Development of Solid Termite Bait Matrix; Its Efficacy Trials in Lab and Semi Field Condition

The study on development of solid termite bait matrix and its efficacy against the Heterotermes indicola was performed in the Termite Laboratory, Entomology Division, Nuclear Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Peshawar, during 2023. The study was performed with completely randomized design (CRD) with different treatments i.e., developed bait, patent bait, popular wood and blotting paper. Each treatment was replicated three times. The laboratory experiment consisted of no-choice, free choice and aggregation test. While the semi-field experiment consisted of free choice test. During the no-choice test of the laboratory experiment, H. indicola showed a consumption rate of 6.29% for the popular wood and developed bait. However, in the blotting paper treatment, the termites consumed only 2.81%. In terms of choice test conducted in the lab, the popular wood exhibited the highest weight consumption percentage of 2.87%, while the patent bait displayed the lowest weight consumption percentage of 2.25%. Under the choice test maximum number of termites were attracted towards popular wood (77.00 Number of termites) while minimum number of termites were attracted towards patent bait (54.66 Number of termites). Whereas, in aggregation test, of the lab experiment, maximum number of termites were also aggregated towards popular wood (37.77 Number of termites) while minimum termites were aggregated for patent bait (25.22 Number of termites). In the case of free choice under semi-field conditions, the highest number of termites were observed on popular wood i.e., 380.00 followed by the developed bait, which recorded 293.50 termites. On the other hand, the lowest number of termites were recorded on the patent bait i.e., 231.50. Similarly, when considering the maximum consumed weight in percentage, popular wood exhibited the highest value at 16.24%, closely followed by the developed bait at 15.67% while the patent bait displayed minimum consumed weight percentage of 12.89%. In overall experiments it is concluded that among all the tested treatments, termites mostly consumed popular wood and developed bait. Since the developed bait showed promising results in attracting termites, it is recommended to continue refining its formulation. Conduct additional research to identify the key components or additives that enhance its attractiveness and consumption by termites. This optimization process can help maximize the effectiveness of the bait as a termite control strategy. Adding more popular wood saw dust in the bait may achieve more significant and desired results and can also prove to be cost efficient rather than adding more cellulosic material.