Foraging activity and population estimation of Microtermes mycophagus Desneux (Isoptera: Termitidae: Macrotermitinae) in Multan, Punjab, Pakistan
2015
Iqbal, N, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan | Saeed, S, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan | Evans, T.A., National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore | Kwon, Y.J., Kyungpook National University, Dague, Republic of Korea
The knowledge of the seasonal foraging activity and the numbers of foragers in a colony would be helpful for designing effective termite baiting programs. The current study presents the seasonal activity of Microtermes mycophagus Desneux in a tree plantation in Multan, Punjab, Pakistan, using silk cotton tree wood traps during 2011 - 2013. The population of M. mycophagus was also estimated using the con- stant removal method. The number of workers in the underground traps showed a seasonal trend with the highest capture rate occurring during summer and the lowest during winter. The peak in the population (1139 workers/trap) was observed in October after the rainy season. Positive and significant correlation was found between the mean air temperature and the numbers of M. mycophagus workers captured. The constant removal population estimates revealed 16 499 - 40 265 indi- viduals in the colony of M. mycophagus. Our results suggest that for cost - effective management of the termite species, baiting programs should be started immediately after August when rapid increases in activity of M. mycophagus have been recorded.
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