title: Reproductive mechanisms in a Nasutitermes species (Isoptera: Termitidae).
abstract: The number of reproductive individuals present in colonies of Nasutitermes sp. was analysed, and its possible reproductive strategy discussed. Twenty-four nests were collected and opened, and a single queen and king were found in 17 of them. In the other 7 nests, no queen or king were neither found, nor any other reproductive individual. All queens were weighed, and the number of eggs laid by them was counted. No relationship between the volume of the nests and the weight of their respective queens was found, but the number of eggs laid by the queens during an hour was positively correlated to their weight.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual do Centro-Oeste, Campus de Guarapuava, Rua Presidente Zacarias, 875, CEP 85015-430, Guarapuava, PR, Brazil. mbuschini@unicentro.br
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Buschini
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Leonardo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D020049:Isoptera / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009425:Nesting Behavior; D010058:Oviposition / Q000502:physiology; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D013045:Species Specificity