ECOLOGICAL STUDIES ON TILE SYMBIOSIS OF TER ITOMYCES ...

8*4 SIMMIOSIS BETW M- X?
4SMTS AND FUNGI
I
Insects other than termites also have mutualistic associations
with certain fungal species, These include the mosquito-liko midges
of the family Itonididae whose galls contain fungi, scale Insects with
the fungus
-Sentoba.
91dim's wood wasps of the Genera Strex Trcmex and
. Urocerusq ambrosia beetlest ship timber woms (the Lymexylidae) and
the fungus-growing ants*
Tho fungus-grming ants show an e=ple of convergent evolution
as they occupy a very similar ecological niche In the Nootropical region
to the flacrotermitinae In the Ethiopian and Oriental regions. The fungue
Is similar In being very slow growing In culture%, but the presence of
the antaq like the termites, keeps the cultures viable and free from
contamination
(Martin 1970).
As was suggented with the termites the funguls Is more Important in
the diet of the larvaes the work-era also taking In plant sap (Quinlan
and Cherret 1979)o Tho ambrosia beetles are a similar case with the
adults also eating woodl while In the ship timber worms and woodwasp, 9
only the larvae eat the fungus,,
Like Ternit=es the funguz associated vith the funUus-growing
ants is a Basidiamycete without clamp connections. There to scepticism
370o
about fruiting which does not occur until the fungus garden is abandoneds
and it in considered that these basidlocarps are contaminants, The
fungus has therefore lost its perfect stage and relies on carriage by
the queen to reach new nests* showing similarity to some species of the
tfacrotermitinae (6o2e2)9 Unlike termites the food does not first pass
through the digestive system of the ants before being; resented to the
fungus# it to Just cut up and placed on the fungus gardens. The ant-