ECOLOGICAL STUDIES ON TILE SYMBIOSIS OF TER ITOMYCES ...

5-3-1 IIMZODUCTICV AND MVIODS
5-3 MACROTEnMES StMMALINUS
At Wma Macrotermem subhyallnum builds a more diffuse* less
structured nest than I M. I bellicomis (Chapter 2)e There'le no food
store and only two zones can be distinguished in the fungus combo
There In a narrow band of darker freshly deposited comb material on
the edge, vith. the main body of the comb con3inting of lighter
coloured older material on which the mycotetes can be seen
(Plate
The general fungal flom of the Macrotermessubhyalinus nest
system was Investigated by the dilution plate method, using the SF
modium (5.1.4). Three samples were taken from each of the two zones
of vomb and the nest structure* 5 replicates of each dil'uiion series
being set up for each material tested.
The fungi carried In the Cut of M. subhyallnus major workers
were Isolated by washing forager& and nurse workers In Milton,
dissecting the guta In sterile water and placing then on -SF medium
and selective mediumplates. 30 Cuts were used for each category of
worker on each medium.
5.3.2 rtEstiLTS
The rezultxýars given In Tables 5.3.1 - 5-3.6.
,4
210*