2010 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

Sex specific regulation of the soldier caste ratio in the social parasitoid

Research Project

Project/Area Number	20380032
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Section	一般
Research Field	Applied entomology
Research Institution	Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
Principal Investigator	IWABUCHI Kikuo Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology -> 東京農工大学, 大学院・農学研究院, 教授 (00203399)
Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha)	SATO Ryoichi 東京農工大学, 大学院・農学研究院, 教授 (30235428)
Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha)	SATO Toshiyuki 東京農工大学, 大学院・農学研究院, 准教授 (80242238)
Project Period (FY)	2008 – 2010
Keywords	昆虫行動
Research Abstract	Unlike other eusocial Hymenoptera, social parasitoids are unique in that they have evolved sociality involving a soldier caste in both sexes. The function and the regulation of the soldier caste ratio were examined. Soldiers of both sexes have ability to defend against heterospecific competitors. The caste composition was genetically determined, while in females it was affected by environmental factors. The mechanism of environmental regulation was likely to be different with different environmental factors.

(5 results)