MAJOR PROTOZOAN FAUNA IN THE TROPICAL SUBTERRANEAN TERMITE, COPTOTERMES CURVIGNATHUS HOLMGREN (ISOPTERA, RHINOTERMITIDAE)

The abundance and distribution of protozoan population in the alimenta ry system of lower termite, Coptotermes curvignathus Holmgren (Rhinote rmitidae), were studied. The result shows that the protozoa were repre sented by three major genera, Pseudotrichonympha, Holomastigotoides an d Spirotrichonympha. They were found mainly in the hindgut. The genus Spirotrichonympha was the predominant protozoan, representing more tha n 67% of the total protozoan population. As expected, the workers harb ored the largest number of protozoa followed by the alate nymphs and t he soldiers. A total of 15598, 1780 and 700 protozoa were estimated fr om a worker, nymph and soldier, respectively.