Beneficial, harmful effects and physical control of termites in the Tropics

Abstract

Termites are eusocial insects with both beneficial and harmful effects to the land and human beings and largely destructive effects on structural facilities built with wood. In this community, it was observed that termite infestation was rapidly expanding, with termitaria of various sizes dotting the landscape, thus reducing the spaces of land available for agricultural use and other productive ventures. An aggressive move was made to remove the termitaria, through manual labour by means of excavation. The measure proved largely successful, since the removal of the queen, with attendant burning of the colony perimeters led to the termination of termite infestation and re-claiming of the land. The termites identified in the study were Reticulotermes species. Another study will be necessary to identify these insects molecularly down to the species level.