A food factory strictly managed by fungus-growing termites

In this study, we analyzed fungus gardens of Odontotermes feae (Wasmann), which are associated with Termitomyces eurhizus (Berk.) R. Heim, and of Ancistrotermes pakistanicus Ahmad, which are associated with T. striatus (Beeli) R. Heim, to examine the ecological effects of termite use on primordium and fruiting-body formation. Our results indicate that the symbiotic termites strictly managed those fungus gardens that developed fruiting bodies. We also found that the termites prevented fruiting-body formation in fungus gardens of O. feae associated with T. eurhizus by eating the blackish tips of the primordia just prior to fruiting-body development. Ancistrotermes pakistanicus, however, did not eat the growing pri- mordia of T. striatus. Instead, the primordia became fruiting bodies, the pseudorhizae of which were used along with the fungus garden as food for the termites. Moreover, our results revealed that Termitomyces developed fruiting bodies in the fungus gardens after the termites had deserted the nest. In conclusion, although the behavior between O. feae and A. pakistanicus toward fungus combs differs, their common goal is to maintain mycelial masses, including woody debris as a food resource.

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