BACTERIA PRESENT IN THE GUT OF 2 NEOTROPICAL CEPHALOTINI ANTS, CEPHALOTES-ATRATUS AND ZACRYPTOCERUS CF PUSILLUS

Insects have varied patterns of gut design and some of them allow the establishment of a fermentative microflora. Anaerobically cultured digestive bacteria from Cephalotes atratus and Zacryptocerus cf. pusillus were counted, isolated and characterized. Individuals from both species had a density of 10(5) bacteria per gram of digestive organ (ventriculum, ileum and rectum). Bacterial strains were mostly facultative anaerobes and H2S producers, and had no cellulolytic nor uric acid degrading 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 microbial composition and its habitat.