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Abstract

The termite Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) protects itself from entomopathogenic fungus by mutual grooming behavior. C. formosanus removes foreign organisms, such as fungal conidia, from the body surface of its nestmates by mutual grooming behavior and eating them. The conidia removal rate from the body surface differed according to the isolate of entomopathogenic fungi (Beauveria brongniartii 782, Paecilomyces fumosoroseus K3, and Metarhizium anisopliae 455), and the removal rate of the fungal isolates seemed to depend on feeding preference, which was detrmined using paper discs moistened with a fungal suspension. In addition, it was found that C. formosanus without antennae groomed their nestmates more frequently than those with antennae. Consequently, it seems that C. formosanus antennae detect substances without touching, such as via odor, and it affects the efficiency of grooming behavior. The results of single sensillum recording support the hypothesis that C. formosanus are capable of distinguishing three species of fungi by their odors.

Keywords: antennae, single sensillum recording, entomopathogenic fungi, mutual grooming behavior

Correspondence: ^aa-yana@kyudai.jp, ^byokohari@fukuoka-u.ac.jp, ^csshimizu@grt.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Associate Editor: Tugrul Giray was editor of this paper.

Received: 18 December 2008 | Accepted: 24 August 2009 | Published: 23 August 2010

Copyright: This is an open access paper. We use the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license that permits unrestricted use, provided that the paper is properly attributed.  

ISSN: 1536-2442 | Volume 10, Number 141

Yanagawa A, Yokohari F, Shimizu S. 2010. Influence of fungal odor on grooming behavior of the termite, Coptotermes formosanus. Journal of Insect Science 10:141, available online: insectscience.org/10.141