| Peer-Reviewed

Termite, a Hidden Enemy of Crops: A Review

Received: 26 July 2022     Accepted: 24 October 2022     Published: 29 October 2022
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

Termites are social insects of the order Isoptera. It is belonging to the insect infra order Isoptera and are characterized by their colonial behavior. In Africa at large and Ethiopia in particular, the most important termite genera are Macrotermes, Odnotermes, Pseudocanthotermes, Ancistrotermes and Microterme termites. They are found on all continents except Antarctica. The term “hidden enemy” is used in this review because most of the loss caused by termite is during growing time feeding on the roots of crops under the soils. Habitats are the heaviest in the tropic regions, subtropics, and warmer climate regions. It’s predominantly distributed in tropical environment, with the highest species richness in equatorial rainforest. Termites mostly feed on dead plant material and cellulose, generally in the form of wood, leaf litter, soil, or animal dung. Moreover the harmful effect of termite outweighs positive effects. Termite cause wide spread damage to a great variety of crops in tropical Africa. The yield loss from damage of termite in Ethiopia can ranges from 8.6% to 81.4%. Different management techniques are available for controlling termite. However the efficiency of controlling mechanism depends on distribution, biology (reproduction and lifecycle) and ecology of termite species occupying an area. Moreover ITM (Integrated termite management) is environmentally safe and economically affordable mechanism of termite management. Hence the area of this review focuses on distribution of subterranean termite, biology and management techniques. Therefore, distribution, biology and management techniques reviewed in current paper really helpful as source of information for researcher, developmental agents and crop producers about termite, which is neglected crop enemy and currently cause huge loss in agricultural products.

Published in American Journal of BioScience (Volume 10, Issue 5)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajbio.20221005.13
Page(s) 172-179
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Biology, Castes, Distribution, Ecology, Microtermes, Mound, Termites

References
[1] Abebe, H., 2002. Potential of entomopathogenic fungi for the control of Macrotermes subhyalinus (Isoptera: Termitidae) (Doctoral dissertation, Verlag nicht ermittelbar).
[2] Ali, I. G., Ahmed, B. M. S., Sheridan, G. and French, J. R., 2018. Termite preferences for foraging Sites. In Termites and Sustainable Management (pp. 181-199). Springer, Cham.
[3] Ayana, D. T., Adugna, W. T., Liban, J. D., Deke, A. L. and Fete, A. T., 2018. Study on community perception of termite expansion and control in Borana plateau: Case study of Southern Oromia, Ethiopia. International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation, 10 (9), pp. 365-371.
[4] BARC (Bako Agricultural Research Center), 2003. Crop protection division progress report for the Year 2003.
[5] Chellappan, M. and Ranjith, M. T., 2021. Termites. In Polyphagous Pests of Crops (pp. 51-104). Springer, Singapore.
[6] Debelo, D. G. and Degaga, E. G., 2014. Termite species composition in the central rift valley of Ethiopia. Agriculture and Biology Journal of North America, 5 (3), pp. 123-134.
[7] Desalegn, G., Tadesse, W., Teketay, D., Fekadu, W., Kaba, G. and Taye, G., 2007. Performance of preservative treatments on 32 timber tree species against termites and fungal attack at bako, southwestern Ethiopia. SINET: Ethiopian Journal of Science, 30 (2), pp. 103-116.
[8] Djirata, O., Jembere, B., Getu, E. and Mengistou, S., 2007. Prevalence of termites and level of damage on major field crops and rangelands in the Manasibu District, Western Ethiopia. Ethiopian Journal of Biological Sciences, 6 (2).
[9] Eggleton, P., 2000. Global patterns of termite diversity. In Termites: evolution, sociality, symbioses, ecology (pp. 25-51). Springer, Dordrecht.
[10] Eiseman, Charley, Noah Charney, and John Carlson. Tracks & Sign of Insects & Other Invertebrates: Guide to North American Species. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole, 2010. Print.
[11] Ekesi, S., Maniania, N. K., Ampong-Nyarko, K. and Akpa, A. D., 2001. Importance of timing of application of the entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae for the control of legume flower thrips, Megalurothrips sjostedti and its persistence on cowpea. Archives of Phytopathology & Plant Protection, 33 (5), pp. 431-445.
[12] Engel, M. S., Pan, A. D. and Jacobs, B. F., 2012. A termite from the Late Oligocene of northern Ethiopia. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 58 (2), pp. 331-335.
[13] Evans, Arthur V. National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Insects and Spiders & Related Species of North America. New York: Sterling Pub., 2007. Print.
[14] Grohmann, C., Oldeland, J., Stoyan, D. and Linsenmair, K. E., 2010. Multi-scale pattern analysis of a mound-building termite species. Insectes Sociaux, 57 (4), pp. 477-486.
[15] Ibrahim, A. and Demisse, G., 2013 Evaluation of some botanicals against termites’ damage on hot pepper at Bako, Western Ethiopia. International Journal of Agricultural Policy and Research, 1, pp. 48-52.
[16] Iqbal, N., Khan, H. A. A. and Saeed, S., 2015. Response of Microtermes mycophagus (Isoptera: Termitidae) to twenty one wood species. Peer J, 3, p. e1132.
[17] Jones, D. T. and Eggleton, P., 2000. Sampling termite assemblages in tropical forests: testing a rapid biodiversity assessment protocol. Journal of applied Ecology, 37 (1), pp. 191-203.
[18] Krishna, K. ed., 2012. Biology of termites. Elsevier.
[19] Lenz, M., A. Sunden-Bylehn, B. L. Thorne, V. R. Lewis, and M. Haverty. "Finding alternatives to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) for termite management." UNEP/FAO/Global IPM Facility Expert Group on Termite Biology and Management, United Nations Environment Programme/Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/Global Integrated Pest Management Facility. United Nations Environment Programme (2003).
[20] Maniania, N. K., Ekesi, S. E. and Songa, J. M., 2002. Managing termites in maize with the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, 22 (1), pp. 41-46.
[21] Matsuura, K., Fujimoto, M. and Goka, K., 2004. Sexual and asexual colony foundation and the mechanism of facultative parthenogenesis in the termite Reticulitermes speratus (Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae). Insectes Sociaux, 51 (4), pp. 325-332.
[22] Mugerwa, S., Mpairwe, D. R., Zziwa, E., Swaans, K. and Peden, D. G., 2014. Integrated termite management for improved rainwater management: A synthesis of selected African experiences.
[23] Mugerwa, S., Nyangito, M., Nderitu, J., Bakuneta, C., Mpairwe, D. and Zziwa, E., 2011. Farmers’ ethno-ecological knowledge of the termite problem in semi-arid Nakasongola. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 6 (13), pp. 3183-3191.
[24] Nkunika, P. O. Y., Shiday, B. A., Sileshi, G. W., French, J. R. J., Nyeko, P. and Jain, S., 2010. Termite taxonomy and distribution with particular reference to climate change in Africa. In 41st Annual Meeting of the International Research Group on Wood Protection, Biarritz, France, 9-13 May 2010. IRG Secretariat.
[25] Noirot, C., 1989. Social structure in termite societies. Ethology ecology & evolution, 1 (1), pp. 1-17.
[26] Peden, D. G., Swaans, K., Mpairwe, D. R., Geleta, N., Zziwa, E., Mugerwa, S., Taye, H. and Legesse, H., 2013. Improving agricultural water productivity through integrated termite management. ILRI.
[27] Shiberu T, Ashagre H, Negeri M (2013) Laboratory Evaluation of Different Botanicals for the Control of Termite, Microterms spp (Isoptera: Termitidae). 2: 696 doi: 10. 4172/scientific reports. 696.
[28] Su, N. Y., 2003. Overview of the global distribution and control of the Formosan subterranean termite. Sociobiology, 41 (1 (A)), pp. 7-16.
[29] Tathiane, S. S., Carlos, E. G., Leila, S. L, Helga, D. A., Joao, H. M., Manoel, R. A and Teresa, T. G. (2009). Chemical, physical and micromorphological properties of termite mounds and adjacent soils along a toposequence in Zona da Mata, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Catena. 76: 107–113.
[30] Tilahun, M., 2018. Subterranean termites’ management using different legume crops and chomo grass (Brachiaria humidicola) as green manure on teff under acidic soil condition at Nejo west Wollega Ethiopia. International Journal of Agriculture and Biosciences, 7 (4), pp. 200-206.
[31] Ulrich, G. M. & Nicole G. (2002). Fungus-farming insects: Multiple origins and diverse evolutionary histories. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA, 99 (24), 15247−15249. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.242594799.
[32] Wakgari, M. and Getu, E., 2015. Effect of integration of cultural, botanical, and chemical methods of mound treatment on termites (Macrotermes subhyalinus Rambur) colonies in Ghimbi District of Western Ethiopia. East African Journal of Sciences, 9 (1), pp. 41-48.
[33] Wako, S. E., 2015. Behaviour and Ecological Impacts of Termites: Fecundity Investigations in Mounds. Ekologia, 34 (1), pp. 72-81.
[34] Wang, C., Zhou, X., Li, S., Schwinghammer, M., Scharf, M. E., Buczkowski, G. and Bennett, G. W., 2009. Survey and identification of termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in Indiana. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 102 (6), pp. 1029-1036.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Mosisa Tolossa. (2022). Termite, a Hidden Enemy of Crops: A Review. American Journal of BioScience, 10(5), 172-179. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajbio.20221005.13

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Mosisa Tolossa. Termite, a Hidden Enemy of Crops: A Review. Am. J. BioScience 2022, 10(5), 172-179. doi: 10.11648/j.ajbio.20221005.13

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Mosisa Tolossa. Termite, a Hidden Enemy of Crops: A Review. Am J BioScience. 2022;10(5):172-179. doi: 10.11648/j.ajbio.20221005.13

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.ajbio.20221005.13,
      author = {Mosisa Tolossa},
      title = {Termite, a Hidden Enemy of Crops: A Review},
      journal = {American Journal of BioScience},
      volume = {10},
      number = {5},
      pages = {172-179},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajbio.20221005.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajbio.20221005.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajbio.20221005.13},
      abstract = {Termites are social insects of the order Isoptera. It is belonging to the insect infra order Isoptera and are characterized by their colonial behavior. In Africa at large and Ethiopia in particular, the most important termite genera are Macrotermes, Odnotermes, Pseudocanthotermes, Ancistrotermes and Microterme termites. They are found on all continents except Antarctica. The term “hidden enemy” is used in this review because most of the loss caused by termite is during growing time feeding on the roots of crops under the soils. Habitats are the heaviest in the tropic regions, subtropics, and warmer climate regions. It’s predominantly distributed in tropical environment, with the highest species richness in equatorial rainforest. Termites mostly feed on dead plant material and cellulose, generally in the form of wood, leaf litter, soil, or animal dung. Moreover the harmful effect of termite outweighs positive effects. Termite cause wide spread damage to a great variety of crops in tropical Africa. The yield loss from damage of termite in Ethiopia can ranges from 8.6% to 81.4%. Different management techniques are available for controlling termite. However the efficiency of controlling mechanism depends on distribution, biology (reproduction and lifecycle) and ecology of termite species occupying an area. Moreover ITM (Integrated termite management) is environmentally safe and economically affordable mechanism of termite management. Hence the area of this review focuses on distribution of subterranean termite, biology and management techniques. Therefore, distribution, biology and management techniques reviewed in current paper really helpful as source of information for researcher, developmental agents and crop producers about termite, which is neglected crop enemy and currently cause huge loss in agricultural products.},
     year = {2022}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Termite, a Hidden Enemy of Crops: A Review
    AU  - Mosisa Tolossa
    Y1  - 2022/10/29
    PY  - 2022
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajbio.20221005.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajbio.20221005.13
    T2  - American Journal of BioScience
    JF  - American Journal of BioScience
    JO  - American Journal of BioScience
    SP  - 172
    EP  - 179
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-0167
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajbio.20221005.13
    AB  - Termites are social insects of the order Isoptera. It is belonging to the insect infra order Isoptera and are characterized by their colonial behavior. In Africa at large and Ethiopia in particular, the most important termite genera are Macrotermes, Odnotermes, Pseudocanthotermes, Ancistrotermes and Microterme termites. They are found on all continents except Antarctica. The term “hidden enemy” is used in this review because most of the loss caused by termite is during growing time feeding on the roots of crops under the soils. Habitats are the heaviest in the tropic regions, subtropics, and warmer climate regions. It’s predominantly distributed in tropical environment, with the highest species richness in equatorial rainforest. Termites mostly feed on dead plant material and cellulose, generally in the form of wood, leaf litter, soil, or animal dung. Moreover the harmful effect of termite outweighs positive effects. Termite cause wide spread damage to a great variety of crops in tropical Africa. The yield loss from damage of termite in Ethiopia can ranges from 8.6% to 81.4%. Different management techniques are available for controlling termite. However the efficiency of controlling mechanism depends on distribution, biology (reproduction and lifecycle) and ecology of termite species occupying an area. Moreover ITM (Integrated termite management) is environmentally safe and economically affordable mechanism of termite management. Hence the area of this review focuses on distribution of subterranean termite, biology and management techniques. Therefore, distribution, biology and management techniques reviewed in current paper really helpful as source of information for researcher, developmental agents and crop producers about termite, which is neglected crop enemy and currently cause huge loss in agricultural products.
    VL  - 10
    IS  - 5
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia

  • Sections