Termite detection in oil palm on mineral and peat soil in several locations in Sarawak

Termite infestation in oil palm plantation can become a serious problem during the early development of the crop. A common method of detecting pest termites is based on fresh mud work at the palm trunk. Two methods on detecting termites were conducted in Sessang, Betong, Belaga and Lawas, Sarawak, East Malaysia. The first method involved the use of rubber-wood stake in peat soil and the second involved the use of transect belt-method on mineral and peat areas. Detection with rubber wood stakes had recorded the presence of seven termite species from five subfamilies; Coptotermitinae, Rhinotermitinae, Macrotermitinae, Nasutitermitinae and Termitinae. The first subfamily consisted of three pest termite species; Coptotermes curvignathus, Coptotennes sepangensis and Coptotermes kalshoveni. The other four species which are non-pest termites, were Schedorhinotermes sarawakensis, Macrotermes gilvus, Nasutitermes sp. and Globitermes sp. The percentage infestation on rubber wood stakes on young palms on deep peat was 87.8%, while for matured palms in medium and deep peat recorded 37.8% and 50% respectively. A significant difference of X²(1,180), = 29.965, p<0.05 was detected for termites within young and mature palms planted in deep peat areas. The mean wood consumption for the Coptotermes curvignathus population over a period of one month in a single station was 171.63 ± 9.01g (54.57%) higher than other species in Coptotermitinae subfamily, with Coptotermes kalshoveni and Coptotermes sepangensis consumed 135.51 ± 27.32g (32.17%) and 125.30 ± 11.14g (26.04%) respectively. Transect-belt studies were also conducted on mineral soils at Belaga and peat soils at Betong and Lawas, Sarawak. Two transect-belts were conducted at different termite populations in each location. Absence of pest termite was recorded on both transects within oil palm planted on mineral soil. These areas recorded 15 termite species from four termite subfamilies. The peat areas at Lawas recorded four species only including the common pest termite while Betong area with Alan Batu peat type recorded five and nine termite species. The common genera identified were Coptotermes, Pericapritermes, Odontotermes, Malysiotermes, Bulbitermes and Schedorhinotermes. Increasing water-table within termite infested areas at 15 to 30cm from the soil surface in peat soil can force the termites to surface for early detection and for chemical control of peat termite.