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Protists: A Microbial Grab Bag |
Chapter: 5
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A Laxative for Termites Americans spend millions of dollars annually to protect their homes against termites or to repair the damage caused by these insects. However, the notorious reputation acquired by termites may not be completely justified because their voracious appetites for wood are linked by a quirk of nature to protozoa.
The termite’s intestine is home to a species of protozoa belonging to the genus Trichonympha (tri-co-nim9fah). These multiflagellated organisms are among the few species of living things that can produce the enzyme cellulase. The cellulase is released into the intestinal cavity of the termite, where it breaks down cellulose, the principal component of wood. The protozoan thus lives in the stable environment of the termite’s intestine and returns the favor by digesting the termite’s next meal. To the ecologist, this symbiotic relationship is called mutualism. To the homeowner, it spells disaster.
But there may be hope in the future. In the tropics, a method of termite extermination has proven so successful that American companies are examining its feasibility. The method involves placing a paste of ground-up plant material, known to be a termite laxative, into termite tunnels. As termites eat the paste, they develop diarrhea and excrete their protozoal inhabitants. Thereafter, the termites are unable to digest cellulose, and they starve to death. With insecticides coming under fire for their hazard to the environment, the research into termite laxatives holds substantial promise for the future. |
