ECOLOGICAL STUDIES ON TILE SYMBIOSIS OF TER ITOMYCES ...

(Bela perse comj, China (Cheo, 1948), Uganda (Makilbi 1973)9 za ia
(Piearce pers. com. ) and Nigeria (Zoberi 1973)- Its crude protein,
carbohydrate and fat content makes its food quality comparable to
that of many horticultural crops
often been mentioned in folklore and proyerbs
pers* cam. ).
(Mukiibi 1973). Termitom. ces has
(Cheo, 1948, Piearce
The role of the fungus comb and Termit2=cen in the life of the
temite, how Termit2=ces reaches newly founded colonies and the
degree of specificity between termites and Termitomyces are some of
the questions which will be dealt with In this thesiso
Certain termite species cause damage to crops, trees Olarrig 19699
sands 1973) and pastures (Wood And Ohiagu 1976), but the majority of
species are not pests, For example of the 120 or so known species In
Nigeria only about 20 damage crops or buildings (Johnson and Wood
1979)* The major pests are In general members of the Macrotermitinae
(Datra
and Batra 19799 Coaton 19619 Johnson and Wood 1979) with
Hicratermes species being the most important termite crop peat In
Nigeria
(Johnson
and Wood 19799 Woods Johnson and Ohiagu 1977)e The
obligate association of these crop pests with Termit2=cea suggests a
novel way of controlling them by killing the fungus* To develop this
Idea much more had to be known about details of the association
between Termitomyces and termites* An alternative control method
such an this could become increasingly Important If Insecticides used
in termite controls such as aldring are banned In countries where
termites are a problem.
The work described here was carried out during the tenure of nn
N=- research studentship based at Queen Hary College, Londom Field
21k.