RNA interference of endoglucanases in the formosan subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus shiraki (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae) by dsRNA injection or ingestion

•RNAi can be initiated by injection or ingestion of dsRNA in Coptotermes formosanus.•Gene silencing of cellulases led to reduced enzyme activity and weight.•dsCfEG could serve as a cellulase inhibitor or active ingredients in termite bait. Termites obtain energy and nutrition from wood and wood-related materials by utilizing endogenous and symbiotic cellulases. Endoglucanase is one of the key cellulases in cellulose digestion. Previous studies have shown that the inhibition of the cellulase enzyme system would be a plausible approach for termite control. In the present study, we studied the effect of RNAi on termites by targeting a conserved region of five endoglucanase genes from Coptotermes formosanus (CfEGs). Both dsRNA injection and oral delivery resulted in significant gene silencing of CfEGs and consequently led to mortality, reduced enzyme activity, and reduced weight compared to control worker termites. An injection dose of 150 ng and a feeding dose of 2 μg/cm2 provided for the best RNAi efficiency. dsCfEG was further combined with flufenoxuron, an insect growth regulator used to manage/suppress subterranean termites, and when fed to workers, caused a lower enzyme activity compared to the dsCfEG- or flufenoxuron-only treatment. The weight loss (∼0.598 mg) and mortality (∼28%) observed in the combined dsCfEG and flufenoxuron treatment differed significantly from those observed in the flufenoxuron-only treatment (∼0.208 mg and ∼16%, respectively). Although the effects of these dsCfEG treatments on mortality were insufficient to serve as termiticides, dsCfEGs could be used in combination with other treatments to increase efficacy. This study provides a research basis for the use of RNAi in termiticides.