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Termites are important decomposer due to their ability to digest cellulose and their diverse feeding habits. Trehalase is an enzyme that hydrolyzes trehalose to glucose in insects and has an important biological role. Gut morphology of wood-feeding termites (Globitermes sulphureus, Termitinae; Microcerotermes crassus, Termitinae and Bulbitermes prabhae, Nasutitermitinae) and fungus-growing termites (Macrotermes annandalei, Macrotermitinae) that belong to the family Termitidae was determined in this study. Results indicate that wood-feeding termites have a similar gut morphology, which consists of a foregut, midgut and elongated hindgut, which is divided into four segments. More specifically the enlarged segment in the hindgut, called a paunch, is prominent in wood-feeding termites, whereas fungus-growing termites have a simpler tubular gut with a very small paunch. Trehalase activity was high in the midgut of wood-feeding termites (G. sulphureus, Mi. crassus and B. prabhae), but in the fungus-growing termite (Ma. annandalei) the highest level of activity was recorded in the hindgut. Cellulase activity (endo-β-1,4-glucanase) was detected in all gut segments with very high levels in the hindguts of B. prabhae and Ma. annandalei. Differences in the distribution of trehalase and gut morphology correspond to the phylogenetic analyses of Termitidae, which indicate that Macrotermitinae is the sister group of Termitinae and Nasutitermitinae. In addition, validamycin suppressed trehalase activity in termites in vitro and in vivo, resulting in a high mortality in wood-feeding and fungus-growing termites, indicating that trehalase inhibitors could be useful tools for termite control.

Comparison of gut morphology and distribution of trehalase activity in the gut of wood-feeding and fungus-growing termites (Isoptera: Termitidae)