Composition of bacteria types in the guts of Odontotermes sp. and Coptotermes sp. Preliminary study

Abstract

Termites (Arthropoda: Isoptera) are social insects and well known as the most lignocellulose digesting insects with a great diversity of symbiont bacteria in their guts. The aim of this study was to isolate and identify bacteria types present in the termite guts of Odontotermes sp. and Coptotermes sp. These bacteria were isolated from the termite guts and characterized by using morphological observation and stain Gram test. Results showed that there were 19 colonies of bacteria isolated from Coptotermes sp. guts and 37 colonies of bacteria isolated from Odontotermes sp. In the lower termite Coptotermes sp., two bacterial isolates with different morphological characteristics were found, namely isolate BcCo-1 with Coccus form and BbCo-2 with Bacillus form. The bacteria present in the lower termite species consisted of 84% Coccus form and 16% Bacillus form. Both of the bacterial isolates were Gram positive. In the higher termite Odontotermes sp., two types of bacteria isolates were also found, namely BbOd-1 and BbOd-2 isolates. Both of the bacterial isolates were Bacillus forms and Gram positive. Isolate BbOd-1 has round shape, entire edges and flat elevation, meanwhile isolate BbOd-2 has a round shape, serrate edges, and convex elevation. In order to verify the species of the bacteria types, molecular diagnostic is truly needed.