Surveillance of ectoparasitic fungi Laboulbeniopsis termitarius thaxt and Antennopsis gallica buchli and heim on subterranean termite reticulitermes spp. in Japan

Abstract

Ectoparasitic fungi grow on the body surface of termites, and they might effect on behavior, reproductive, and survival of host termites. There are two common species of ectoparasitic fungi found on termite: Laboulbeniopsis gallica Thaxt and Antennopsis gallica Buchli and Heim. In this study, the distribution of L. termitarius and A. gallica in Reticulitermes spp. colonies in Japan was observed. Meanwhile, the infection rate and strength of L. termitarius and A. gallica were discussed with references to the effects of environmental factors at the collections sites. In a total of 63 colonies of Reticulitermes spp. were collected from seventeen locations (from Hokkaido Prefecture to Okinawa Prefecture) in Japan. Five hundred workers and twenty soldiers from each colony were examined individually to see the infection of L. termitarius and A. gallica. The survey showed that L. termitarius distributed in whole Japan and A. gallica had a little bit restricted distribution. The infection rate of workers of Reticulitermes spp. varied among all locations: 0.10 – 16.10% for L. termitarius and 0 – 66.40% for A. gallica. No infected soldiers were observed. The negative relationship between temperature and infection rate was speculated in both fungi. Rearing the colonies in the laboratory might result in the spreading of the fungi in the colonies. Both fungi grew on any body parts of the termites. The trials for isolation and cultivation of Laboulbeniopsis termitarius and A. gallica with eight media did not succeed under the laboratory conditions.