Inhibition of the fungal pathogen Metarhizium anisopliae in the alimentary tracts of five termite (Isoptera) species

Abstract

We previously showed that in the subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes conidia of Metarhizium anisopliae did not germinate in the alimentary tract of living termites and the antifungal activity remained for 2 d post mortem in the gut. We have confirmed that this mechanism is common throughout the termite phylogeny by extending our observations to 5 additional species, from 5 different families. Grooming and ingestion of microorganisms from the cuticle of nestmate was found to be consistent in all the species and none of the conidia found in the alimentary tracts germinated.