Publication Type

Journal Article

Journal Name

Insectes Sociaux

Publication Date

6-1-1983

Abstract

Wonkers in incipient laboratory colonies of Macrotermes michaelseni and Odontotermes montanus build fæcal combs but are unable to inoculate these combs with fungus. These combs are eaten up and the colonies die unless fungus comb from a field colony is introduced when the first workers start foraging. This study investigated whether workers of the two species could produce fungus comb when fed on basidiospores of the appropriate Termitomyces species. When the first workers were offered basidiospores on filter paper, 92.5 % of M. michaelseni colonies and 85 % of O. montanus colonies produced fungus combs. When basidiospores were offered to O. montanus in a water suspension on the inner surface of the nest, 82.5 % of colonies produced fungus combs. © 1983 Masson.

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