Researchers Sequence Termite Genome

Scientists have sequenced the genome of dampwood termite (Zootermopsis nevadensis).

The study on termite genome shows some key differences and similarities between termites and other social insects such as ants. Researchers hope that their new findings will help develop ways to control these pests.

The dampwood termite is the world's most primitive social insect. According to the study team, which included entomologists from the North Carolina State University, the termites have evolved a kind of a caste system - where each individual is designated a particular task - according to Scientific American. In fact, some of the similarities between ants and termites are that they share genes associated with sex and caste system.

One key difference between ant and termite mating is that termites don't go out much as so their male fertility genes are activated to keep producing sperm. Termite queens, unlike ant queens, don't save the sperms because the termite males are always within the colony. Ant queens need to be able to save sperms to fertilize eggs later, according to Dr. Ed Vargo, professor of entomology and a co-author of the paper.

"Generally, ant males deliver sperms and then die. But sperm production goes on for life in the dampwood termite male," Vargo said.

What was surprising about the termite genome was that it had few genes dedicated to smell. The lack of odor-sensing genes might be due to the fact that termites almost always stay close to home. However, social insects are known to rely on several sensory organs to communicate with one another.

"These sensory receptors may not be as important to being social as we previously believed, at least for these more primitive termites," said Dr. R. Michael Roe, an NC State professor of entomology and co-author of the paper, in a news release. "These findings also show that you can't make assumptions about termites by studying ants - it's important to study both as comprehensively as possible."

The study, researchers hope, will help locate genes that can be manipulated to control these pests.

"The vast majority of termites are not pests," Vargo said in a news release. "They serve important functions in decomposition, for example. But, we can use this sequence information to figure out ways of disrupting certain pathways which could have pest control implications for termites causing problems in homes."

The study is published in the journal Nature Communications.