Insect Pests of Fruit, Plantation, Medicinal & Aromatic Crops (2+1)

1. Termite - Odontotermes obesus Ramb. (Termitidae: Isoptera)

Damage

• The termite damages the seedlings in the nursery and also transplanted seedlings.
  
• The infested seedlings wilt and die.
  
• The base of the trunk is plastered with runways made of soil and fibers.
  
• It feeds on roots, inflorescence and fruit bunches.
Bionomics

• Green coloured tiny insects resembling ants with dark coloured head.
Management

• Apply soil insecticides on transplantation of the seedlings.
• Locate the termite mount in the coconut gardens and destroy it.
• Locate and kill the queen termite to provide good solution.
• Give adequate irrigation to the seedlings to minimize the problem.
• Soil drench with 0.1 % carbaryl in the standing crop.