Termite ectoparasitic fungi in Japan: distribution, prevalence, and molecular detection

Abstract

Termites are widely spread eusocial insects with 3,106 known species, of which 183 are considered pests and 83 cause significant damage to wooden structures. In the natural environment, subterranean termites live in soil with relatively high humidity. These conditions can expose termites to parasites such as fungi. The relationships between termites and fungi are generally divided into two categories: symbiotic mutualism and pathogenic relationships. Termite-fungus interaction is a topic that has attracted researchers for more than fifty years and extensive research has been carried out to reveal the power of entomopathogenic fungi against termite attacks, and 20 species have been tested for their pathogenicity, but none of the researches has focused on ectoparasitic fungi. Ectoparasitic fungi are fungi that attach to and live on the body surface of their hosts. There are 22 species of ectoparasitic fungi obligate parasite to termite, of which Laboulbeniopsis termitarius Thaxt and Antennopsis gallica Buchli & Heim are the most commonly found on termite cuticle. Ectoparasitic fungi have been reported to have the ability to reduce a termite’s lifespan. However, the effects of ectoparasitic fungi on termite activity remain unclear due to their inability to grow in laboratory conditions. On the other hand, ectoparasitic fungi as a whole can be found in a wide distribution region, from tropical to temperate areas, but none of the reports has mentioned Japan, while the detection of ectoparasitic fungi are mainly based on manual observation.