Tunnelling behaviour and barrier penetration of subterranean termites with special reference to Coptotermes gestroi (Wasmann) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)
| dc.contributor.author | Yeoh, Boon Hoi | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2014-11-11T01:21:14Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2014-11-11T01:21:14Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2007 | |
| dc.description | Master | en_US |
| dc.description.abstract | This study focuses on tunneling behaviour and barrier penetration of subterranean termites especially to Coptotermes gestroi (Wasmann). In addition, horizontal transmission of several toxicants among the C. gestroi was also studied. Comparative tunneling behaviour of three species of Coptotermes, namely C. gestroi, Coptotermes curvignathus Holmgren and Coptotermes kalshoveni Kemner in different tunneling mediums (agar and sand) revealed that C. curvignathus was the most aggressive species with extensive tunnel formation, followed by C. gestroi. Coptotermes kalshoveni has the least tunneling activity; however, it showed the highest wood consumption rate in the 28 d evaluation period, suggesting higher resource fidelity. Both C. gestroi and C. kalshoveni were found to prefer rubber over pine wood, while C. curvignathus showed no preference between rubber and pine wood. Contact toxicities of six technical grade insecticides (bifenthrin, chlorfenapyr, chlorantraniliprole, fipronil, imidacloprid and indoxacarb) in C. gestroi were determined by topical application. Results indicated that bifenthrin was the most toxic contact insecticide against C. gestroi. Further experiments were carried out to evaluate the barrier penetration and tunneling activities of the termites by using seven formulated termiticides, Biflex® (bifenthrin) 24 % EC [FMC], Terminator® (chlorfenapyr) 24 % SC [WellTech Healthcare Co. Ltd, Thailand], DPX-E2Y45 (chlorantraniliprole) 18.5 % SC [DuPont Professional Products], Termidor® (fipronil) 2.5 % EC [Bayer Environmental Science], DPX HGW86-198 10 % SC [DuPont Professional Products], Premise® (imidacloprid) 20 % SC [Bayer Environmental Science] and indoxacarb 14.5 % SC [DuPont Professional Products]. It was found that all the termiticides tested were able to stop or suppress termites foraging activities, regardless of their repellent or non repellent properties. Response of subterranean termites in termiticide-treated sand suggested that termiticide properties (repellent or non-repellent) may be depended on the concentrations used. The formulated termiticides were further tested for horizontal transmission activities among the nestmates (exposed to unexposed termites) by using recommended concentration by the manufacturers. Mortalities of unexposed termites varied with different active ingredients, donor exposure duration and donor : recipient ratio. Increased exposure duration and mixing ratio significantly caused a greater effect to the test insects. | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/397 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.subject | Biological science | en_US |
| dc.subject | Tunnelling behaviour | en_US |
| dc.subject | Subterranean termites | en_US |
| dc.subject | Coptotermes gestroi | en_US |
| dc.title | Tunnelling behaviour and barrier penetration of subterranean termites with special reference to Coptotermes gestroi (Wasmann) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) | en_US |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_US |
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