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Updated: Jun 3, 2026
Isolation, Behavioral Identification, and Pathogenicity Assessment of Entomopathogenic Fungi from a Forest Wood Borer
Published on: September 29, 2023
Behavioral changes in the termite, Coptotermes formosanus (Isoptera), inoculated with six fungal isolates
Aya Yanagawa1, Nao Fujiwara-Tsujii, Toshiharu Akino
1Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University, Uji 611-0011, Japan. ayanagawa@rish.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
The studies of pathogen-prevention behaviors of termites have focused on hygiene behavior directed only against highly virulent pathogens. Therefore, we compared behavioral changes in the subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus following contact with entomopathogenic fungi with different levels of virulence. The fungal virulence was inferred from the daily mortality and the LD50 value in previous data. When untreated termites were allowed to contact their fungus-inoculated nestmates, mutual grooming was frequent during 30 min after inoculation. The inoculated termites were often attacked and eaten by their uninoculated nestmates, and then buried after death. Notably, there was no influence of fungal virulence on these pathogen-prevention behaviors. However, the fungal isolates and genera affected not only the frequency of the behaviors but also the horizontal transmission pattern, the number of dead individuals and the survival period before the first death following infection.
Insights
Termite pathogen-prevention behaviors, like grooming and cannibalism, were not influenced by fungal virulence. However, fungal species and genera impacted disease spread and mortality patterns in Coptotermes formosanus.
Area of Science:
- Entomology
- Animal Behavior
- Disease Ecology
Background:
- Termite hygiene behaviors are crucial for preventing pathogen spread within colonies.
- Previous research primarily focused on highly virulent pathogens, leaving a gap in understanding responses to varying virulence levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate behavioral responses of the subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus to entomopathogenic fungi of differing virulence.
- To determine if fungal virulence influences pathogen-prevention behaviors such as grooming, cannibalism, and burial.
Main Methods:
- Coptotermes formosanus termites were exposed to entomopathogenic fungi with varying virulence levels (inferred from mortality and LD50).
- Behavioral changes, including mutual grooming, attack, consumption, and burial of infected nestmates, were observed and quantified.
- The frequency and patterns of these behaviors were analyzed in relation to fungal virulence.
Main Results:
- Mutual grooming was frequent post-inoculation, and infected termites were attacked, consumed, and buried by healthy nestmates.
- Crucially, fungal virulence did not significantly influence these pathogen-prevention behaviors.
- However, the specific fungal isolates and genera altered the frequency of behaviors, horizontal transmission, mortality rates, and time to first death.
Conclusions:
- Termite pathogen-prevention behaviors are robust and not modulated by the virulence of the entomopathogenic fungi encountered.
- The diversity of fungal pathogens plays a significant role in shaping disease dynamics and colony-level responses beyond simple virulence.
- Understanding these nuanced interactions is vital for predicting disease spread in termite populations.
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