ON THE ELEVATED INTESTINAL PH OF HIGHER TERMITES (ISOPTERA, TERMITIDAE)

The pH of the gut contents was measured in 52 species of higher termit es (Termitidae), representing 36 genera in all four subfamilies. A sta tistically significant trend was shown from lower termites with low me an gut pH through to the Termitinae with higher mean gut pHs. Elevatio n of the pH occurred principally in the first and third proctodaeal se gments, reaching values as high as 10.5 in 8 soil-feeding genera and 1 wood-feeding genus of Termitinae. Elevation of gut pH within the Term itidae appears to be independent of the general nature of the feeding substrate.