Digestion, diet and polyethism in two fungus-growing termites: Macrotermes subhyalinus Rambur and M. michaelseni Sjoestedt

• Published in: Journal of insect physiology Vol. 37; no. 9; pp. 675 - 682
• Main Authors: Veivers, P C, Muehlemann, R, Slaytor, M, Leuthold, R H, Bignell, DE
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.1991
• Subjects: Macrotermes michaelseni
• ISSN: 0022-1910

Cellulase and its component activities, endo- beta -1,4-glucanase and beta -1,4-glucosidase, were measured in the guts of larvae, minor soldiers and the four categories of workers (young and old minor and young and old major) in Macrotermes michaelseni and M. subhyalinus . These activities were also measured in fungal material associated with colonies of both species. Substantial activity from cellulase (18.2-28.1 mu g glucose/termite/h) and its component activities were found in all four worker categories of M. michaelseni with 80% less activity in the minor soldiers and none in the larvae. There was a similar distribution of cellulase activity among the castes of M. subhyalinus . At least 99% of the cellulase activity in major workers of M. michaelseni was found in the midgut. The only fungal material associated with either species with significant enzyme activity were the fungal nodules (cellulase activity, 8.22 plus or minus 0.86 and 4.34 plus or minus 0.24 mu g glucose/mg wet wt for M. michaelseni and M. subhyalinus , respectively).