A glândula frontal e musculatura associada: morfologia e aplicação como indicador taxonômico de gêneros neotropicais de Nasutitermitinae (Isoptera, termitidae)
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2004-11-26
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Santos, Conceição Aparecida dos [UNESP]
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Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)
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Os cupins são insetos sociais da ordem Isoptera. Eles causam danos nas áres modificadas pelo homem, mas são fundamentais na decomposição da materia orgânica em ambientes naturais. A ordem Isoptera é a única ordem dos Insecta em que todos os organismos são eussociais. Os térmitas apresentam uma sociedade com sobreposição de mais de duas gerações, cuidado parental e com divisão de trabalho, tendo indivíduos morfologicamente diferentes na mesma colônia (castas). Na colônia dos cupins são encontradas três castas, os reprodutores que têm função de perpetuar a colônia; os operários que cuidam da limpeza, da construção do ninho e da alimentação dos indivíduos da colônia; e os soldados que defendem a colônia dos inimigos naturais. Dentre os Isoptera, a subfamilia Nasutitermitinae se destaca pela morfologia dos soldados que apresentam um aparato de defesa peculiar na cabeça, composto por uma glândula frontal cuja abertura desemboca no final de um naso. Essa glândula produz compostos químicos que atuam na defesa da sociedade agindo como substâncias anticicatrizantes ou tóxicas. A presença do naso é a característica principal que agrupa esses insetos na subfamilia, porém o status filogenético desse grupo ainda não está totalmente esclarecido. Os Nasutitermitinae apresentam dois grupos distintos: Os nasutos mandibulados (cupins que apresentam naso e mandíbulas desenvolvidas) e os nasutos verdadeiros (cupins que apresentam apenas naso, porém as mandíbulas são vestigiais). Esses dois grupos são muito diversificados e existem discussões a respeito da monofilia ou difilia dessa subfamília. Neste trabalho estudou-se a histologia da glândula frontal e musculatura Resumo 96 associada em vários gêneros, pertencentes aos Nasutitermitinae, com a finalidade de entender melhor... .
Termites (Insecta: Isoptera) are social insects. They cause damage in areas that were modified by humans and are elementary in the organic matter decomposition process. Isoptera are the unique insect with all the species eusocial. The termites are organized in a society that overlap at least two generations. Parental care and division of the work are important features of this society that is composed of individuals with morphological differences, the castes. Termite colonies present three castes; the reproductive caste that is responsible for reproduction; the workers that are involved with cleaning and nest building; and the soldiers that are fundamental in the defense of the colony against natural enemies. Among termites, Nasutitermitinae has soldiers with a peculiar morphology. These soldiers have a defense structure in their heads, which is composed of a frontal gland, that open in a frontal pore placed in the end of the nasus. This gland produces chemical compounds that are used in the defense of the colony, acting as toxins or anticicatizating substances. The nasus is the principal character grouping these species inside this subfamily, otherwise the phylogenetic status of the group is unresolved. The Nasutitermitinae belongs two distinct group: the mandibled nasutes (soldier with nasus and mandibles) and the true nasutes (soldiers with nasus and vestigial mandibles). These two groups are very diversified and monophyletic or diphyletic origin of the Nasutitermitinae are discussed. The present study shows histological data of the frontal gland and of the associated musculature of several Abstract 98 genera of Nasusitermitinae. The results are also used by cladistic analysis. We analyzed morphological data of the frontal gland, the associated musculature and the external morphology of the soldier head. The obtained data agree with the monophyletic relationships among the genera studied.
Termites (Insecta: Isoptera) are social insects. They cause damage in areas that were modified by humans and are elementary in the organic matter decomposition process. Isoptera are the unique insect with all the species eusocial. The termites are organized in a society that overlap at least two generations. Parental care and division of the work are important features of this society that is composed of individuals with morphological differences, the castes. Termite colonies present three castes; the reproductive caste that is responsible for reproduction; the workers that are involved with cleaning and nest building; and the soldiers that are fundamental in the defense of the colony against natural enemies. Among termites, Nasutitermitinae has soldiers with a peculiar morphology. These soldiers have a defense structure in their heads, which is composed of a frontal gland, that open in a frontal pore placed in the end of the nasus. This gland produces chemical compounds that are used in the defense of the colony, acting as toxins or anticicatizating substances. The nasus is the principal character grouping these species inside this subfamily, otherwise the phylogenetic status of the group is unresolved. The Nasutitermitinae belongs two distinct group: the mandibled nasutes (soldier with nasus and mandibles) and the true nasutes (soldiers with nasus and vestigial mandibles). These two groups are very diversified and monophyletic or diphyletic origin of the Nasutitermitinae are discussed. The present study shows histological data of the frontal gland and of the associated musculature of several Abstract 98 genera of Nasusitermitinae. The results are also used by cladistic analysis. We analyzed morphological data of the frontal gland, the associated musculature and the external morphology of the soldier head. The obtained data agree with the monophyletic relationships among the genera studied.
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SANTOS, Conceição Aparecida dos. A glândula frontal e musculatura associada: morfologia e aplicação como indicador taxonômico de gêneros neotropicais de Nasutitermitinae (Isoptera, termitidae). 2004. vii, 98 f. Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Instituto de Biociências de Rio Claro, 2004.