By Richard Uzakah and Abigail Festus
Abstract
Termites are dreaded insect pests that destroy homes and dwellings; eating up wooden and structural supports and thus ultimately depleting people’s sources of livelihood and even national economies. Thirty three (33) encounters with indoor (domestic) termite infestations were made during this survey, principally with Macrotermes Holmgreen, Nasutitermes Dudley, and Dicuspiditermes Krishna species. The relative abundance and prevalence ranking were 85%, 9.1% and 6.1% respectively for the different species. Trails and mud-tubes (indicators of termite presence) as well as the actual damage symptoms (physical evidence of termite damages) were recorded in huts, stalls, homes of the natives, and even in the University buildings and staff offices. Different surfaces (wooden and even concrete), as well as frames of doors and windows, all played host to termite symptoms and attacks. Correct identification of pest species and knowledge of their distributions are known prerequisites for their effective control. This survey therefore aimed at identifying the indoor termites, and their distributions and damage impacts in this University community. The results of this research would be vital for future projects, and shall also, unarguably serve as a useful guide when planning for strategic and environmentally safe, cheap and sustainable control options against termites in Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
Keywords: Indoor termites, infestations, species composition, relative abundance, prevalence ranking, damage impacts.