Identification and phylogenetic analysis of various termite species distributed across southern Haryana, India
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Termites are highly abundant and vital insects that directly and indirectly influence local soils. The present study investigated the morphological and molecular phylogenetics of termite species collected from study fields in southern Haryana, India, from 2020 to 2021. Samples were subjected to integrated systematic analyses, taking into account the mandible features of soldiers for morphological systematics and 16S rRNA gene-based phylogeny for molecular systematics. Based on the external phenotype and relations to reference sequences in NCBI GenBank, 21 species were identified; these included five species each from Odontotermes and Microcerotermes, four species from Coptotermes, two species each from Microtermes and Eremotermes, and one species each from Amitermes, Angulitermes, and Neotermes. 16S rRNA gene sequences were utilized to construct phylogenetic trees to explore the relatedness among identified species. The results of the different molecular phylogenetic approaches including maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and neighbor-joining revealed nearly identical topological relations between the species and grouping of individuals in relation to their genera. The maximum parsimony tree based on mandible features has been found to be effective in clustering multiple species of a given genus in a clade in at least three termite genera.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors own the copyright to the articles published in JoTT. This is indicated explicitly in each publication. The authors grant permission to the publisher Wildlife Information Liaison Development (WILD) Society to publish the article in the Journal of Threatened Taxa. The authors recognize WILD as the original publisher, and to sell hard copies of the Journal and article to any buyer. JoTT is registered under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY), which allows authors to retain copyright ownership. Under this license the authors allow anyone to download, cite, use the data, modify, reprint, copy and distribute provided the authors and source of publication are credited through appropriate citations (e.g., Son et al. (2016). Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) of the southeastern Truong Son Mountains, Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam. Journal of Threatened Taxa 8(7): 8953–8969. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.2785.8.7.8953-8969). Users of the data do not require specific permission from the authors or the publisher.
References
Ackerman, I.L., W.G. Teixeira, S.J. Riha, J. Lehmann & E.C. Fernandes (2007). The impact of mound-building termites on surface soil properties in a secondary forest of Central Amazonia. Applied Soil Ecology 37(3): 267–276.
Ahmad, M. (1950). The phylogeny of termite genera based on imago-worker mandibles. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 95: 37–86.
Ahmed, B.M., P.O. Nkunika, G.W. Sileshi, J.R. French, P. Nyedo & S. Jain (2011). Potential impact of climate change on termite distribution in Africa. British Journal of Environment and Climate Change 1(4): 172–89.
Aldrich, B.T., E.B. Maghirang, F.E. Dowell & S. Kambhampati (2007). Identification of termite species and subspecies of the genus Zootermopsis using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy. Journal of Insect Science 7(18): 1–7.
Amina, P., K. Rajmohana, K.P. Dinesh, G. Asha, P.A. Sinu & J. Mathew (2020). Two new species of an Indian endemic genus Krishnacapritermes Chhotani (Isoptera: Termitidae) from the Kerala part of the Western Ghats, India. Oriental Insects 10(103): 1–18.
Austin, J.W., A.L. Szalanski, P. Uva, A.G. Bagnères & A. Kence (2002). A comparative genetic analysis of the subterranean termite genus Reticulitermes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Annals of The Entomological Society of America 95: 753–760.
Austin, J.W., A.L. Szalanski, R.H. Scheffrahn, M.T. Messenger, S. Dronnet & A.G. Bagnères (2005). Genetic evidence for the synonymy of two Reticulitermes species: Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) and Reticulitermes santonensis (Feytand). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 98(3): 395–401.
Austin, J.W., L.S. Allen, C. Solorzano, R. Magnus & R.H. Scheffrahn (2012). Mitochondrial DNA genetic diversity of the drywood termites Incisitermes minor and I. snyderi (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae). Florida Entomologist 95: 75–81.
Behura, S.K. (2006). Molecular marker systems in insects: current trends and future avenues. Molecular Ecology 15: 3087–3113.
Bhanupriya, N. Kakkar. & S.K. Gupta (2022a). Eremotermes neoparadoxalis Ahmad, 1955 (Isoptera: Termitidae: Amitermitinae) a new record from Haryana, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 14(8): 21715–21719. https://doi.org/10.11609/jot.7776.14.8.21715-21719
Bhanupriya, N. Kakkar. & S.K. Gupta (2022b). A new record of termite Coptotermes emersoni Ahmed. Indian Journal of Entomology e22244: 1–3. https://doi.org/10.55446/IJE.2022.685
Bignell, D.E. & P. Eggleton (2000). Termites in ecosystems. pp. 363–387. In: Abe, T., D.E. Bignell & M. Higashi (eds.). Termites: Evolution, Sociality, Symbioses, Ecology. Academic Publishers: Kluwer, Netherlands, 466 pp.
Bignell, D.E., Y. Roisin & N. Lo (2010). Biology of Termites: A Modern Synthesis - 1st Edition. Springer: Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 30 pp.
Bourguignon, T., N. Lo, S.L. Cameron, J. Šobotník, Y. Hayashi, S. Shigenobu, D. Watanabe, Y. Roisin, T. Miura & T.A. Evans (2014). The evolutionary history of termites as inferred from 66 mitochondrial genomes. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 32: 406–421.
Carrijo, T.F., M. Pontes‐Nogueira, R.G. Santos, A.C. Morales, E.M. Cancello & R.H. Scheffrahn (2020). New World Heterotermes (Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae): molecular phylogeny, biogeography and description of a new species. Systematic Entomology 45: 527–539.
Chiu, C.I., H.T. Yeh, P.L. Li, C.Y. Kuo, M.J. Tsai & H.F. Li (2018). Foraging phenology of the fungus-growing termite Odontotermes formosanus (Blattodea: Termitidae). Environmental Entomology 47: 1509–1516.
Chhotani, O.B. (1997). The Fauna of India and the Adjacent Countries. Isoptera (Termites): (Family Termitidae) - Vol. 2. Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta, xx + 800 pp.
Donovan, S.E., D.T. Jones, W.A. Sands & P. Eggleton (2000). Morphological phylogenetics of termites (Isoptera). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 70: 467–513.
Donovan, S.E., P. Eggleton & D.E. Bignell (2001). Gut content analysis and a new feeding group classification of termites. Ecological Entomology 26(4): 356–366.
Effowe, T.Q., B.D. Kasseney, A.B. Ndiaye, B.B. Sanbena, K. Amevoin & I.A. Glitho (2021). Termites’ diversity in a protected park of the northern Sudanian savanna of Togo (West Africa). Nature Conservation 43: 79–91.
Engel, M.S., D.A. Grimaldi & K. Krishna (2009). Termites (Isoptera): Their phylogeny, classification, and rise to ecological dominance. American Museum Novitates 3650: 1–27.
Felsenstein, J. (2008). Comparative methods with sampling error and within-species variation: contrasts revisited and revised. American Naturalist 171: 713–725.
Ghesini, S., G. Müller & M. Marini (2020). First record of the subterranean termite Reticulitermes grassei in Switzerland. Bulletin of Insectology 73: 149–151.
Govorushko, S. (2019). Economic and ecological importance of termites: A global review. Entomological Science 22: 21–35.
Hare, L. (1937). Termite phylogeny as evidenced by soldier mandible development. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 30(3): 459–486.
Inward, G., P. Vogler & P. Eggleton (2007). A comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of termites (Isoptera) illuminates key aspects of their evolutionary biology. Molecular Phylogenetics and Ecology 44: 953–967.
Ishikawa, Y., H. Aonuma & T. Miura (2008). Soldier-specific modification of the mandibular motor neurons in termites. PLoS ONE 3(7): e2617.
Johnson, R.A. (1979). Configuration of the digestive tube as an aid to identification of worker Termitidae (Isoptera). Systematic Entomology 4: 31–38.
Judith, A.S. & C.B. Nicola (2008). Molecular genetic identification of forensically important flies in the UK. Forensic Science International: Genetics Supplement Series 1: 620–622.
Kambhampati, S., K.M. Kjer & B.L. Thorne (1996). Phylogenetic relationship among termite families based on DNA sequence of mitochondrial 16S ribosomal RNA gene. Insect Molecular Biology 5(4): 229–238.
Kassaye, A., E.G. Getu, M. Wakgari, M. Goftishu, A.S. Seid, S.J. Montoya & G.H. Gile (2021). Survey and identification of termites (Insecta, Isoptera) using morphological and molecular methods from eastern, central and western Ethiopia. SINET: Ethiopian Journal of Science 44(2): 193–204.
Katoh, K., J. Rozewicki & K.D. Yamada (2019). MAFFT online service: multiple sequence alignment, interactive sequence choice and visualization. Briefings in Bioinformatics 20(4): 1160–1166.
Ke, Y., W. Wu, S. Zhang & Z. Li (2017). Morphological and genetic evidence for the synonymy of Reticulitermes species: Reticulitermes dichrous and Reticulitermes guangzhouensis (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Florida Entomologist 100(1): 101–108.
Korb, J., B.D. Kasseney, Y.T. Cakpo, R.H. Casalla Daza, J.N. Gbenyedji, M.E. Ilboudo, G. Josens, N.G. Koné, K. Meusemann, A.B. Ndiaye, S.I. Okweche, M. Poulsen, Y. Roisin & F. Sankara (2019). Termite taxonomy, challenges and prospects: West Africa, a case example. Insects 10(1): 32.
Krishna, K., D.A. Grimaldi, V. Krishna & M.S. Engel (2013). Treatise on the Isoptera of the world. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 377: 1–200.
Kuan, K.C., C.I. Chiu, M.C. Shih, K.J. Chi & H.F. Li (2020). Termite’s twisted mandible presents fast, powerful and precise strikes. Scientific Reports 10(1): 1–12.
Lee, C., B.T. Forschler, T.M. Jenkins & W.H. Robinson (2005). Taxonomic questions on Malaysian termites (Isoptera: Termitidae) answered with morphology and DNA biotechnology, pp. 205–211. In Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Urban Pests. Malaysia: P and Y Design Network.
Legendre, F., M.F. Whiting, C. Bordereau, E.M. Cancello, T.A. Evans & P. Grandcolas (2008). The phylogeny of termites (Dictyoptera: Isoptera) based on mitochondrial and nuclear markers: Implications for the evolution of the worker and pseudergate castes, and foraging behaviors. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 48: 615–627.
Lo, N., O. Kitade, T. Miura, R. Constantino & T. Matsumoto (2004). Molecular phylogeny of the Rhinotermitidae. Insectes Sociaux 51: 365–371. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00040-004-0759-8
Mahapatro, G.K. & S.A. Kumar (2013). First report of a commonly prevalent termite Heterotermes indicola from Delhi region. Indian Journal of Agricultural Science 83: 459–462.
Matsuoka, H., Y. Fujii, S. Okumura, Y. Imamura & T. Yoshimura (1996). Relationship between the Type of Feeding Behavior of Termites and the Acoustic Emission (AE) Generation. Wood research: bulletin of the Wood Research Institute Kyoto University 83: 1–7.
Murthy, K.S. (2020). Molecular identity of subterranean termites. International Journal of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology 8: 410–416.
Noirot, C. (1995). The gut of termites (lsoptera). Comparative anatomy, systematics, phylogeny: I. lower termites. Annales de la Societe Entomologique de France 3l(3): 197–226.
Ohkuma, M., H. Yuzawa, W. Amornsak, Y. Sornnuwat, Y. Takematsu, A. Yamada, C. Vongkaluang, O. Sarnthoy, N. Kirtibutr, N. Noparatnaraporn, T. Kudo & T. Inoue (2004). Molecular phylogeny of Asian termites (Isoptera) of the families Termitidae and Rhinotermitidae based on mitochondrial COII sequences. Molecular Phylogenetic 31: 701–710.
Parihar, D.R. (1981). Termite pests of vegetation in Rajasthan and their management. Central Arid Zone Research Institute: Printed at the Automobile Press, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 24 pp.
Paul, B., M. Khan, S. Paul, K. Shankarganesh & S. Chakravorty (2018). Termites and Indian agriculture. pp. 52-96. In: Khan, M.A & W. Ahmad (eds.). Termites and Sustainable Management, Sustainability in Plant and Crop Protection. Springer International Publisher: New Delhi, India, 96 pp.
Pooja, B.B., V.K. Pu, S.R. Patil & P.M. Biradar (2017). Survey of termites and physico-chemical parameters of termite soil samples collected from Karnataka University Campus, Dharwad. Journal of Environmental Science, Toxicology and Food Technology 11(12): 33–37.
Prestwich, G.D. (1984). Defense mechanisms of termites. Annual Review of Entomology 29(1): 201–232.
Procter, J.B., G. Carstairs, B. Soares, K. Mourão, T.C. Ofoegbu, D. Barton, L. Lui, A. Menard, N. Sherstnev, D. Roldan-Martinez, D.M.A. Duce S Martin & G.J. Barton (2021). Alignment of biological sequences with Jalview, pp. 203–224. In: Pirovano, W. & J. Heringa (eds.) Multiple Sequence Alignment. Humana: New York, 224 pp.
Rathore, N.S. & A.K. Bhattacharyya (2004). Termite (Insecta: Isoptera) Fauna of Gujarat and Rajasthan: Present State of Knowledge. Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, 77 pp.
Rocha, M.M., A.C. Morales-Correa e Castro, C. Cuezzo & E.M. Cancello (2017). Phylogenetic reconstruction of Syntermitinae (Isoptera, Termitidae) based on morphological and molecular data. PLoS ONE 12(3): 1–29.
Rocha, M.M., C. Cuezzo, J.P. Constantini, D.E. Oliveira, R.G. Santos, T.F. Carrijo & E.M. Cancello (2019). Overview of the morphology of neotropical termite workers: history and practice. Sociobiology 66(1): 1–32.
Roonwal, M.L. & O.B. Chhotani (1989). The Fauna of India and the adjacent countries, Isoptera (Termites). Vol. 1. Zoological Survey of India: Kolkata, viii + 672 pp.
Roy, V., C. Demanche, A. Livet & M. Harry (2006). Genetic differentiation in the soil-feeding termite Cubitermes sp. affinis subarquatus: occurrence of cryptic species revealed by nuclear and mitochondrial markers. BMC Evolutionary Biology 6: 102.
Seid, M.A., R.H. Schefrahn & J.E. Niven (2008). The rapid mandible strike of a termite soldier. Current Biology 18: 1049–1050.
Szalanski, A.L., J.W. Austin, R.H. Scheffrahn & M.T. Messenger (2004). Molecular diagnostics of the Formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Florida Entomologist 87(2): 145–151.
Tamura, K., G. Stecher & S. Kumar (2021). MEGA 11: Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis Version 11. Molecular Biology and Evolution 38(7): 3022–3027. https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msab120
Thompson, G.J., L.R. Miller, M. Lenz & R.H. Crozier (2000). Phylogenetic analysis and trait evolution in Australian lineages of drywood termites (Isoptera, Kalotermitidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 17(3): 419–429.
Vidyashree, A.S., C.M. Kalleshwaraswamy, S.H.M Mahadeva, R. Asokan & S.K. Adarsha (2018). Morphological, molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis of termites from Western Ghats of Karnataka, India. Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology 21(1): 140–149.
Wallman, J.F. & S.C. Donnellan (2001). The utility of mitochondrial DNA sequences for the identification of forensically important blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in southeastern Australia. Forensic Science International 20: 60–67.
Wang, C., X. Zhou, S. Li, M. Schwinghammer, M.E. Scharf, G. Buczkowski & G.W. Bennett (2009). Survey and identification of termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in Indiana. Annals of Entomological society of America 102(6): 1029–1036.
Wells, J.D. & F. Sperling (2001). DNA-based identification of forensically important Chrysomyinae (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Forensic Science International 120: 110–115.
Wilson, M.M. & L.W. Jessica (2019). Mandible morphology as a reflection of diet in basal termite lineages. Entomology 17-20.
Yeap, Y., S. Othman, S. Lee & Y. Lee (2007). Genetic relationship between Coptotermes gestroi and Coptotermes vastator (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Journal of Economic Entomology 100: 467–474.
Yashiro, Y., Y. Takematsu, N. Ogawa & K. Matsuura (2019). Taxonomic assessment of the termite genus Neotermes (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) in the Ryukyu-Taiwan Island arc, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 4604 (3): 549–561.