<Original>Studies on Digestive System of Termites : I. Digestion of Carbohydrates by Termite Coptotermes formosanus SHIRAKI

Abstract

To clarify the role of protozoa in termites, various carbohydrates were given to the termite Coptotermes formosanus SHIRAKI. Protozoa were normally maintained during 8 weeks with cellulose and Avicel. However, no protozoa were observed with amylose, cellobiose, sucrose, maltose, glucose and fructose. Termites devoid of protozoa survived as well as with cellulose. This seems to indicate that protozoa take part in digestion of native cellulose and termites themselves are able to utilize these disaccharides and monosaccharides without aid of protozoa. Almost all termites died within 8 weeks with xylan, glucomannan and arabinogalactan. This seems to indicate that termites cannot utilize these hemicelluloses efficiently.