Sex ratio and asymmetry between the sexes in the production of replacement reproductives in the termite,Neotermes papua(Desneux)

摘要

Sex ratio data were collected and orphaning experiments carried out in the New Guinea giant cocoa termite,Neotermes papua. The sex ratio of the alates tends to be slightly female-biased, whereas males represent on average about 60 of the pseudergates and soldiers. This might represent a rudimentary form of sex specialization in the production of working individuals.