In-vitro Toxicity of Synthetic Insecticides against Subterranean Termites, Coptotermes heimi (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)
In-vitro Toxicity of Synthetic Insecticides against Subterranean Termites, Coptotermes heimi (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)
Muhammad Qasim1, Muhammad Zeeshan Majeed1*, Muhammad Arshad1, Umair Abbas1, Mehar Zubair Shehzad1 and Abu Bakar Muhammad Raza1,2
ABSTRACT
Subterranean termites cause significant damage to agricultural crops and wooden infrastructures worldwide. Coptotermes and Odontotermes were found as the most abundant and damaging genera of subterranean termites in Pakistan. Many conventional synthetic insecticides are being used to combat termite infestations with often unsatisfactory control results. This study assessed the comparative toxicity of some prevailing synthetic insecticides with different modes of action against subterranean termites Coptotermes heimi Wasmann (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) which was found as a dominant termite species in district Sargodha. Filter paper disc-based bioassays revealed that all insecticides showed a significant impact (P < 0.001) on the mortality of C. heimi workers and this mortality response was directly proportional to insecticidal concentrations and exposure times. Significantly higher mortality was recorded by chlorpyrifos (100.0%) and fipronil (95.0%) at 72 h post-exposure with minimum LC50 values of 1.29 and 2.04%, respectively. Similar trend of effectiveness was exhibited by their LT50 values. Minimum mortality of C. heimi workers was recorded by the formulations of chlorantraniliprole and abamectin. Based on overall study results, it is concluded that chlorpyrifos and fipronil are effective synthetic termiticides and are recommended to the indigenous farmers for combatting subterranean termite infestations.
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