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A mathematical approach to rating food acceptance of the harvester termite, Hodotermes mossambicus (Isoptera: Hodotermitidae) and the evaluation of baits for its control

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

F.D. Duncan ,
A. Nel ,
S.H. Batzofin  and
P.H. Hewitt
F.D. Duncan
Affiliation:
Plant Protection Research Institute, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa
A. Nel
Affiliation:
Plant Protection Research Institute, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa
S.H. Batzofin
Affiliation:
Catalina Gardens, Berea, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa
P.H. Hewitt
Affiliation:
University of the Orange Free State, Bloemfontein, Republic of South Africa
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Abstract

Hodotermes mossambicus (Hagen) is a harvester termite which competes with livestock for natural grazing. Control by baiting is recommended. Field trials in the north-western Orange Free State and south-western Transvaal, Republic of South Africa, showed that the two most commonly used commercial baits, with carbaryl or sodium fluosilicate as the active ingredient, are ineffective in controlling this species. A simple mathematical model was developed to rate the acceptability of grasses as food for the termite colonies. This enabled the attractiveness of the bait carriers as food for termites to be compared with that of the grasses. All five grass species tested had a similar food acceptability value, while both bait carriers were unacceptable as food. Failure of the baits was due to the fact that they were not consumed by the termites. The active ingredients was found to be effective when natural grass was used as the bait carrier. The mathematical model was extended to elucidate the effect of different baits on colony survival. This approach could be further used to rate new baits and their carriers objectively.

Type
Research Paper
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 80 , Issue 3 , September 1990 , pp. 277 - 287
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

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