Catabolism of Aspen Sapwood in Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Abstract

The only investigation of the quantitative changes in principal components of wood by our most destructive native subterranean termite genus, Reticulitermes, resulted in a questionably high depletion of the lignin (Seifert and Becker 1965). Moreover, nitrogen balance has not been established for metabolism of wood by Reticulitermcs. This paper reports attack on aspen sapwood (Populus grandidentata Michx.) by Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) and chemical analysis of the principal wood components and nitrogen in the termite-wood system.