Internal Armature of the Hindgut of Pericapritermes nitobei (Shiraki)

Authors

  • Natsumi Kanzaki Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute
  • Wakako Ohmura Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v63i2.402

Keywords:

enteric valve, diagnosis, morphology, soil-feeding termite

Abstract

The internal armature of the hindgut of Pericapritermes nitobei was examined under a light microscope. Termites were obtained from Iriomote Island, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, identified based on the typological characters of soldiers and 12S (mitochondrial) ribosomal RNA sequencing, and dissected to examine hindgut morphology. The hindgut of P. nitobei could be separated into four parts, P1-P4, and P1-P3 had cuticular spines on the inner surface. P1 bore small triangular spines. P2 formed an enteric valve, composed of six finger-shaped enteric pads with triangular spines, and six marginal regions with small dot-like spines. P3 bore three different types of spines: relatively large star-shaped spines; thorn-like small spines, and long curved spines with brush-like tips.  

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Author Biography

Natsumi Kanzaki, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute

Senior Researcher in the Department of Forest Microbiology

References

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Published

2016-07-20

How to Cite

Kanzaki, N., & Ohmura, W. (2016). Internal Armature of the Hindgut of Pericapritermes nitobei (Shiraki). Sociobiology, 63(2), 841–844. https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v63i2.402

Issue

Section

Research Article - Termites