Hypermastigia
Synonyms
Hypermastigote
Hypermastigotes
Trichonympha
Trichonymphas
A class of endosymbiont EUKARYOTES, in the group PARABASALIDEA, that are obligate mutualists in the digestive tracts of wood-eating insects. Hypermastigotes produce CELLULASE that breaks down the cellulose in wood so that insects can metabolize it.