Inquilinitermes 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) in the genus Constrictotermes .[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 Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Blattodea
Infraorder: Isoptera
Family: Termitidae
Subfamily: Termitinae
Genus: Inquilinitermes
Type species
Inquilinitermes sp. 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, 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

edit
  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

edit
  • 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.