Evaluation of Insecticide-treated Sugarcane Setts against Subterranean Termites at Sargodha

Abstract

Termites contribute significantly to most of world's ecosystems. They are of great importance in recycling woody and other plant materials and their tunnelling efforts help to aerate the soil. The present study was done to evaluate the efficacy of insecticides against the termites in a sugarcane field. The dipping of setts in insecticides solution @ 1%, 0.50%, 0.25% was carried out and the planted setts was observed for damage/infestation. In order to select a site for an experiment in village Dhero Sial of Sargodha District. Five samples were taken from field at 4 different places. Area of sample was one sq. meter and population of termites was noted. Later on, poplar stakes were erected to confirm the population of termites after 10-15 days. As the chemical treatment is the only remedy for the crops attacked by subterranean termites available to the farmers in Pakistan the evaluation of these six insecticides showed that most effective is the Fipronil both in reducing the population density and damage on the cones.