How Do Group Size and Social Context Affect Per‐Capita Behavioral Responses in a Nasute Termite?
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| Title: | How Do Group Size and Social Context Affect Per‐Capita Behavioral Responses in a Nasute Termite? |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Watanabe, Sara Y. M. (AUTHOR), Santos, Renan E. C. (AUTHOR), de Mendonça, Thiago H. C. (AUTHOR), Cristaldo, Paulo F. (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. Jul2026, Vol. 174 Issue 7, p639-645. 7p. |
| Subjects: | Social context, Termites, Group facilitation (Psychology), Insect societies, Stress management, Human behavior |
| Abstract: | Increasing group size has been proposed as a key factor in mitigating the negative effects of stress in eusocial insects. In general, previous studies suggest that larger groups confer benefits by increasing the frequency of behaviors performed by individuals. In termites, however, such studies have rarely considered the social context, such as the presence of different castes. Here, we investigated how group size and the social context (presence of soldiers) affect per‐capita behavioral frequency in Nasutitermes corniger (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae). We examined the behaviors of nasute termite groups of varying sizes, composed either exclusively of workers or of workers plus soldiers. In general, per‐capita behavioral frequency decreased with increasing group sizes; however, this effect was higher in groups composed only of workers than in groups that included soldiers. When behaviors were analyzed separately, only per‐capita antennation frequency was significantly affected by both group size and the presence of soldiers. Per‐capita grooming frequency was significantly affected solely by group size, whereas per‐capita frequencies of trophallaxis and vibratory movements were not affected by either group size or the presence of soldiers. These results provide new perspectives into how social facilitation shapes termite behaviors and highlight the importance of social context in buffering stress within nasute termite colonies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: pbh DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection An: 194419036 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: How Do Group Size and Social Context Affect Per‐Capita Behavioral Responses in a Nasute Termite? – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Watanabe%2C+Sara+Y%2E+M%2E%22">Watanabe, Sara Y. M.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Santos%2C+Renan+E%2E+C%2E%22">Santos, Renan E. C.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22de+Mendonça%2C+Thiago+H%2E+C%2E%22">de Mendonça, Thiago H. C.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cristaldo%2C+Paulo+F%2E%22">Cristaldo, Paulo F.</searchLink> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Entomologia+Experimentalis+et+Applicata%22">Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata</searchLink>. Jul2026, Vol. 174 Issue 7, p639-645. 7p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+context%22">Social context</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Termites%22">Termites</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Group+facilitation+%28Psychology%29%22">Group facilitation (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Insect+societies%22">Insect societies</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Stress+management%22">Stress management</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Human+behavior%22">Human behavior</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Increasing group size has been proposed as a key factor in mitigating the negative effects of stress in eusocial insects. In general, previous studies suggest that larger groups confer benefits by increasing the frequency of behaviors performed by individuals. In termites, however, such studies have rarely considered the social context, such as the presence of different castes. Here, we investigated how group size and the social context (presence of soldiers) affect per‐capita behavioral frequency in Nasutitermes corniger (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae). We examined the behaviors of nasute termite groups of varying sizes, composed either exclusively of workers or of workers plus soldiers. In general, per‐capita behavioral frequency decreased with increasing group sizes; however, this effect was higher in groups composed only of workers than in groups that included soldiers. When behaviors were analyzed separately, only per‐capita antennation frequency was significantly affected by both group size and the presence of soldiers. Per‐capita grooming frequency was significantly affected solely by group size, whereas per‐capita frequencies of trophallaxis and vibratory movements were not affected by either group size or the presence of soldiers. These results provide new perspectives into how social facilitation shapes termite behaviors and highlight the importance of social context in buffering stress within nasute termite colonies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1111/eea.70095 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 7 StartPage: 639 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Social context Type: general – SubjectFull: Termites Type: general – SubjectFull: Group facilitation (Psychology) Type: general – SubjectFull: Insect societies Type: general – SubjectFull: Stress management Type: general – SubjectFull: Human behavior Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: How Do Group Size and Social Context Affect Per‐Capita Behavioral Responses in a Nasute Termite? Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Watanabe, Sara Y. M. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Santos, Renan E. C. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: de Mendonça, Thiago H. C. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Cristaldo, Paulo F. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 07 Text: Jul2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 00138703 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 174 – Type: issue Value: 7 Titles: – TitleFull: Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata Type: main |
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