Termitophily Documented in Earwigs (Dermaptera)
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F61988987%3A17310%2F21%3AA2202E4T" target="_blank" >RIV/61988987:17310/21:A2202E4T - isvavai.cz</a>
Result on the web
<a href="https://mdpi-res.com/d_attachment/biology/biology-10-01243/article_deploy/biology-10-01243.pdf" target="_blank" >https://mdpi-res.com/d_attachment/biology/biology-10-01243/article_deploy/biology-10-01243.pdf</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/biology10121243" target="_blank" >10.3390/biology10121243</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Termitophily Documented in Earwigs (Dermaptera)
Original language description
Based on behavioral observations, we report termitophily by the earwig Spirolabia kaja Koc arek, sp. nov. (Spongiphoridae: Labiinae). The new species was found in association with the wood-boring termite Schedorhinotermes sarawakensis (Holmgren, 1913) in a dipterocarp rain forest in Borneo; in addition to being observed in the galleries, termite-earwig interactions were subsequently documented in the laboratory. We found that earwigs and termites communicate by antennation, and we observed no form of targeted mutual or unilateral aggressive behavior. The earwigs responded to the proximity of an experimentally irritated termite soldier by conflict-avoidance behavior based on thanatosis, which seems to be a defensive reaction that may reduce the chance of being attacked by an irritated termite. Based on the analysis of gastrointestinal tract contents, we conclude that S. kaja sp. nov. is an omnivorous species that feeds mainly on plant tissues and fungi but occasionally on arthropod remains. The occurrence of S. kaja sp. nov. adults together with the nymphs (2nd to 4th instars) in the galleries of S. sarawakensis strongly suggests that the earwig can reproduce inside the termite colony. Spirolabia kaja Kocarek, sp. nov. is the first earwig species for which termitophily has been demonstrated.
Czech name
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Czech description
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Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
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OECD FORD branch
10616 - Entomology
Result continuities
Project
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Continuities
O - Projekt operacniho programu
Others
Publication year
2021
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
Biology-Basel
ISSN
2079-7737
e-ISSN
2079-7737
Volume of the periodical
10
Issue of the periodical within the volume
12
Country of publishing house
CH - SWITZERLAND
Number of pages
12
Pages from-to
1-12
UT code for WoS article
000736144900001
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-85120785035