Feeding Preferences of Subterranean Termites, Odontotermes obesus (Ramber) (Blattoidea: Termitidae) in Field and Their Control and Developing Bait Strategies

Document Type : Original Article

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Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, 5400, Pakistan

Abstract

Termites are a social group of animals. They found everywhere except Antarctica. Termites are the major pest of agriculture and damaging wood and wood products. The present study was conducted to evaluate the feeding behavior of termites under field conditions. Eight wood species include Mangifera indica (mangoes), Albizia lebbeck (albizia), Populus euramericana (popular), Melia azedarach (bead tree), Vachellia nilotica (kiker,thorny acacia), Eucalyptus camaldulensis (eucalyptus), Dalbergia sissoo ( shesham), and Eugenia jambolana (jamun) was offered to termites to feed under field trials. Wood species was cut into blocks (L×W×T =8×9×1 cm) and dry in the oven at 42oC for 72 hours. It was found that P. euramericana, M. indica and V. nilotica where the most palatable woods to termite as maximum feeding was noted for these two kinds of wood under field conditions. M. azedarach, D. sisso and E. camaldulensis were lest preferred woods to termite in choice and no-choice bioassays. M. azedarach, D. sisso and E. camaldulensis have a natural chemical which make the wood resistant against the termite attacks. Chemical extract from these resistant plants can be used in termite control are safer and hazardless for the environment.

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