Subterranean termites (Blattodea: Termitidae) cause
significant structural damage throughout the world, especially in the tropical
and sub-tropical regions. There are both soil-inhabiting and woodinhabiting
termites. In Pakistan, termites cause considerable damage to buildings and
wooden structures, to forests, and to a wide range of agricultural crops.
Highly effective chemical treatments have been used to
prevent subterranean termite attacks. The frequent use of fast-acting
termiticides for control of termites has generated a number of biological and
environmental hazards. Interest in the use of slowacting toxicants to suppress
the populations of subterranean termites has been renewed. As suggested by
Beard the success of slow acting toxicant bait depends upon its attraction,
palatability, delayed mortality, and should be introduced into the colony’s
gallery system and transferred to unexposed nest-mate by social grooming or
trophallaxis. Studies have shown that subterranean termites prefer foods that
contain nutrients, it is reasonable to suggest that a particular nutrient, or
group of nutrients, could be added to a termite bait matrix to enhance its
palatability for termites.
Several studies have shown that ions, high wood density,
sugar, and high levels of cellulose [18] can increase termite’s food
consumption. Abushama and Kambal reported that Microtermes traegardhi Sjöstedt
preferred fructose. Heterotermes
tenuis Hagen responds to trehalose;,while Reticulitermes spp. showed
preference for xylose, ribose, maltose, and fructose. Concentrations of agar
and sawdust also have been varied to increase the palatability of termite
baits. Body extracts of termites in ether, acetone, and hexane have been tested
for attractancy against termites
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