D. Yurman et Mg. Dominguezbello, BACTERIA PRESENT IN THE GUT OF 2 NEOTROPICAL CEPHALOTINI ANTS, CEPHALOTES-ATRATUS AND ZACRYPTOCERUS CF PUSILLUS, Folia microbiologica, 38(6), 1993, pp. 515-518
Insects have varied patterns of gut design and some of them allow the
establishment of a fermentative microflora. Anaerobically cultured dig
estive bacteria from Cephalotes atratus and Zacryptocerus cf. pusillus
were counted, isolated and characterized. Individuals from both speci
es had a density of 10(5) bacteria per gram of digestive organ (ventri
culum, ileum and rectum). Bacterial strains were mostly facultative an
aerobes and H2S producers, and had no cellulolytic nor uric acid degra
ding activities. Primary mixed cultures from the gut of C atratus had
wider tolerance to pH and temperature variations than Z. cf. pusillus,
which was consistent with characteristics regarding its digestive mic
robial composition and its habitat.