physogastry

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English

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Wikipedia
Winged termite queen (Macrotermes mossambicus?) before she has shed her wings, mated, started her colony, and undergone physogastry
Termite queen of a similar species after she has established a colony, matured, and undergone physogastry. Beside her is her male, with borderline physogastry, and a worker with none.

Etymology

From physo- + Ancient Greek γαστήρ (gastḗr, belly) + -y.

Noun

physogastry (uncountable)

  1. (entomology) An enlargement of the abdomen in certain insects, especially in termite queens.
    • 2000, Arthur V. Evans, An Inordinate Fondness for Beetles, page 64:
      One of the most bizarre modifications of the beetle abdomen is known as physogastry. Physogastry is a condition in which the abdomen is enlarged. usually through increased growth of the connective membranes, expansion of the internal fat bodies, and subsequent secondary sclerotization of the abdominal sclerites.
    • 2014, Y. Abe, Termites: Evolution, Sociality, Symbioses, Ecology, page 337:
      The development of queen physogastry is considered to mark the end of the founding stage. It is often difficult to determine the time required for a queen to become physogastric in termite colonies.
    • 2015, William Morton Wheeler, The Social Insects: Their Origin and Evolution, page 266:
      The most striking characteristic of many termitophiles is physogastry, or the excessive enlargement of the abdomen, which closely resembles that of the hosts and especially that of the old queens.