Cuticular and total body lipids of castes of the Eastern Subterranean termite, Reciculitermes flavipes, were extracted and studied following procedures described by Van Handel (1985) and Strong (1994). Lipid content and a standard soybean oil calibration curve were determined calorimetrically with a Perkin-Elmer 6 split beam spectrophotometer. Termite nymphs contained the largest quantity of total body lipids, and cuticular lipids were highest among the soldier caste. Soldiers also had the highest percentage of cuticular to total body lipids.
Species 1: Isoptera Rhinotermitidae Reticulitermes flavipes (eastern subterranean termite)
Keywords: lipids
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