Dictionary

fungus comb en · NOUN

Etymology

Blend of fungus + honeycomb.

Meanings

1. A slurry of masticated or partially digested wood that termites create which is subsequently digested by white rot fungus to produce a byproduct that the termites can eat.
   • The sexual stage of the fungus, the basidiocarp, arises as a pseudorhiza from a fungus comb and continues as a stipe, terminating in a cap with a prominent umbo or perforatorium. 2012, Bozzano G Luisa, Insect-Fungus Interactions, page 74:
   • The termites chew wood into a slurry which they regugitate in fungal gardens, known as the 'fungus comb', by contrast with bees' honeycomb. 2020, Merlin Sheldrake, Entangled Life, page 211:
   • This enzyme might be responsible for the degradation of phenolics in the fungus comb. 2006, Helmut König, Ajit Varma, Intestinal Microorganisms of Termites and Other Invertebrates, page 346:
   • Fungus comb also serves as food source, especially in adverse climatic conditions or when food is scarce. 2018, Omkar, Pests and Their Management, page 928:

Forms