranei, è distruttiva per le strutture legnose degli ambienti urbani causando seri danni ai monumenti storici e può c…
RETTORIA DI CASA PROFESSA - PALERMO LE TERMITI SUGLI ARREDI LIGNEI DELLA SACRESTIA
2012
"Rettoria di Casa Professa" - Palermo. The Termites on Wooden Forniture of the Sacristy. Termites are among the most important agents of wood degradation. They can attack wooden structures (roofs ceiling) or works of art (choirs, altars,wardrobes) causing serious damage to the historical, artistic and ethno-anthropological heritage especially when there are favourable environmental conditions for their growth. High wood moisture is the most important factor that favours termite settlements, it is frequently due to water condensation which is related to the closely contact of the wood with materials (masonry, metal, plastic) having a different thermal coefficient. Observations were carried o…
PALAZZO STERI DI PALERMO, SOFFITTO LIGNEO DELLA SALA MAGNA INDAGINE FITOSANITARIA
2012
ABSTRACf - Steri Palace of Palermo; Wooden Ceiling of the "Sala Magna ", Phytosanitary Survey. The Steri Palace (from Hosterium = fortified residence) of Palermo was built in the early fourteenth century, exactly from 1307 to 1320, it was Chiaramonte's family residence. Later, it became the seat of the viceroy of Sicily (from 1412 to 1577), of the Director of the Royal "Magna Curia", and Royal Customs (until 1698), of the Inquisition Tribunal (from 1701 to 1792), of the Judicial offices and Custom offices (from 1800 to 1958). Today it is the Centre of the Chancellor's offices of the University of Palermo. It contains several interesting cultural heritage artefacts, including the beautiful d…
Immunological and ultrastructural characterization of spirotrichonymphid flagellates from Reticulitermes grassei and R. flavipes (syn. R. santonensis…
2006
AbstractFive species of spirotrichonymphids representing three genera have been studied by light and immunofluorescence microscopy, and by transmission electron microscopy. The genus Spirotrichonympha, represented by S. flagellata from Reticulitermes grassei, is characterized by a compound axostyle composed of several fibers or subaxostyles. The genus Spironympha, represented by S. kofoidi from Reticulitermes flavipes (syn. R. santonensis) and by the two new species S. verticis and S. lanceata, is characterized by flagellar lines restricted to the anterior area and a simple, tubular axostyle. Spironympha verticis and S. lanceata are mainly distinguished by ultrastructural details of their f…
Effects of juvenile hormone analogues upon soldier differentiation in the termite Reticulitermes santonensis (Rhinotermitidae, Heterotermitinae).
2018
Under the influence of juvenile hormone analogues (JHAs), termite workers are induced to differentiate into soldiers. In Reticulitermes santonensis, such induced differentiation is often incomplete, resulting in intercaste production. The morphology of the structures most affected during differentiation was analyzed descriptively and biometrically in normal workers, presoldiers, and soldiers, and in experimental intercastes. We observed that intercastes form a morphological and biometrical continuum between workers and presoldiers (presoldier intercastes), and between presoldiers and soldiers (soldier intercastes). We also compared the biochemistry of the normal individuals and of the inter…