Does population genetic structure explain variation in nestmate recognition abilities among colonies of Reticulitermes species in California?
Kirsten A. Copren, Department of Entomology and Center for Population Biology, University of California, Department of Entomology and Center for Population Biology, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA Abilities to discriminate among kin and non-kin are common among social insects. These abilities are used for defense of colony resources, and also hypothesized as a facilitating mechanism for kin selection. Recent work in ants has suggested that nestmate recognition abilities have a genetic basis, specifically in species that have complex social structures such as polydomy and polygyny. Increasing evidence shows that Reticulitermes species from California also have complex social structures and well developed recognition abilities. Using a combination of genetic and behavioral methods, I examine if there is a genetic basis for recognition cues in two species of Reticulitermes from California. I show that nestmate recognition abilities vary according to colony using an aggression bioassay; some
