Abstract

The substrate of newly constructedMacrotermes fungus combs is inoculated from the start with viableTermitomyces conidia (asexual spores) which guarantee fast proliferation of the symbiotic fungus. The substrate is vegetable matter which has passed rapidly through the intestine of the young workers which are comb-builders and nurses. These ingest the vegetable matter which has been collected by the foragers and also feed on the nutrient enriched nodules produced by the fungus. These nodules contain the adaptive gut-resistant conidia which are mixed with the intestinal substrate on this pathway.

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