Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7fkt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T05:04:14.475Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Termite Abundance and Damage in Traditional Maize–Cassava Intercrops in Southwestern Nigeria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

V. C. Umeh  and
M. F. Ivbijaro
V. C. Umeh*
Affiliation:
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), B.P. 320 Bamako, Mali, West Africa
M. F. Ivbijaro
Affiliation:
Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
*
Corresponding author: VCU. E-mail: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

During surveys conducted in 40 maize-cassava intercrops in the humid forest zone of southwestern Nigeria, the following termite species were identified from soil samples: Microtermes spp., Macrotermes nigeriensis (Sjöstedt), Macrotermes subhyalinus (Rambur), Amitermes evuncifer (Silvestri) and Anoplotermes quietus (Fr. Muller). High incidence of Microtermes and Macrotermes spp. was observed. The population density of predominant species was generally higher in the rainy seasons than in the dry seasons, indicating the role of moisture in their spread. The soil texture of surveyed farms did not influence the presence of the subterranean species Microtermes. The level of weeds in the surveyed farms also did not affect the population density of termites. However, Microtermes population increased significantly (P < 0.05) with increase in crop residues and its presence in farms partly depended on the presence of maize in such farms. Microtermes and Macrotermes species inflicted most of the damage observed on maize crops, while that caused by Amitermes evuncifer was low. No termite attack was observed on growing cassava during the surveys. The presence of live cassava in the intercrop did not influence damage by termites. Nasutitermes and Microcerotermes species which attack economic trees such as cocoa, citrus, oil palm, and forest trees did not attack cassava or maize.

Résumé

Les échantillonnages effectués sur 40 champs de maïs associés au manioc dans la zone agroécologique de la forêt humide dans le sud-oeust du Nigeria indiquaient la présence des espèces de termites suivantes sur les prélèvements du sol: Microtermes spp., Macrotermes nigeriensis (Sjöstedt), Macrotermes subhyalinus (Rambur), Amitermes evuncifer (Silvestri) et Anoplotermes quietus (F. Muller). Une haute présence des espèces de Microtermes et Macrotermes a été constatée. La présence ainsi que la population des espèces prédominantes étaient généralement plus hautes pendant la saison pluvieuse que pendant la saison sèche, indiquant le role de l'humidité sur leur propagation. Les textures du sol des champs échantillonnés n'avaient pas d'effets significatifs aux présences des espèces souterraines, Microtermes. Les niveaux de mauvaises herbes dans les champs échantillonés n'avaient pas aussi d'effet sur la densité des termites. Néanmoins, la population de Microtermes augmentait significativement (P < 0,05) selon la quantité de résidue des plantes restant aux champs, et leur présence dans les champs dépandait de la présence du maïs. Les espèces de Microtermes et Macrotermes infligaient les pluparts des dégâts observés sur les cultures de maïs. Les dégâts causés par Amitermes evuncifer au maïs étaient faibles. Aucune attaque par les termites n'a été constatée sur les cultures du manioc pendant les échantillonnages. Les espèces de Nasutitermes et Microcerotermes qui ont attaqués les arbres économiques comme les cacaos, les agrumes, les palmiers à huile et les arbres forestiers n'ont pas attaqués le manioc ni le maïs.

Keywords

farm sanitationMacrotermes nigeriensismaize damageMicrotermescassavacondition sanitaire du champMacrotermes nigeriensisdegât de maïsMicrotermesmanioc
Type
Research Articles
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 17 , Issue 3-4 , December 1997 , pp. 315 - 321
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1997

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Abbas, H. M. and Ahmed, F. U. (1984) Insect pests of pulses in Pakistan, pp. 184–207. In Insect Pests of Important Crops in Pakistan (Edited by Ahmed, F. U.). Pakistan Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Cooperatives, Karachi.Google Scholar
Darlington, J. P. E. C. (1985) Multiple primary reproductives in the termite Macrotermes michaelseni (Sjöstedt.), pp. 187–200. In Caste Differentiation in Social Insects (Edited by Watson, J. A. L., Okot-Kotber, B. M. and Noirot, C.). Oxford, Pergamon Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lee, K. E. and Wood, T. G. (1971) Termite and Soils. Acad. Press. London and New York. 251 pp.Google Scholar
Onwueme, I. C. (1978) The Tropical Tuber Crops. English Language Book Society and John Wiley & Sons, Chichester. pp. 142–144.Google Scholar
Parry, M. S. (1959) Control of termites in Eucalyptus plantations. Empire Forestry Review 38, 287–292.Google Scholar
Reddy, M. V. and Sammaiah, C. (1988) Odontotermes brunneus (Hagen) (Termitidae: Isoptera) as a new pest of maize and groundnut. Entomon. 13, 47–50.Google Scholar
Ripper, E. E. and George, L. (1965) Cotton Pests of the Soudan. Blackwell, Oxford. 345 pp.Google Scholar
Sands, W. A. (1962) Observations on termites destructive of trees and crops in Nigeria. North. Reg. Min. Agric. Samaru Res. Bull. 26, 1–14.Google Scholar
SAS Institute (1985) SAS Users'Guide: Statistics. 5th Ed.SAS Inst., Cary, North Carolina.Google Scholar
Sieber, R. (1985) Replacement of reproductives in Macrotermitinae (Isoptera, Termitidae), pp. 201–207. In Caste Differentiation in Social Insects (Edited by Watson, J. A. L., Okot-Kotber, B. M. and Noirot, C.). Pergamon Press, Oxford.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Silvapalan, P., Karunaratne, A. A. C. and Jayatilleke, D. S. G. (1980) Clonal susceptibility and the influence of shade trees on the incidence of Glyptotermes dilatatus (Bugnion and Popoff) (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) in tea. Bull Entomol. Res. 70, 145–149.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smyth, A. J. and Montgomery, R. F. (1962) Soils and Land-Use in Central Western Nigeria, Ibadan. Govt. of Western Nigeria, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.Google Scholar
Srivastava, K. P. and Butani, D. K. (1987) Insect pests of tea in India and their control. Pesticides 21, 16–21.Google Scholar
Wardell, D. A. (1987) Control of termites in nursery and young plantations in Africa: Established practices and alternative courses of action. Commonwealth Forestry Review 66, 77–79.Google Scholar
Wilkinson, H. (1940) Termites in East Africa. II. The biology and control of termites damaging grassland. East African Agricultural Journal 6, 67–72.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wood, T. G. and Johnson, R. A. (1978) Abundance and vertical distribution in soil of Microtermes (Isoptera: Termitidae) in savanna woodland and agricultural ecosystems of Mokwa, Nigeria. Memorabilia Zoologica 29, 203–213.Google Scholar
Wood, T. G., Johnson, R. A. and Ohiagu, C. E. (1980) Termite damage and crop loss studies in Nigeria—A review of termite damage to maize and estimation of damage, loss of yield and Microtermes abundance at Mokwa. Trop. Pest Manage. 26, 241–253.CrossRefGoogle Scholar