Termites: Odontotermes obesus Rhamb
Symptom:
- Characteristic semi- circular feeding marks on the margin of the leaves in the standing crop.
- Poor germination of setts (after planting)
- Causes yellowing and drying of outer leaves first followed by the inner leaves
- Entire shoot dries up and can be pulled out.
- Setts hollow inside and may be filled with soil.
Identification of pest:
- Eggs: Dull, kidney shaped and hatches in 30-90 days
- Nymphs: Moult 8-9 times and are full grown in 6-12 months
- Adult: Creamy coloured tiny insects resembling ants with the dark coloured head.
Management:
Cultural method:
- Flood irrigation at the time of planting because it stops termite attack due to excess moisture and the optimum moisture level will revive.
- Fill the gaps in the field to compensate the population
Physical method:
- Locate and destroy the termite colony.
- Collect and destroy the termite affected setts from the field.
Chemical method:
- Dip the setts in imidacloprid 70WS 0.1% or chlopyriphos 20 EC 0.04% for 5min.
- Treat the soil with lindane 1.6 D @ 50 kg/ha.
Source-
- TamilNadu Agritech Portal
