Summary
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1.
Only a small percentage of incipient colonies ofReticulitermes hesperus produce a soldier during the first year.
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2.
In some colonies the soldier is derived from the first eggs and in other colonies the soldier develops from later eggs.
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3.
Not more than one soldier was present in any one colony during the first year.
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4.
If the initial soldier, produced from the first group of young was removed, a second or replacement soldier was produced from the second group of young in 50% of an experimental series of 12 colonies.
Zusammenfassung
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1.
Nur in wenigen der jungen Kolonien vonReticulitermes hesperus erscheint ein Soldat während des ersten Jahres.
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2.
In manchen Kolonien entwickeln sich die Soldaten aus den ersten Eiern, während sie sich in anderen Kolonien aus späteren Eiern entwickeln.
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3.
In jeder Kolonie wurde im Lauf des ersten Jahres nur ein einziger Soldat gefunden.
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4.
Wenn der aus der ersten Gruppe von Jungen stammende Soldat zerstört wurde, so entwickelte sich aus der zweiten Gruppe von Jungen in 50% einer Gruppe von 12 Experimentalkolonien, ein zweiter Soldat.
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Literature Cited
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Light, S.F., Weesner, F.M. The production and replacement of soldiers in incipient Colonies ofReticulitermes Hesperus Banks. Ins. Soc 2, 347–354 (1955). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02331511
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02331511