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Experimental assessment shows gut bacteria impact survival and food consumption in Constrictotermes cyphergaster, suggesting potential fitness implications.
The ecological success of termites is closely linked to their associations with gut microbial communities, yet these interactions may also entail potential fitness costs. The effects of gut-associated bacteria on host performance remain poorly understood. Here, we experimentally assessed the effects of a gut-derived Bacillus sp. isolate on the survival and feeding behavior of workers of the termite Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Silvestri, 1901) (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae), using the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a reference treatment. Workers were exposed to increasing bacterial doses, and survival analyses revealed that both bacteria induced a significant dose-dependent decline in survival. However, the Bacillus isolate caused a stronger reduction in overall survival compared to controls, whereas P. aeruginosa also reduced survival but with a comparatively weaker effect. Feeding activity was independent of dose, but exposure to Bacillus sp. significantly reduced food consumption, a pattern not observed for P. aeruginosa. These results demonstrate that a gut-derived bacterium can negatively affect host survival and feeding under experimental conditions, highlighting the importance of considering both beneficial and potentially harmful effects of host-associated microorganisms on termite fitness.
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Lacerda et al. (2026) studied this question.
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