A Review of Termite Infestation and Control Measures: Focus on Microtermes and Odontotermes

Termites are considered destructive and generalized feeders of plants, and they are reported to inflict major economic injuries on various crop species all over the world. There are about 3,105 species of termites known; close to 185 are globally recognized as serious pests. Especially members of the family Termitidae are known to cause major injuries to agricultural and horticultural crops. In India, Odontotermes obesus and Microtermes obesi species are major pests that attack agricultural and plantation during either vegetative or reproductive growth stages. For the past six decades, farmers have applied chemical insecticides for termite control. But no single method can be termed as permanently fulfilling this role. There, perhaps, lies the root for the much-needed integrated pest management (IPM), considering coupling such cultural, mechanical, biological, and botanical methods with chemical ones for better results. Though chemical control is the most commonly used method by farmers, it is often neither sustainable nor economic. Biological control would appear to hold much promise as part of management programs. Entomopathogenic organisms, while highly potential for control of termite populations, have been hardly used, especially in the field, because of lack of focused research and application. Further research and field studies need to be done to bring this into true potential. On the horizon, we envisage that a combined and strategic implementation of the various control practices will help pave the way to more sustainable, environmentally friendly methods for controlling termite infestations in commercially important crops.