Chemical Control of Termites in <I>Eucalyptus</I> Hybrid

Abstract

Among the exotics, Eucalyptus has emerged as the most favoured species under afforestation programmes in most of the countries where it has been introduced for obtaining higher biomass productivity. However, root feeding tel mitts have proved a major constraint for its successful propagation both in nurseries and plantations. Localised tumite damage bas been estimated to result in 50-80 per cent mortality in seedlings and young plantations in some localities. Till recently, the recommendations have been based on bigbly persistent cblorinattd hydrocarbon insecticides, most of which have been banned and are not easily available. In our experiments on the comparative efficacy of various insecticides, chlorpyrifos an organophosphate compound has been found an equally effective insecticide for soil treatment. In the present study, an attfmpt has been made to evaluate various methods of application and the optimum dosage requind for controlling termites in Eucalyptus