PRELIMINARY FIELD EFFICACY OF TRANSFER EFFECT OF SLOW ACTING TERMITICIDE (IMIDACLOPRID) ON SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES POPULATION (COPTOTERMES GESTROI) (WASMANN) (ISOPTERA: RHINOTERMITIDAE)

Abstract

Population estimation of Coptotermes gestroi (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), foraging activity and control by using a slow acting termiticide, Premise^® 200SC containing 18.3% w/w imidacloprid was studied in Penanti, Seberang Perai Utara, Penang, Malaysia. Three underground monitoring stations (UMSs) were established in this site. The triple mark recapture (TMR) technique estimated the population C. gestroi was 2 142 215 ± 86 949. The foraging territories and maximum foraging distance were 14.45 m² and 10 m, respectively. Mean wood consumption rate per two weeks ranged from 54.4–130.1 grams/station before treatment. The treatment was done by creating a continuous imidacloprid barrier in the soil surrounding one of the three UMS by injecting five liters of Premise^® 200SC solution with dilution ratio of 1:400 (Premise^® 200SC:water) per hole into the soil spaced 33.3 cm apart. The activities of the termites stopped eight weeks after the treatment. In all three UMSs, this showed that the "transfer effect" of this termiticide had taken place and probably had eliminated the whole colony.

Anggaran populasi anai-anai Coptotermes gestroi (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), aktiviti mencari makanan dan kawalan menggunakan termitisid tindak balas perlahan, Premise^® 200SC yang mengandungi 18.3% w/w imidacloprid dikaji di Penanti, Seberang Perai Utara, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. Tiga stesen pemantauan bawah tanah dipasang pada tapak kajian ini. Daripada kajian tangkap tanda lepas tiga kali (TMR), populasi C. gestroi ialah 2 142 215 ± 86 949. Keluasan perilaku mencari makanan dan jarak maksimum masing-masing adalah 14.45 m² dan 10 m. Purata kadar pemakanan kayu per dua minggu dalam julat 54.4–130.1 grams/stesen sebelum rawatan. Rawatan dijalankan dengan membuat satu penghadang berterusan imidacloprid di sekeliling salah satu dari tiga UMS dengan menembak masuk larutan termitisid ke dalam tanah pada kadar bancuhan 1:400 (Premise^® 200SC:air) dan lima liter bancuhan Premise^® 200SC setiap lubang pada jarak 33.3 cm setiap lubang. Aktiviti anai-anai berhenti 8 minggu selepas rawatan. Pada ketiga-tiga UMS, hal ini menunjukkan bahawa berlakunya kesan "pemindahan racun" dan berkemungkinan menghapuskan keseluruhan populasi anai-anai tanah.