Inquilinitermes
Inquilinitermes spp. (Blattodea: Termitidae: Termitinae) is a genus of Neotropical termites described by Anthony G. Mathews [1] that includes species found exclusively inside nests of another termite species (i.g. host termites), belonging to the genus Constrictotermes spp. (Blattodea: Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae).[2] For not being able to build their own nest, every species of Inquilinitermes has been commonly referred as an obligatory inquiline and its symbiosis with a host termite has been treated as inquilinism.
| Inquilinitermes | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Blattodea |
| Infraorder: | Isoptera |
| Family: | Termitidae |
| Subfamily: | Termitinae |
| Type species | |
| Inquilinitermes spp. Mathews, 1977 | |
| Species | |
(Silvestri, 1901)
(Silvestri, 1901)
(Emerson, 1925)
Scheffrahn, 2014 | |
In the past few decades, species of the genus have been investigated in various studies, e.g. focusing on their relationship with the host species,[3][4] their diet requirements [5] and, more recently, behavioral aspects of their symbiosis with the builder termites[6]
References
- A. G. A. Mathews.Studies on Termites from the Mato Grosso State, Brazil. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 1977.
- R. Constantino, “On-line termite database”, 2018.
- Cunha, H.F.D., Andrade Costa, D., Espirito Santo Filho, K.D., Silva, L.O., Brandão, D. (2003). Relationship between Constrictotermes cyphergaster and inquiline termites in the Cerrado (Isoptera: Termitidae). Sociobiology, 42(3), 761-770.
- Cristaldo, P.F., Rosa, C.S., Florencio, D.F. et al. Termitarium volume as a determinant of invasion by obligatory termitophiles and inquilines in the nests of Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae). Insect. Soc. 59, 541–548 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00040-012-0249-3
- Florencio, D.F., Marins, A., Rosa, C.S., Cristaldo, P.F., Araújo, A.P.A., Silva, I.R., DeSouza, O. (2013). Diet segregation between a cohabiting builder and an inquiline termite species. PLoS One, 8, e66535. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0066535
- Hugo, H., Cristaldo, P. F., & DeSouza, O. (2020). Nonaggressive behaviour: a strategy employed by an obligate nest invader to avoid conflict with its host species. Ecology and Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6572
See also
- Mutualism – both species experience a mutual benefit in the relationship.
- Parasitism – one species benefits at the expense of another in the relationship.
- Parabiosis – both species occupy the same dwelling without interdependence.
- Symbiosis – long-term stable relationships between different species.