ECOLOGICAL STUDIES ON SUBTERRENEAN TERMITE AND CONTROL AT ASMAILIA GOVERNORATE (EGYPT)

Abstract

The present studies were conducted on the harvester subterranean termite, Anacanthotermes ochroceus (Burm.) (Isoptera :Hodotermitidae) the most wide spread species in Ismailia Governorate (Al-Qassasin location )for three successive years, from 2015 to 2018 the obtained results could be summarized as follows. A. Survey studies Only two species were found in all sampled locations, the first is the sand subterranean termite Psammotermes hybostoma (Deseneux) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) and the second is the harvester subterranean termite Anacanthotermes ochraceus (Burm.) (Ispotera: Hodotermitidae) results revealed that species A. ochraceus was more distributed in all visited location and recorded the high percentages of infestation while species P. hybostama was found only in two locations of two district as follows; Ezz-Edin at Ismalia district and Horticulture research station at Al –Qassasin district. B. Ecological studies 1. Foraging and population activity The foraging activity throughout the first year of study (2015-2016) revealed the present of two peaks, the first and the highest one peak occurred at 29 March with total number of 373 individuals /105 traps representing 13.37% of the total number of caught castes. The 2nd and the least peak occurred at 13 September with total number of 34 individuals / 105 traps representing 1.3% of the total number caught in the traps. In the second year (2016-2017) the foraging activity had two peaks, the first and the highest peak occurred at 14 March with total number of 557 individuals/ 105 traps representing 20.99% of the total number of caught castes during the year.