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Termites and Mantids: Fascinating Insects of the Cenozoic Era

Explore the intriguing world of termites and mantids, two unique insect species that have thrived since the Cenozoic era. Termites, with their complex caste system and remarkable ability to digest cellulose, play a vital role in ecosystems. Mantids, known for their raptorial legs and sexual cannibalism behavior, are fascinating predators. Uncover the different types of termites based on their diets and habitats, and learn about the distinctive features of mantids. Discover how these insects have evolved and adapted over millions of years, shaping the biodiversity of the modern world.

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Termites and Mantids: Fascinating Insects of the Cenozoic Era

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  1. Arthropoda Modern crustacea Myriapoda Hexapoda Chelicerata Cenozoic (65-present) Trilobita Mesozoic (251-65 mya) Paleozoic (542-251 mya) Precambrian (>542 mya) Crustaceamorph stem line

  2. Rupert et al. fig 21-23 Collembola Thysanura Ephemeroptera Odonata Neoptera “Apterygota” Pterygota Entognatha Insecta Hexapoda

  3. Sternorrhyncha Mantodea Grylloblattaria Heteroptera Auchenorrhyncha Phasmida Anoplura Isoptera Holometabola Mallophaga Blattaria Zoraptera Psocoptera Orthoptera Thysanoptera Dermaptera Hemipteroids Plecoptera Neoptera

  4. Zoraptera • Tropical • Live in rotting wood • Eat fungal hyphae, tiny arthropods • Poorly studied

  5. Isoptera - termites Caste system within termite colonies Worker Soldier Queen Workers tend the colony, gather food Soldiers cannot feed themselves, they have a nozzle-shaped snout for exuding noxious chemicals; defend colony from ant attack. Queens add a set of ovaries with each molt → very high fecundity (1000’s/day); >1 Queen/colony; kings resemble large worker and mate repeatedly with queens

  6. Termites • Several kinds of termites based on diet • Subterranean* (live up to 20 ft underground) • Soil-feeding • Drywood* • Dampwood • Grass-feeding * Types that infest and eat human buildings

  7. Termites • All termites eat cellulose • Cellulose has high energy, but difficult to digest • Gut bacteria have cellulase • Gut protozoa have symbiotic bacteria in their guts • Some “higher” termites (subterranean) can produce cellulase, but they still also have a rich gut flora to aid in cellulose digestion

  8. Mantodea – the mantids

  9. Mantodea – the mantids • Raptorial first legs (“praying”) (also preying!) • Mobile neck joint • 3 extra eye on top of head • Sexual cannibalism: females eats male during copulation to get food and enhance sexual performance (tonus and locomotion of abdominal activity)

  10. Blattaria – the cockroaches • Aka blattodea • Have mobile neck joint • A few feed on wood and have endosymbiotic flagellates (like isopterans) • Fast runners!

  11. Sternorrhyncha Mantodea Grylloblattaria Heteroptera Auchenorrhyncha Phasmida Anoplura Isoptera Holometabola Mallophaga Blattaria Zoraptera Psocoptera Orthoptera Thysanoptera Dermaptera Hemipteroids Plecoptera Neoptera

  12. Hemipteroids • Have piercing, sucking mouthparts

  13. Hemipteroids • In days of old… • O Hemiptera, O Homoptera • Current thinking: • O Heteroptera = true bugs • O Sternorryncha = aphids, scale insects • O Auchenorryncha = leaf hoppers, tree hoppers, plant hoppers, cicadas, spittlebugs • Many hemipteroids are important crop pests

  14. Heteroptera: true bugs

  15. Sternorryncha Both aphids and scale insects are important crop pests Both form mutualistic interactions with ants (produce honeydew in exchange for protection)

  16. Auchenorryncha

  17. Psocoptera: bark lice, book lice • Live in humid crevices and feed on fungi (under bark, old musty books)

  18. Other lice • O Anoplura – sucking lice of mammals • Often host-specific e.g. human crab louse, human head louse

  19. Other lice • O Mallophaga – chewing lice • All non-anopluran lice (polyphyletic) • Mostly found on birds

  20. Thysanoptera -thrips • Suctorial mouthparts • Common in flowers (serve as pollinators) • Vectors of disease on some crops • Fringed wings

  21. Sternorrhyncha Mantodea Grylloblattaria Heteroptera Auchenorrhyncha Phasmida Anoplura Isoptera Holometabola Mallophaga Blattaria Zoraptera Psocoptera Orthoptera Thysanoptera Dermaptera Hemipteroids Plecoptera Neoptera

  22. Holometabula • Development: larva to pupa to adult

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