Intraspecific colony recognition in the termites Macrotermes subhyalinus and Macrotermes bellicosus (Isoptera, Termitidae)

1999 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 164-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Jmhasly ◽  
R. H. Leuthold
Keyword(s):  
Macrotermes Subhyalinus ◽  
Colony Recognition ◽  
Macrotermes Bellicosus

Ecdysone and ecdysterone in physogastric termite queens and eggs of Macrotermes bellicosus and Macrotermes subhyalinus

1978 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.P. Delbecque ◽  
B. Lanzrein ◽  
C. Bordereau ◽  
H. Imboden ◽  
M. Hirn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Macrotermes Subhyalinus ◽  
Macrotermes Bellicosus

scholarly journals Assessment of Quality and Safety of Winged Termites (Macrotermes bellicosus) Enriched Locally Formulated Complementary Foods

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oladejo Thomas Adepoju ◽  
Kayode Ajayi
Keyword(s):  
Nutritional Quality ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Trace Minerals ◽  
Quality And Safety ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
Complementary Foods ◽  
Internal Organs ◽  
Macrotermes Bellicosus ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Histopathological Effects

Addition of edible insects to local staples used as complementary foods can improve their nutrient content. Nutritional quality and safety of Macrotermes bellicosus enriched boiled rice (BR) and yam (BY) complementary foods (CFs) was assessed using rats. Macrotermes bellicosus (MB) were collected, dried, and refrigerated at -4oC. Ground MB was added to BR and BY in ratios 10.0%, 15.0%, 20.0% (w/w) to give BR1, BY1; BR2, BY2, and BR3, BY3 respectively. Nutrient content of MB, BY, BR and MB-enriched CFs were determined by AOAC methods. Nutrient bioavailability and safety of BR3 and BY3 were assessed using rats fed ad libitum for 28 days. Serum trace minerals in the CFs, control and basal diets and histopathological effects of CFs on rats’ organs were determined. Data were analysed using ANOVA at p<0.05. Dried MB contained 31.8g protein, 16.4g fat, 3.8g ash, 227.5mg calcium, 2.1mg iron, 15.0mg zinc, 330.4μg retinol equivalent (RE), and 529.0kcal energy/100g sample. The BR and BY contained 3.7-5.9g protein, 70.0-120mg calcium,4.2-5.6mg iron, 1.2-1.5mg zinc and 380- 386kcal/100g compared with 7.9-15.3g protein, 242.2-264mg calcium, 2.4-4.4mg iron, 15.1-19.8mg zinc and 357-372kcal/100g enriched CFs (p<0.05). Rats Serum trace minerals ranged between 3.4- 4.3mg zinc, 23.4-27.9mg calcium, 30.6-37.0mg iron; and 52.5-56.9μg RE, compared with control (3.2, 22.2, 34.1, 48.2) and basal (2.2, 21.1, 24.0 mg, 32.3 μg) diets respectively (p<0.05). No pathological lesions were observed in internal organs of rats on CF diets. Adding Macrotermes bellicosus to local complementary foods is safe and improved their nutritional quality, hence its use is recommended among mothers.

Effects of termite damage to maize of seed extracts of Azadirachta indica and Piper guineense in farmers' fields

1999 ◽  
Vol 133 (4) ◽  
pp. 403-407 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. C. UMEH ◽  
M. F. IVBIJARO
Keyword(s):  
Azadirachta Indica ◽  
Planting Density ◽  
Piper Guineense ◽  
Termite Attack ◽  
Macrotermes Bellicosus ◽  
Maize Yields ◽  
Natural Insecticides ◽  
Cropping Seasons ◽  
Local Plants ◽  
Seed Extracts

The efficacy of insecticides derived from two local plants was tested on termites infesting maize in maize–cassava–‘Egusi’ melon intercrops in two farmers' fields in south-western Nigeria during the 1989/90 and 1990/91 cropping seasons. The intercrops consisted of 40000, 20000, and 10000 maize plants/ha, with a fixed population of 10000 plants/ha of both cassava and melon. The insecticides were aqueous extracts of ripe seeds of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) and the crude seed oil of Piper guineense Schum And Thonn, each at 10% concentration at the rate of 390 litres/ha and 18 litres/ha, respectively. On the plots treated with these natural insecticides, damage by termites [Microtermes spp., Macrotermes bellicosus Smeathman = nigeriensis Sjostedt and M. subhyalinus Rambur (Isoptera: Termitidae)] was significantly lower and maize yields higher than on the control plots. The mean percentage of maize stems attacked by termites (considering all categories of termite damage) in untreated plots during the trials ranged between 0–22% in 1989 and 2–46% in 1990. Planting densities did not significantly influence termite attack on maize. Cassava and melon plants or cassava tubers were not attacked by termites in any of the trials and their yields were not affected by insecticide treatments or planting density of maize.

scholarly journals Kinetic and Thermodynamic Analysis of Two Carboxymethylcellulases from Macrotermes subhyalinus Little Soldier

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Jean B. Fagbohoun ◽  
Mankambou J. Gnanwa ◽  
Fankroma M. T. Kone ◽  
S. Dabonne ◽  
Patrice L. Kouame
Keyword(s):  
Thermodynamic Parameters ◽  
Thermal Inactivation ◽  
Molecular Conformation ◽  
Residual Activity ◽  
Degradation Kinetic ◽  
Macrotermes Subhyalinus ◽  
Kinetic And Thermodynamic Parameters ◽  
Technology Applications ◽  
Kinetic And Thermodynamic Analysis ◽  
Increasing Temperature

Optimization of thermal processes relies on adequate degradation kinetic models to warrant food safety and quality. The knowledge on thermal inactivation of enzymes is necessary to allow their proper utilization in food industry and technology applications, enabling the reduction of heating times and optimization of heating temperatures. In this work, the kinetic of thermal inactivation was studied for the previously characterized carboxylmethylcellulases Ab-CX1 and Ab-CX2 from Macrotermes subhyalinus little soldier. Samples of carboxymethylcellulases were treated at different time-temperature combinations in the range of 5-60 min at 50-65°C and the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for carboxymethylcellulases were calculated. Results showed that inactivation followed a first-order reaction with k-values between 0.0103 ± 0.0003 to 0.1217 ± 0.0005 and 0.0149 ± 0.0007 to 0.0416 ± 0.0003 min-1 for Ab-CX1 and Ab-CX2, respectively. At high temperatures, Ab-CX2 was less resistant, with a significant decrease in residual activity compared to Ab-CX1. The D- and k-values decreased and increased, respectively, with increasing temperature, indicating faster inactivation of carboxymethylcellulases. Activation energy (Ea) and Z-values were estimated to 76.74 ± 1.98 kJ.mol-1 and 24.21 ± 1.92 °C for Ab-CX1, 62.80 ± 2.05 kJ.mol-1 and 33.33 ± 2.78 °C for Ab-CX2. Thermodynamic parameters (ΔH#, ΔS# and ΔG#) were also calculated. The high value obtained for the variation in enthalpy of activation indicates that a high amount of energy is required to initiate denaturation, probably due to the molecular conformation of carboxymethylcellulases. All results suggest that both carboxymethylcellulases are relatively resistant to long heat treatments up to 50°C.

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