Foraging activity and population estimation of Microtermes mycophagus Desneux (Isoptera: Termitidae: Macrotermitinae) in Multan, Punjab, Pakistan. Issue 2 (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Iqbal, Naeem; Saeed, Shafqat; Evans, Theodore A.; Kwon, Yong Jung
• Is Part Of: Entomological research. Volume 45:Issue 2(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 51
• Page End: 57
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: Insects -- Korea -- Periodicals; Entomology -- Periodicals; 595.709519
• DOI: 10.1111/1748-5967.12094
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1738-2297

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>The knowledge of the seasonal foraging activity and the numbers of foragers in a colony would be helpful for designing effective termite baiting programs. The current study presents the seasonal activity of <italic>Microtermes mycophagus</italic> Desneux in a tree plantation in Multan, Punjab, Pakistan, using silk cotton tree wood traps during 2011–2013. The population of <italic>M. mycophagus</italic> was also estimated using the constant removal method. The number of workers in the underground traps showed a seasonal trend with the highest capture rate occurring during summer and the lowest during winter. The peak in the population (1139 workers/trap) was observed in October after the rainy season. Positive and significant correlation was found between the mean air temperature and the numbers of <italic>M. mycophagus</italic> workers captured. The constant removal population estimates revealed 16 499–40 265 individuals in the colony of <italic>M. mycophagus</italic>. Our results suggest that for cost–effective management of the termite species, baiting programs should be started immediately after August when rapid increases in activity of <italic>M. mycophagus</italic> have been recorded.</p> </abstract>