Queen replacement in the termite Microcerotermes papuanus
1990
Roisin, Yves
In experimentally orphaned field nests of Microcerotermes papuanus Holmgren, 1911, large numbers of workers develop into replacement reproductives (ergatoids) in only one moult. The females become functional egg-layers after approximately two months. Nymphs normally reach the last instars in August-September; at that time, in the orphaned nests, some nymphs moult to nymphoid replacement reproductives. Over long time periods, these nymphoids completely replace the ergatoids and the females become physogastric. Although time-efficient, queen replacement seems energetically expensive for the society, suggesting that this process is under weak selective pressure in M. papuanus, compared with sympatric species such as Nasutitermes princeps.
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