Termites in Sericulture and its Management

Author: Rajesh Kumar, Nang Sena Manpoong and N.I. Singh

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Abstract

Termites are better known as destroyer of wood and wood products. However, several plants of economic importance are also victims of depredation by termites. Among the sericulture plants commonly damaged by termites are Mulberry, Arjun, Asan, Sal, Oak, Som and Soalu plants. Mulberry plants are also attacked by this pest. The species of termites commonly served damaging these plants are Odontotermes obesus, Microtermes obesi (Hols), Coptotermes heimi (Wasm). Sericulture industry provides employment to tribal people of many countries in rural and semi-urban areas and plays an important role in the GDP of a country. Termites have also been reported to damage various sericultural infrastructures and host plants in the field. Termite’s damage in sericulture of cellulose material in human dwellings has assumed serious proportions in recent years primarily due to advancement of civilizations and clearance of areas that form natural sources of food for termites. Only few paper has been publi

Keywords

Sericulture, muga, eri, mulberry, oak tasar and tasar, termite species

Conclusion

Termites plays a pivotal role in sericulture industry, which cause 20-30% damage to plantation, rearing houses and grainage houses. Elevation in temperature is an important factor for termites’ diversity. Various termites’ functional groups respond differently to temperature, due to their different feeding habits (Davies et al. 2003; Inoue et al. 2006). However, temperature is the key factor, which influences the termite diversity and another side rain plays a negative role in tropical rain forest ecosystem (Bignell and Eggleton 2000). India is having all the climate zones temperate, tropical, sub-tropical and rain forest ecosystems. In forest ecosystem, termite is not considered as a problem, but it considered as a beneficial insects, which help in degradation of falling trees and composting. But, termites are major problem not even in sericulture but also in agriculture and horticulture. Most of the termites are controlled through cultural / mechanical control by using fire and p

References

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How to cite this article

Rajesh Kumar, Nang Sena Manpoong and N.I. Singh (2018). Termites in Sericulture and its Management Biological Forum – An International Journal 10(1): 118-124.