Journal of Entomology1812-56701812-5689Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/je.2022.20.29WangsantithamOrathai PothongPaweena TungjitwitayakulJatuporn TatunNujira 12022191Background and Objective: Termites have been classified into morphology-physiologically distinct castes that have a broad range of diets. In this study, the candidate of wood-feeding and fungus-growing termites was chosen to examine the relation between gut morphology, the density of microorganisms and starch hydrolyzing enzyme. Materials and Methods: The gut morphologies of the soldiers of wood-feeding (Globitermes sulphureus (Haviland, 1898), Microcerotermes crassus (Snyder, 1934) and fungus-growing (Macrotermes annandalei (Silvestri, 1914) and Odontotermes feae (Wassman, 1896) termites were determined and compared with those of the workers. Results: No significant differences were observed in the morphological structures between the soldiers and workers in different species. However, the microbial cell counts in the guts of the fungus-growing termites were 3-fold higher than those in the wood-feeding termites, with the hindgut having the highest number of microbes. In the wood-feeding termites, the workers and soldiers harboured a similar number of microorganisms, whereas, the workers of the fungus-feeding termites had 3-fold higher levels of microbes than the soldiers. The enzymatic activity of α-amylase in the fungus-growing termites was dramatically higher than that in the wood-feeding termites. However, there were no differences in enzyme activity in the gut segments of the wood-feeding group and the fungus-growing group. Conclusion: Taken together, the different feeding behaviour and castes of the termites affected the density of symbionts in their gut and α-amylase enzymatic activity was modified according to the amount of nutrition in their diets. This study provided additional information on the hidden role of microorganisms in starch metabolism in the termite’s gut.]]>Rust, M.K. and N.Y. Su,201257355375Koshikawa, S., T. Matsumoto and T. Miura,2002Hodotermopsis japonica (Isoptera, Termopsidae).]]>49245250Tatun, N., C. Sawatnathi, S. Tansay and J. Tungjitwitayakul,2017114508516Köhler, T., C. Dietrich, R.H. Scheffrahn and A. Brune,2012Nasutitermes spp.).]]>7846914701de Albuquerque Lima, T., E.V. Pontual, L.P. Dornelles, P.K. Amorim and R.A. Sá et al.,2014Nasutitermes corniger.]]>17618Subekti, N. and T. Yoshimura,2009Macrotermes gilvus Hagen, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, and Reticulitermes speratus (Kolbe).]]>20191194Okahisa, Y., T. Yoshimura and Y. Imamura,2006Phyllostachys pubescens) and its relation to attack by termites and decay fungi.]]>52445451Qamar, S.F.A., S.M. Cunningham and J.J. Volenec,20062913871403Ishikawa, Y., H. Aonuma and T. Miura,20082008Noirot, C.,200137431471Nalepa, C.A.201540323335Inward, D.J.G., A.P. Vogler and P. Eggleton,200744953967Bignell, D.E., Y. Roisin and N. Lo,20112nd Edn.,Pages: 576Pages: 576Brauman, A., J. Doré, P. Eggleton, D. Bignell, J.A. Breznak and M.D. Kane,2006352736Abe, T., D.E. Bignell and M. Higashi,20001st Edn.,Pages: 466Pages: 466Eggleton, P.,20002000pp: 25-51pp: 25-51Wisselink, M., D.K. Aanen and A. van 't Padje,20202020Ohkuma, M. and A. Brune,20112011pp: 413-438pp: 413-438Hogan, M., P.C. Veivers, M. Slaytor and R.T. Czolij,1988Nasutitermes walkeri and Nasutitermes exitiosus).]]>34891899Reddy, N.S., A. Nimmagadda and K.R.S.S. Rao,20032645648Kotkar, H.M., P.J. Sarate, V.A. Tamhane, V.S. Gupta and A.P. Giri,2009Helicoverpa armigera to feeding on various host plants.]]>55663670Warnecke, F., P. Luginbuhl, N. Ivanova, M. Ghassemian and T.H. Richardson et al.,2007450560565Mulyani, P.D., R.M. Hamid, R.Z. Janatunaim and Y.A. Purwestri,2018Coptotermes sp.) gut.]]>231420Popoola, K.O.K. and A.V. Opayele,2012Macrotermes bellicosus (African mound termite) (Blattodea: Termitidae) and the impact of its saliva amylase on the strength of termitarium soil.]]>5207216