Termite Damage and Crop Loss Studies in Nigeria—a Survey of Damage to Groundnuts

Johnson, Robert A.; Lamb, Robert W.; Wood, T. G.

doi:10.1080/09670878109413802

Cited by 45 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…For groundnuts in Nigeria, Johnson et al, (1981) found a relationship between stand and yield losses, while in cotton there appears to be no clear relationship. While yield is the ultimate criterion of the effect of insecticide treatment, evaluation of root damage as well as total stand loss may give a more accurate estimate of the effect of insecticide application than would evaluation of stand loss alone.…”

Section: Plant Mortality and Yieldmentioning

confidence: 82%

Damage to crops bymicrotermes najdensis(isoptera, macrotermitinae) in irrigated semi‐desert areas of the red sea coast. 2. cotton in the Tokar delta region of Sudan

Tiben

Pearce

Wood

et al. 1990

Tropical Pest Management

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Damage to crops by Microtermes najdensis (Isoptera, Macrotermitinae) in irrigated semi-desert areas of the Red Sea Coast. 2. Cotton in the Tokar Delta region of Sudan(Abstract. Microtermes najdensis is a major pest of cotton in the Tokar Delta of Sudan, where it causes damage by penetrating and hollowing the roots and entering the stems. Attack usually occurs late in the growing season. The efficacy of aldrin and less persistent insecticides was evaluated in a series of trials in different areas of the delta from 1982 to 1986. Plant mortality and yields varied widely among sites and years. Application of aldrin gave up to 132% increase in yield in some trials but in others no differences were detected. Treatment of seed with aldrin was more cost-effective than a planting-hole treatment. Residue levels (aldrin, dieldrin) were low in soil, cotton (seed, fibre and foliage), well water, and crops planted in plots treated with aldrin in previous seasons. Termite attack in trials of other insecticides was very low, and the efficacy of these could not be evaluated. There was no clear relationship between termite foraging activity and either plant mortality or yield.

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Section: Plant Mortality and Yieldmentioning

confidence: 82%

Damage to crops bymicrotermes najdensis(isoptera, macrotermitinae) in irrigated semi‐desert areas of the red sea coast. 2. cotton in the Tokar delta region of Sudan

Tiben

Pearce

Wood

et al. 1990

Tropical Pest Management

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“…Foraging activity in Microtermes inhabiting savannas with distinct wet and dry seasons is stimulated by rain (Wood and Johnson, 1978;Johnson, Lamb and Wood, 1981). Rain, or in the present case, irrigation, would appear to stimulate foraging by M. najdensis in the even drier Tihama, as the onset of foraging at Gumeisha and El Gerba occurrred approximately 6 weeks after the first irrigation (Figure 3), late August at El Gerba and midSeptember at Gumeisha.…”

Section: Foraging Activity Plant Mortality and Yield Lossmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…Foraging activity and stand losses are only an indication of yield losses, and the relationship between "termite damage" and "yield loss" varies with the crop and the nature of the damage (Wood, Johnson and Ohiagu, 1980;Johnson, Lamb and Wood, 1981).…”

Section: Foraging Activity Plant Mortality and Yield Lossmentioning

confidence: 99%

Damage to crops byMicrotermes najdensis (Isoptera, Macrotermitinae)in irrigated semi‐desert areas of the Red Sea coast 1. The Tihama region of the Yemen Arab Republic

Wood¹,

Bednarzik

Aden³

1987

Tropical Pest Management

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Microtermes najdensis is widely distributed throughout irrigated cropping areas of the Tihama region in Yemen Arab Republic. It is subterranean and damages young and mature plants by penetrating the root system and ultimately the stem, causing wilting and death. Surveys showed that plant-mortality without termite control ranged from 2-63% (average 20-30%) in cotton and maize. Pepper, okra and tomato were attacked less severely (average mortality of 10-20%). Tobacco, sorghum, millet and most vegetables suffered little damage (less than 2% stand loss) whereas experimental crops such as groundnuts, wheat and sesame suffered severe losses. Insecticides were evaluated as pre-sowing soil treatments in cotton in two trials, one near Hudaydah and one near Zabid. At Hudaydah, Microtermes foraging began late in the season and there was little damage; plant mortality in untreated plots was 8.1-9.3%. At Zabid, foraging began earlier and mortality in untreated plots was 39.7-48.5%. Aldrin and chlordane at 1.0-2.0 kg/ha gave significant control with mortality at 0.0-0.5%, in all trials. There were no significant differences in yields at Gumeisha, but at Zabid untreated plots yielded 3200-3500 kg/ha, significantly less than 3700-4500 kg/ha on aldrin and chlordane treated plots. Lindane, HCH, diazinon, phoxim, chlorfenvinphos, isofenphos (except at 7.5 kg/ha) and chlorpyrifos were significantly less effective than aldrin and chlordane in preventing mortality, even at high dose rates (e.g. 18.2-28.2% mortality at Zabid with chlorpyrifos at 14.4 kg/ha). Wood baits placed on the surface between cotton plants at Hudaydah were effectively protected at peak foraging times in the aldrin and chlordane treatments; 0-5% of baits were attacked compared with 25-26% in untreated controls and 19-25% in lindane and HCH. Diazinon (13-27%), phoxim (41%), chlorfenvinphos (55%), isofenphos (17-21%) and chlorpyrifos (21-22%) gave less effective protection than aldrin (0%). Attack on baits at Zabid in chlorpyrifos plots (31-35%) was similar to that on untreated plots (34%).

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“…Among these termite pest species cited by farmers, Microtermes sp. is recognized as the most damaging species to groundnut [54] and maize root systems [10]; Microcerotermes sp. and T .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Farmers’ perception of termites in agriculture production and their indigenous utilization in Northwest Benin

Loko

Orobiyi

Agre

et al. 2017

J Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine

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BackgroundAlthough termites are considered as agricultural pests, they play an important role in maintaining the ecosystem. Therefore, it matters to investigate the farmers’ perception of the impacts of the termites on the agriculture and their indigenous utilization.MethodsA semi-structured questionnaire was used to interview 94 farmers through 10 villages of Atacora department, in the northwestern region of Benin, to obtain information for the development of successful strategies of termite management and conservation. Their perceptions on the importance and management of termites along with the indigenous nomenclature and utilization of termite mounds were assessed. Termite species identified by farmers were collected and preserved in 80% alcohol for identification.ResultsEight crops were identified by farmers as susceptible to termites with maize, sorghum, and yam as being the most susceptible. According to farmers, the susceptibility to termites of these crops is due to their high-water content and sweet taste. A total of 27 vernacular names of termites were recorded corresponding to 10 species, Amitermes evuncifer, Macrotermes subhyalinus, and Trinervitermes oeconomus being the most damaging termite species. All the names given to termite species had a meaning. The drought was identified by farmers as the main factor favouring termite attacks. Demolition of termite mounds in the fields was the most commonly reported control method. Salt and other pesticides were commonly used by farmers to protect stored farm products. The lack of effective control methods is the main constraint for termite management. In northwestern Benin, farmers reported different purpose utilizations of termite mounds and termites.ConclusionsThe study has shown that farmers perceived termites as pests of several agricultural crops and apply various indigenous control practices whose efficiency need to be verified. Utilization of termites and termite mound soil as food and medicinal resources underlines the need for a more focused approach to termite control for the conservation of non-pest termite species. The sensitization of farmers on the importance of termites as well as the development of an integrated control method to combat termite pests proved necessary.

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Termite Damage and Crop Loss Studies in Nigeria—a Survey of Damage to Groundnuts

Cited by 45 publications

References 7 publications

Damage to crops bymicrotermes najdensis(isoptera, macrotermitinae) in irrigated semi‐desert areas of the red sea coast. 2. cotton in the Tokar delta region of Sudan

Damage to crops bymicrotermes najdensis(isoptera, macrotermitinae) in irrigated semi‐desert areas of the red sea coast. 2. cotton in the Tokar delta region of Sudan

Damage to crops byMicrotermes najdensis (Isoptera, Macrotermitinae)in irrigated semi‐desert areas of the Red Sea coast 1. The Tihama region of the Yemen Arab Republic

Farmers’ perception of termites in agriculture production and their indigenous utilization in Northwest Benin

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