تلخیص
Developmental pathways of 0. obesus based on the collection brought tram the nest, were studied. It was found that workers in the colony were of two types (major workers and minor workers) differing only in minor derails unlike those of the genus Macroterntes. However, after second instar larva they can he easily differentiated, as they have different mandibular size and shape (not pattern). Detailed studies on caste differentiation of a field colony of 0. obesus revealed that major and minor workers develop from third instar larva. Both major and minor workers after their differentiation from third instar larva pass through three successive instars to become an adult sclertitized major or minor worker. There were many qualitative and quantitative changes frpm third instar larva to the adult workers. Biometrically all the instars of major workers and minor workers were significantly different in all the characters studied. However. for the total body length third instar major workers were not significantly different from adult workers. The origin of presoldier takes place from third instar minor worker larva. The presoldier after five significantly different instars develops into a soldier. It is in the last moult that rectangularly oval head characteristic of the species appears. The origin of alate line takes place from second instar larva. The nymph after five instars developed into alate. Biometrically all the instars were significantly different.
ABDUL SATTAR SHAHID , MUHAMMAD SAEED AKHTAR. (2000.) DEVELOPMENTAL PATHWAYS IN A FUNGUS GROWING TERMITE, ODONTOTERMES OBESUS (RAMBUR) (TERMITIDAE: MACROTERMITINAE)* , Punjab University Journal of Zoology, Volume 15, Issue .
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