Preliminary Screening of Cellulase Producing Bacteria Isolated from the Gut of African Palm Weevil Larvae
Insects of the taxonomic order Coleoptera are recognized for considerable cellulolytic activity in their digestive tract. However, the cellulolytic activity of the gut microbiome of the African palm weevil (Rhynchoporus phoenicis), has not been reported. Thus, this study aimed at isolating cellulose degrading bacteria from the gut of the insect’s larva and assessingtheir cellulolytic activities. The larva of the insect was dissected and inoculated in carboxymethylcellulose-Congo red (CMC-CR) agar medium and incubated at room temperature (28±2) for 14 days.