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Termite distribution and damage to crops on smallholder farms in southern Malawi

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

D.C. Munthali ,
J.W.M. Logan ,
T.G. Wood  and
G.K.C. Nyirenda
D.C. Munthali*
Affiliation:
Botswana College of Agriculture, P/Bag 0027, Gaborone, Botswana
J.W.M. Logan
Affiliation:
Natural Resources Institute, Chatham Maritime, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TB United Kingdom
T.G. Wood
Affiliation:
Natural Resources Institute, Chatham Maritime, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TB United Kingdom
G.K.C. Nyirenda
Affiliation:
Bunda College of Agriculture, Box 219, Lilongwe, Malawi
*
Corresponding author: DCM. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Termite damage to annual crops on smallscale farms was surveyed in eight areas in southern Malawi during 1989/90 to 1991/92. The most frequently grown crop was maize, followed by pigeonpeas, Phaseolus beans, cotton, cowpea and groundnuts. Twenty-seven species of termites were found attacking crops. The most numerous and widely distributed were several species of the Macrotermitinae, including Ancistrotermes latinotus, four species of Macrotermes, four species of Microtermes, three species of Odontotermes and Pseudacanthotermes militaris. All species damaged maize but only a few damaged bambara, cassava and banana. The damage appeared to be more frequent in dry areas than in wet ones.

Keywords

smallholder farmerstermitesIsopterasouthern Malawipetits fermierstermitesIsopteraSud Malawi
Type
Research Articles
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 19 , Issue 1 , March 1999 , pp. 43 - 49
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1999

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References

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