Abstract: In recent years, the use of solid-phase micro-extraction and other modern technologies has significantly promoted the advances in the field of cuticular hydrocarbons of termites. So far, cuticular hydrocarbon components of 29 species of termites have been identified. The reported termites belong to Kalotermitidae, Rhinotermitidae, Termopsidae and Termitidae, respectively. The main compositions of cuticular hydrocarbons are n-alkanes, methyl-branched alkanes and a small amount of alkenes. Termite cuticular hydrocarbons have not only family- and genus-specific to some degree, but many kinds of termites also contain species-specific cuticular hydrocarbon components, suggesting that cuticular hydrocarbons of termites can be used for species identification. As to the role of cuticular hydrocarbons in nestmate recognition, most of the researches in lower termites got supportive results, meaning that they can be used for nestmate recognition. However, some researches show that cuticular hydrocarbons are not the only cue of nestmate recognition. The finding of the correlation between cuticular hydrocarbons and caste differentiation of termites is an important progress in recent years. The seasonal shift in proportions of hydrocarbons correlates with the production of alates in some species of termites. In other species, the reproductives contain some characteristic compositions. Changes in the quantity of cuticular hydrocarbon components in the reproductives are related to their reproductive status. The results suggest that these components may play an important role in caste differentiation of termites. As a new research direction on the mechanisms of caste differentiation and maintenance, cuticular hydrocarbons are worthy of further research and exploration.

Key words: Termites, cuticular hydrocarbons, chemical composition, species identification, nestmate recognition, caste differentiation