Morphometric variation and genetic relationship of Coptotermes spp. (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae) in Sarawak, Malaysia
Amongst the termite genera within Rhinotermitidae, the genus Coptotermes is probably regarded as one of the most destructive pest in Malaysia as it contributes to more than 90% of the damages in buildings and structures. In this study, 17 parameters were used for morphometric analysis. Partial seq...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
2018
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| Online Access: | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/12764/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/12764/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/12764/1/47_06_14.pdf |
| Summary: | Amongst the termite genera within Rhinotermitidae, the genus Coptotermes is probably regarded as one of the most destructive
pest in Malaysia as it contributes to more than 90% of the damages in buildings and structures. In this study, 17 parameters
were used for morphometric analysis. Partial sequence of mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase subunit II (COII) was
obtained from 21 populations of C. curvignathus, seven populations of C. sepangensis and two populations of C. kalshoveni
in Sarawak. In addition, 11 sequences of Coptotermes spp. were obtained from GenBank and included in the analysis.
Based on Discriminant Function Analyses (DFA), the maximum width of postmentum (MxWPt) is identified as the best
morphological character for differentiating the four species of Coptotermes in this study, proved by canonical discriminant
function. Phylogenetic analyses of COII found that C. sepangensis and C. kalshoveni are nested within a single clade.
Morphological comparison also showed these two species to be identical in terms of body measurements and diagnostic
features. These evidence indicates that C. sepangensis and C. kalshoveni are the same species, thus we suggest C. sepangensis
is a junior synonym of C. kalshoveni. |
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