Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-swr86 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-18T21:47:02.609Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A mathematical approach to rating food acceptance of the harvester termite, Hodotermes mossambicus (Isoptera: Hodotermitidae) and the evaluation of baits for its control

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

F.D. Duncan ,
A. Nel ,
S.H. Batzofin  and
P.H. Hewitt
F.D. Duncan
Affiliation:
Plant Protection Research Institute, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa
A. Nel
Affiliation:
Plant Protection Research Institute, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa
S.H. Batzofin
Affiliation:
Catalina Gardens, Berea, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa
P.H. Hewitt
Affiliation:
University of the Orange Free State, Bloemfontein, Republic of South Africa
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Hodotermes mossambicus (Hagen) is a harvester termite which competes with livestock for natural grazing. Control by baiting is recommended. Field trials in the north-western Orange Free State and south-western Transvaal, Republic of South Africa, showed that the two most commonly used commercial baits, with carbaryl or sodium fluosilicate as the active ingredient, are ineffective in controlling this species. A simple mathematical model was developed to rate the acceptability of grasses as food for the termite colonies. This enabled the attractiveness of the bait carriers as food for termites to be compared with that of the grasses. All five grass species tested had a similar food acceptability value, while both bait carriers were unacceptable as food. Failure of the baits was due to the fact that they were not consumed by the termites. The active ingredients was found to be effective when natural grass was used as the bait carrier. The mathematical model was extended to elucidate the effect of different baits on colony survival. This approach could be further used to rate new baits and their carriers objectively.

Type
Research Paper
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 80 , Issue 3 , September 1990 , pp. 277 - 287
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Anon. (1986) Beheer van grasdraertermiete in suidelike Afrika. pp. 11–12in Navorsingsinstituut vir Plantbeskerming Ontwik-kelsprogram 1986. Pretoria, Departement van Landbou en Watervoorseining.Google Scholar
Basson, N.C.J. (1972) Beskadiging van die natuurlike weiveld in die Noord-Vrystaat deur die grasdraertermiet, Hodotermes mossambicus (Hagen). Phytophylactica 4, 67–72.Google Scholar
Bissett, J.L. (1981) Seasonal abundance and natural mortality in the harvester termite, Hodotermes mossambicus (Hagen) and its relation to veld management of redsoils in the semi-arid regions of Zimbabwe. pp. 1–18in Proceedings Zimbabwe Society for Animal Production Field day ‘Beef in veld’. Matopos Research Station, Harare, Department of Research and Specialist Services.Google Scholar
Bot, J., Sweet, S. & Hollings, N. (1987) A guide to the use of Pesticides and Fungicides in the Republic of South Africa. 32nd edn.368 pp. Pretoria, South Africa Department of Agriculture and Water Supply.Google Scholar
Botha, T.C. & Hewitt, P.H. (1978) Influence of diets containing green material on laboratory colonies of Hodotermes mossambicus (Hagen). Phytophylactica 10, 93–97.Google Scholar
Caughley, G. (1976) Plant-herbivore systems. pp. 94–113in May, R.M. (Ed.) Theoretical ecology principles and applications. Oxford, Blackwell Scientific Publications.Google Scholar
Chippindall, L.K.A. & Crook, A.O. (1976) Grasses of southern Africa. Parts 163 & 174. Salisbury, Rhodesia, M.O. Collins.Google Scholar
Coaton, W.G.H. & Sheasby, J.L. (1975) National survey of the Isoptera of Southern Africa 10. The genus Hodotermes Hagen (Hodotermitidae). Cimbebasia (A) 3, 105–138.Google Scholar
Findlay, J.B.R. (1971) An investigation into the use of insecticidal baits for the control of Hodotermes mossambicus (Hagen). Phytophylactica 3, 97–102.Google Scholar
Hartwig, E.K. (1965) Die nesstelsel van die grasdraertermiet Hodotermes mossambicus (Hagen) (Isoptera) en aspekte rakende bestryding. Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif Landbouwetenskap 8, 643–660.Google Scholar
Gore, A.J.P. (1972) A field experiment, a small computer and model simulation. pp. 309–326in Jeffers, J.N.R. (Ed.) Mathematical models in ecology. Oxford, Blackwell Scientific Publications.Google Scholar
Hewitt, P.H., Nel, J.J.C. & Conradie, S. (1969) Preliminary studies on the control of caste formation in the harvester termite Hodotermes mossambicus (Hagen). Insectes Sociaux 16, 159–172.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
May, R.M. (1976) Models for single populations. pp. 4–25in May, R.M. (Ed.) Theoretical ecology principles and applications. Oxford, Blackwell Scientific Publications.Google Scholar
Maynard Smith, J. (1975) Models in ecology. 146 pp. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Meredith, D. (Ed.) (1955) The grasses and pastures of South Africa. 771 pp. Cape Town, Central News Agency.Google Scholar
Mertz, D.B. (1970) Notes on methods used in life-history studies. pp. 4–17in Connell, J.H., Mertz, D.B. & Murdoch, W.W. (Eds) Readings in ecology and ecological genetics. New York, Harper & Row.Google Scholar
Nel, J.J.C. (1968a) Aggressive behaviour of the harvester termite Hodotermes mossambicus (Hagen) and Trinervitermes trinervoides (Sjöstedt). Insectes Sociaux 15, 145–156.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nel, J.J.C. (1968b) Verspreiding van die oesgate en grondhopies van die grasdraertermiet, Hodotermes mossambicus (Hagen). Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif landbouwetenskap 11, 173–182.Google Scholar
Nel, J.J.C. & Hewitt, P.H. (1969a) Effect of solar radiation on the harvester termite, Hodotermes mossambicus (Hagen). Nature, London 223, 862–863.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nel, J.J.C. & Hewitt, P.H. (1969b) A study of the food eaten by a population of the harvester termite, Hodotermes mossambicus (Hagen) and its relation to population density. Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa 32, 123–131.Google Scholar
Nel., J.J.C., Hewitt, P.H. & Joubert, L. (1971) Growth in relation to colony size in the harvester termite, Hodotermes mossambicus (Hagen). Phytophylactica 3, 1–6.Google Scholar
Nel, J.J.C., Hewitt, P.H., Smith, L.J. & Smit, W.T. (1969) The behaviour of the harvester termite Hodotermes mossambicus (Hagen) in a laboratory colony. Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa 32, 9–24.Google Scholar
Pretorius, L.M. & Van Ark, H. (1972) Die invloed van bestryding van Hodotermes mossambicus op die plantegroei in 'n Noord-Transvaalse bosveldgebied. Phytophylactica 4, 45–50.Google Scholar
Roberts, B.R. (1973) Common grasses of the Orange Free State. 127 pp. Bloemfontein, OFS Provincial Administration Nature Conservation (Miscellaneous Publication no. 3).Google Scholar
Shapley, J. (1973) Suicide pellet is new weapon in termite war. Farmer's Weekly 123, 6–10.Google Scholar
Spencer, E.Y. (1973) Guide to the chemicals used in crop protection. 6th edn.542 pp. Ottawa, Research Branch of Agriculture, Canada.Google Scholar
Starfield, A.M. & Bleloch, A.L. (1986) Building models for conservation and wildlife management. 253 pp. New York, Macmillan Publishing Company.Google Scholar
Van Ark, H. (1969) Control of Hodotermes mossambicus (Hagen) in the karoo (Hodotermitidae: Isoptera). Phytophylactica 1, 41–50.Google Scholar
Watson, J.A.L. (1973) The worker caste of the hodotermitid harvester termites. Insectes Sociaux 20, 1–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar