Symbiotic relationship between termite, Reticulitermes Speratus kyushuenesis Morimoto, and its intestinal microorganisms

흰개미 (Reticulitermes Speratus kyushuenesis Morimoto)와 장내 미생물과의 공생관계

The importance of the gut microorganism in the termite, Reticulitermes Speratus kyushuenesis Morimoto, was estimated by feeding with several antibiotics. Antibiotics which killed the bacterium, but not the fungi (Ampicillin, Kanamycin, Erythromycin), or killed both the microorganismw (Cephaloridine, Tetracycline) reduced the life span of the termite from 245 days to about 15 days. On the other hand, some antibiotics, penicillin and pimaricin, did not greatly reduce the life span of the termite.