Feeding Habits and Gut Fauna of Zootermopsis angusticollis (Isoptera: Termopsidae) in Response to Wood Species and Fungal Associates

Abstract

Feeding preferences and consumption were evaluated to measure rate of wood consumption and the response of the gut fauna of Zootermopsis angusticollis to 4 conifers and 2 fungal species. In both choice and forced-feeding tests, exposure to Trichoderma viride Pers.:Fr. reduced consumption of Douglas-fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco] and western hemlock [Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.] but did not affect noble fir (Abies procera Rehd.) or western redcedar (Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don). Exposure to Stereum sanguinolentum Albertini & Schwein.:Fr. increased consumption of Douglas-fir but reduced consumption of western hemlock in a choice feeding test and increased consumption of Douglas-fir and western redcedar in a forced-feeding test. Numbers of gut protozoa increased in Douglas-fir-conditioned termites fed T. viride-inoculated wood in the choice test and in termites fed Douglas-fir or noble fir in the forced-feeding test. Fungal exposure had no effect on termite mortality in the choice test, but mortality was significantly lower in termites feeding on western redcedar exposed to S. sanguinolentum. Significant treatment interactions indicated that prior experience and fungal preconditioning affected choice of wood species and populations of gut protozoa.