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利用微衛星基因鑑別台灣家白蟻Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki（蜚蠊目：鼻白蟻科）巢群
Utilizing Microsatellite Markers for Formosan Subterranean Termite Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Termitoidae: Rhinotermitidae) Colony Identification
摘要
台灣家白蟻（Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki）是社會性昆蟲，單巢白蟻的危害面積可達一公頃，為了評估殺蟲藥劑是否將全巢白蟻滅除，傳統的方法是用染色標放法確認單一白蟻巢的活動範圍。然而執行染色標放法費力且費時，因此本研究目標是以五組微衛星標記（microsatellite marker），發展出一套能用於台灣族群的巢群（colony）身分鑑定流程：在多個地點採集白蟻，依循孟德爾遺傳法則重建親本基因型，根據各地點親本基因型來判斷各地點白蟻是否屬於同巢，再檢測巢群的遺傳組成是否符合單王單后的組合形式，來避免因為巢中含有多王或多后造成誤判。我們將鑑定流程應用於一防治案例：我們在中興大學校內的肖楠神木樹基表面上16個位置發現台灣家白蟻活動，其中的6個位置採集到超過10隻個體的白蟻樣本，從6個位置所重建的親代基因型相同，且6個位置合併後的資料通過單巢單王單后遺傳組成的檢定，可以得知這些樣本皆來自同一巢群。其他的10個位置雖然個體數不足10隻難以重建親代基因型，但所觀察到的基因型組合亦符合樣本皆來自同一巢群的判斷。我們僅在神木樹基上的其中一個位置施放餌劑，在38天後所有白蟻都被消滅，防治的結果支持所有白蟻同屬一巢，與微衛星鑑定法的結果相同。微衛星巢群鑑定法協助我們判斷樣本之間的巢群關係，有助於未來台灣家白蟻防治策略和餌劑的開發，並為台灣家白蟻的生態學提供有力的研究工具。
並列摘要
The Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki) is a social insect, and the damage caused by a single termite colony can extend up to one hectare. For assessing whether insecticides effectively eliminate the entire termite colony, the traditional method involves using the mark-release-recapture (MRR) procedure to determine the activity range of a single termite colony. However, this MRR procedure is labor-intensive and time-consuming. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a nest identification process specific to Taiwanese populations using five microsatellite markers. This process involved collecting termites from multiple locations, reconstructing parental genotypes following Mendelian inheritance rules, and determining whether they belong to the same colony based on their parental genotypes. It also involved examining the reproductive structure of the colonies to avoid misidentification due to the presence of multiple kings or queens within a colony. We applied this identification process to a case of termite control, where we found termite activity on the surface of a tree trunk at the National Chung Hsing University in 16 different locations. Termite samples with more than 10 individuals were collected from 6 of these locations. Their reconstructed parental genotypes are the same, fitting the genetic composition of a single-pair-reproductive colony. Although the termites collected from the other 10 locations were fewer than 10 individuals, which is insufficient for reconstructing parental genotypes, the observed genotypes are not different from the other 6 samples, indicating that the 16 locations were infested by the same colony. Bait was only applied to one of the locations on the tree trunk, and after 38 days, all termites were eradicated. The control treatment results supported the conclusion that all termites belonged to a single colony, consistent with the microsatellite identification method. The microsatellite-based nest identification method assisted in determining the colony relationships among samples and will contribute to the development of future strategies for controlling Formosan subterranean termites and the development of baits. Additionally, it provides a powerful research tool for studying the ecology of Formosan subterranean termites.