Effect of Sub Lethal Concentrations on Population Size of Termites Odontotermes Obesus (Rambur) and Coptotermes Heimi (Wasmann) Under Laboratory and Field Conditions

Abstract

When termites Odontotermes obesus (Rambur) and Coptotermes heimi (Wasmann) were treated with toxicants using imidacloprid and fipronil at fixed sub lethal concentration of 0.3ppm and different group size (10, 25, 50, 100, 125, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500), then results revealed that greater the group size of the termite, a significantly (P<0.05) less mortality was observed. Such observation could be interpreted as resulting from a group effect or socially facilitated behavior. More generally, a group effect, or socially facilitated behavior, could be invoked: individuals may modulate their behavior in response to the presence of other group members through omnipresent signals or cues (by omnipresent signals, we mean signals that do not result from specific events in space or time).