Parthenogenesis by neotenic reproductives of Reticulitermes speratus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) from various regions of Japan

In the previous report of parthenogenesis by neotenic reproductives (neotenics) of Reticulitermes speratus, neotenics from only one population were examined for parthenogenetic ability, although this species is distributed widely in Japan. In this study we examined parthenogenesis ability of neotenics from four areas in Honshu, Japan and revealed that all of the nymphoids and ergatoids from the four areas had parthenogenetic ability. Nymphoids produced significantly more eggs and larvae than ergatoids during the 180 days of the experiment. All of the offspring produced through parthenogenesis were female, and the chromosome numbers of the offspring examined in this study were diploid numbers (2n = 42). Microsatellite polymorphism analysis revealed that the heterozygous mother neotenics produced only homozygous offspring by parthenogenesis. The parthenogenetic ability that produced female, diploid, and homozygous offspring was common among the neotenics from the four sampling areas, and consistent with the previous report. Almost all the offspring produced through parthenogenesis differentiated into nymphs.