Zootermopsis nevadensis

(Hagen, 1874)

Nevada Dampwood Termite, Nevada Termite

Species Guides

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Zootermopsis nevadensis is a eusocial dampwood in the Archotermopsidae, native to the western United States. It is a hemimetabolous with complex differentiation including , soldiers, , and neotenic reproductives. The species has been extensively studied for its genomic characteristics, including exceptionally high methylation levels and reduced opsin genes associated with its subterranean lifestyle. Two are recognized: Z. n. nevadensis and Z. n. nuttingi, with the latter having its sequenced.

TBC1D30 unrooted tree A by 87poatoes. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.41396 2020 688 Fig1cd by Mariko Takeuchi, Hirokazu Kuwahara, Takumi Murakami, Kazuki Takahashi, Rei Kajitani, Atsushi Toyoda, Takehiko Itoh, Moriya Ohkuma, Yuichi Hongoh. Used under a CC0 license.41396 2020 688 Fig1ef by Mariko Takeuchi, Hirokazu Kuwahara, Takumi Murakami, Kazuki Takahashi, Rei Kajitani, Atsushi Toyoda, Takehiko Itoh, Moriya Ohkuma, Yuichi Hongoh. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Zootermopsis nevadensis: //zoʊˌoʊtərˈmɑpsɪs nɛvəˈdɛnsɪs//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

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Habitat

Inhabits damp wood in cooler coastal and higher elevation areas of the western United States. Colonies are established inside wood and do not forage outside their nest. Found in desert, grassland, prairie, and rural areas of central and central-east California and central-west Nevada.

Distribution

Western United States: central and central-east California, and central-west Nevada. Coastal forest regions of the western USA.

Diet

Wood (lignocellulose). Digests wood with assistance from symbiotic protists including Streblomastix, Trichomitopsis, and Trichonympha.

Host Associations

  • Streblomastix - Most abundant protist in all three segments, especially ; vital for wood digestion
  • Trichomitopsis - Significantly more abundant in ; vital for wood digestion
  • Trichonympha - Least abundant overall with variable distribution, often peaking in middle segment; vital for wood digestion

Life Cycle

Hemimetabolous development with multiple progressive larval instars functioning as . Final worker instars develop into one of three alternative phenotypes: (winged reproductives), neotenic reproductives, or soldiers. Alates leave the colony, mate, and found new colonies as -king pairs. When primary reproductives die, they are replaced by neotenics that mate with siblings, leading to inbreeding in older colonies. Workers provide little or no care.

Behavior

Communicates alarm through vibrational signals: and soldiers drum their against the substrate when disturbed by sudden bright light or air currents. Drumming produces pulse trains at approximately 20 Hz with carrier frequencies of 1–3 kHz depending on substrate. respond preferentially to temporal patterns rather than spectral cues for signal discrimination. Anal feeding occurs as part of social interactions among workers.

Ecological Role

Decomposer that breaks down wood in forest . protist enable digestion of lignocellulose, contributing to nutrient cycling in dead wood .

Similar Taxa

More Details

Genomic characteristics

of Z. n. nuttingi sequenced to study molecular traces of eusociality. Possesses only two opsin genes, the smallest number known among insects, resulting from tens of millions of years in dark environments. Shows approximately 280 functional genes with 63 olfactory receptors, 87 receptors, and 137 ionotropic receptors. Has 55 P450 genes and expanded gene linked to male .

DNA methylation

Displays some of the highest methylation levels found in insects: 12% of genomic CpGs and 58% of exonic CpGs methylated. Methylation patterns show strong differences and association with alternative splicing. Methylated genes tend to be uniformly highly expressed. Methylation patterns resemble vertebrates with gene-body methylation increasing 5'→3' and methylated gene clustering.

Immunity

Possesses 6 Gram-negative binding proteins (GNBPs), more than other insects, with -specific expansions. Has 5 signaling genes overexpressed in reproductive females and 3 antimicrobial (attacin, dipericine, and a termicine orthologue).

Subspecies

Two recognized: Z. n. nevadensis and Z. n. nuttingi. The latter is the source of the sequenced and has been studied for protist distribution.

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