Comparative Efficacy of Varied Concentrations Imidacloprid in the Laboratory Management of Termites (Microtermes natalensis)

Abstract

Imidacloprid is a termiticide that is slow-acting timber and soil applied but can be transferred in termite workers. The objective of this study was to determine efficacy of imidacloprid to control of termites on sand. Termiticides were tested at Imidacloprid 200 g/L concentrations (2 mL/L, 4 mL/L, 6 mL/L and 8 m/L) were tested. Descriptive analysis presented the mean weight loss for wood blocks under treated sand as follows E. grandis 0.003 (Std: 0.02) and G. robusta 0.013 (Std: 0.04) whereby only woodblocks under treated sand with 2 mL/L were attacked, while the mean weight loss for untreated woods under untreated sand were as follows E. grandis was 0.1 (std: 0.06) and G. robusta was 0.216 (std: 0.147). However, termites attacked all untreated wood blocks regardless of wood species. It was concluded that Imidacloprid at concentration of 4 mL/L serves as the best concentration threshold required in the control of termites on sand in the management of termites. It was recommended that soil is effective mode of applying imidacloprid termiticide integratedly given that the right concentration levels are utilized.