EFFICACY OF MERCURIC CHLORIDE AND COPPER SULPHATE AGAINST TERMITES (HETEROTERMES INDICOLA) (ISOPTERA: RHINOTERMITIDAE)

摘要

Studies on the palatatability and toxicity of two chemicals, Mercuric chloride and Copper sulphate in combination of sawdust extracts against termites (Heterotermes indicola) were carried out in June, 2002 at Nuclear Institute for Food and Agriculture(NIFA) Tamab, Peshawar. The results revealed that maximum mortality due to HgCl_2 at 0.1%, 0.05% and 0.025% concentrations was 100%, 100% and 64.5% after eight, twelve and sixteen days, respectively. For CuSO_4, it was 44.67%, 59.83% and 35.50% at 0.025%, 0.05% and 0.1% concentration, respectively, after sixteen days. Saw dust bait consumption was less at 0.1% CuSO_4 and mortality was also lower at this dose than at 0.05%, suggesting the unpalatability of this chemical at 0.1% concentration. While forHgCl_2 there was no statistically significant difference between the bait consumption of 0.1% concentration and control. It is concluded that HgCl_2 has active potential for being a slow-acting toxicant characteristics against termites (Heterotermes indicola).