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
  • Inquilinitermes. microcerus

(Silvestri, 1901)

  • Inquilinitermes. fur

(Silvestri, 1901)

  • Inquilinitermes. inquilinus

(Emerson, 1925)

  • Inquilinitermes. johnchapmani

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

  1. A. G. A. Mathews.Studies on Termites from the Mato Grosso State, Brazil. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 1977.
  2. R. Constantino, “On-line termite database”, 2018.
  3. 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.
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. 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.
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