Occurrence of nematodes in Odontotermes formosanus termite society and its inquilines. Encircled abbreviations: H, nematode genus Halicephalobus; D, nematode genus Diplogastrellus; Ap, nematode genus Aphelenchoides; Ac, nematode genus Acrostichus. Yellow circles mean nematodes are present; white circles represent absence of nematodes. Numbers of nematode species and their occurrence rates are denoted for each component of the termite society. Vertical transmission through reproductive castes (4a) to egg or larvae (4e) was not observed. Different nematode species found on termites (4bcd) and inquilines (4hij) indicates that nematodes could enter termite nest through two exclusive horizontal transmission pathways. Extremely low occurrence of nematodes on vulnerable fungus gardens (4fg) indicates termite hygienic behavior plays a critical role in nematode control in the nest.
Natsumi Kanzaki, Wei-Ren Liang, Chun-I Chiu, Ching-Ting Yang, Yen-Ping Hsueh &amp; Hou-Feng Li
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<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-44993-8">Nematode-free agricultural system of a fungus-growing termite</a>,  Sci Rep 9, 8917 (2019). <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-44993-8">https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-44993-8</a>