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Distribution of alkaline phosphatase in the castes of the termiteOdontotermes redemanni (Wasmann) and its role in caste formation

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Summary

  1. 1.

    Distribution of Alkaline Phosphatase in the brains and digestive tracts of the workers, soldiers and sexuals ofOdontotermes redemanni is specific.

  2. 2.

    During early embryogenesis phosphatase distribution is very uniform and gives no indication of the future caste differentiation.

  3. 3.

    In the advanced larvae three types of reactions are noted. Those with faint, mild and intense phosphatase reactions become soldiers, workers and sexuals respectively.

  4. 4.

    The queen in the «Royal chamber» gives out an exudation through the integument. This exudation is licked and carried by the workers to the undifferentiated larvae in the nurseries. This material has inhibitory or stimulator substance whose selective application sets in the castewise differentiation of the larvae. Once the differentiation is fixed, the larvae show phosphatase reactions specific to the castes into which they will eventually develop.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tocklai Experimental Station, Cinnamara, Assam, India

    Barundeb Banerjee

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  1. Barundeb Banerjee
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Banerjee, B. Distribution of alkaline phosphatase in the castes of the termiteOdontotermes redemanni (Wasmann) and its role in caste formation. Ins. Soc 14, 51–56 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02222753

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02222753

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