Chemical composition of “fungus gardens” from two species of termites

• 1.

  1. Fungus combs from Macrotermes goliath and Odontotermes badius were analyzed and their composition compared.

• 2.

  2. There is a fundamental difference in the composition of the comb from the two species, particularly in respect of ash, lignin and mannitol content.

• 3.

  3. Various organic substances were isolated from an alcoholic extract of Macrotermes goliath. They consist of D-mannitol, lipids and phenolic substances probably originating from the breakdown of lignin.

• 4.

  4. The lipids consists of free fatty acids (57%) and mono-esters (43%). The fatty acids covered a wide range from C₁₂ to C₂₀ including substantial quantities of odd numbered acids. Large quantities of hydroxylated fatty acids were found in fungus comb from Odontotermes badius.

  The sterols were a mixture of cholesterol, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, ergosterol and some unidentified compounds.

• 5.

  5. Some aromatic aldehydes were isolated from the alcoholic extract in form of 2,4-dinotrophenylhydrazones. They were not identical with aldehydes normally obtained by the oxidation of lignin.