The cellulose and hemicellulose degrading enzymes of the Eastern Subterranean Termite, Reticulitermes flavipes, were investigated using four p-nitrophenol assays and two reducing sugar assays. The termite guts were removed and divided into foregut, midgut and hindgut regions. These were homogenized and centrifuged to provide a crude extract. The assays were carried out on the extract after separation by ion exchange chromatography. Each elution was assayed using the six substrates. These substrates were used to detect exoglucanase, endoglucanase, endoxylanase, beta-glucosidase, beta-xylosidase and beta-mannosidase activities. The results showed a relatively high level of endoglucanase activity in the foregut, high beta-glucosidase activity in the midgut and high exoglucanase activity in the hindgut. Distinct patterns of endoxylanase, beta-xylosidase and beta-mannosidase activity were also observed.