Termite Diversity and its Extent of Crop Damage in Vayalogam Soil Series of Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

A survey was conducted to study the distribution of termites in Vayalogam soil series, red sandy loam soil in Tamil Nadu, India. Among the termites collected from eleven places in Pudukottai district, Tamil Nadu all under one genera and three species, the predominant species was Odontotermus wallonensis (Wasmann) which was noticed in seven locations followed by O. assmuthi in three locations and O.obesus in one location. Further, an abundance of O. wallonensis was high (64.64%) followed by O. assmuthi (27.27%.) and O. obesus (9.90%.). The termite, O. wallonensis was recorded more in moundscompared to O. assmuthi and O. obesus, whereas in tree wood logs, three termite species were found. Among the avenue trees, pungam recorded less damage (7.25%) followed by jack trees (10.25%), Polyalthia (15.50%), tamarind (23.50%) and neem and eucalyptus (32.55 and 37.50%). In field crops termite damage was less in maize (5.75%), groundnut (10.25 %), and sugarcane (10.25%). The highest damage was recorded in jack fruit at seedling stage (46.50%) cultivated in Vayalogam soil series. The termite attack was not observed in field crops viz., pulses, castor, brinjal and chilli. termite species