Researchers from North Carolina State University have mapped for the first time the genome of the most primitive termite Zootermopsis nevadensis, or the dampwood termite.
One of the most primitive social insects in the world, the dampwood termite spends most of its life inside a tree log. Since these critters don't get out much, researchers believed that the termite males expanded male fertility genes needed to fertilize the eggs from the queens, which don't keep sperm for very long.
Ant males, on the other hand, deliver sperm just once in their lifetime which forces ant queens to store the sperm for a long period.
"Generally, ant males deliver sperm and then die. But sperm production goes on for life in the dampwood termite male," said Dr. Ed Vargo, professor of entomology and a co-author of the study, in a press release.
The findings on the dampwood termite's genetic blueprint pointed out the insect's notable differences and similarities with other social insects such as bees, wasps and ants. Aside from understanding the evolution of the social insects, the data could be useful in exploring the specific gene functions that could lead to devising measures in controlling unwanted termites.
Moreover, the study showed that compared with other social insects, termites had fewer smelling receptors. When a male termite doesn't leave the colony, it is not exposed to various smells which makes it indifferent to having a wide odor palate. The researchers also found that dampwood termites were similar to other social insects because of the presence of genes involved in sex and caste determination.
These findings could lead to creating new baits aimed to eliminate unwanted termites at home.
"The vast majority of termites are not pests," Vargo added. "They serve important functions in decomposition, for example. But we can use this sequence information to figure out ways of disrupting certain pathways which could have pest control implications for termites causing problems in homes."
Further details of the study were published in the May 20 issue of Nature Communications.
