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Foraging behavior and bait station preference in scavenging termite, Odontotermes obesus (Blattodea: Termitidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 December 2020

Naeem Iqbal Open the ORCID record for Naeem Iqbal [Opens in a new window] ,
Abid Mahmood Alvi ,
Mujahid Hussain ,
Shafqat Saeed ,
Unsar Naeem-Ullah ,
Alamgir A. Khan  and
Allah Ditta Abid
Naeem Iqbal*
Affiliation:
Institute of Plant Protection, MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan
Abid Mahmood Alvi
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan
Mujahid Hussain
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan
Shafqat Saeed
Affiliation:
Institute of Plant Protection, MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan
Unsar Naeem-Ullah
Affiliation:
Institute of Plant Protection, MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan
Alamgir A. Khan
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Engineering, MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan
Allah Ditta Abid
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Protection, Ministry of Food Security and Research, Karachi, Pakistan
*
Author for correspondence: Naeem Iqbal, Email: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
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Abstract

Termites are a significant pest of buildings, agriculture, and trees, and are mainly controlled by baiting. However, baiting systems are available for only lower termites (Rhinotermitidae) not for higher termites (Termitidae). Termite foraging behavior associated with baiting systems varies among species and families, and plays a significant role in baiting success. Here, foraging behavior of Odontotermes obesus (Blattodea: Termitidae: Macrotermitinae), a fungus-growing higher termite, was investigated relative to three bait-station sizes (small, medium, and large) containing different quantities of food. Significantly more workers recruited to large stations (470/station) compared to medium (246/station) and small (124/station) stations. Abundance of O. obesus in large and medium stations significantly positively correlated with relative humidity whereas negative but non-significant correlations were observed with temperature in large and medium stations. Total and continuous contacts with the stations increased with time and were greater in large stations. Station abandonment due to disturbance was significantly less in large stations (3%) followed by medium (9%) and small stations (20%). Our results suggest that large stations (≈8 litres volume) work best for population management of O. obesus and other related fungus-growing higher termites.

Keywords

Bait sizebaiting systemsdisturbanceIsopteraMacrotermitinaepopulation dynamicstermites
Type
Research Paper
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 111 , Issue 3 , June 2021 , pp. 331 - 339
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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