JMJ MARIST BROTHERS

Notre Dame of Marbel University

City of Koronadal

Name: Year and Section:

Instructor: Date Submitted:

Termite Symbiosis

Introduction

Zootermopsis is the large-wood termite native to the western U.S. This termite is

ideal for laboratory studies due its large size, ease of maintenance, and year-round

availability. The number of this have greatly increases the diversity and abundance of

their species. With their ability to feed on wood, termites are important recyclers in their

ecosystem. However, that ability turns them into highly damaging pest organisms.

Upon the digestion of food and derived nutrition from material of termites, these

organisms were solely dependent on the symbiotic protists that inhabit their digestive

tract. A variety of protists inhabiting Zootermopsis, includes large hypermastigote

Trichonympha, Trichomonas, Streblomastix, Trichomitopsis as well as Hexamastix.

Materials:

Termites (wood termites) NaCl solution

Glass slides and cover slip ethyl alcohol

Cotton swab iodine solution

Compound microscope

Forceps
Procedures:

1. Kill termites by soaking or washing it with ethyl alcohol.

2. Using forceps, squeeze the stomach of a termite until the gut was being seen outside

and then pull it.

3. Put the sample on a drop of solution on a glass slide (0.5-0.85% NaCl solution). Add

another drop of iodine and mix to form suspension.

5. Cover each drop with a cover slip at an angle, touching the edge of the drop, and gently

lowering the cover slip onto the slide so that air bubbles are not formed.

6. Examine the preparation under LPO, then HPO in a systematic manner (either up and

down or laterally) so that the entire area of cover slip is observed.

7. Draw what you observed.

Results and Discussion

Figure 1. Digestive tract of termite

Figure 2. Parasites in Termite’s gut

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Conclusion

In the illustration above, we observed and see some protozoans and we able also

to observe the parasitic nematodes in the gut of termites. Indeed, parasitic nematodes

can also be found in termite’s gut.

References

Perec−Matysiak, A. A. (2006). Helminth parasites of laboratory mice and rats. 99-102.

VetStreet Inc. (2011). Retrieved from VetLearn.com:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.prod.vetlearn.com/9d/f03a80edcd11e0bfb00050568d
3693/file/CareGuide_ExoticPetFecalTesting.pdf