Wheat pest

Wheat pest

1. W HEAT P EST THE WHITE ANT Odontotermes obesus  ,Rambur (Indian white termite) P RESENTING B Y R EHMAT E LAHI

2. Systemic position Phylum Arthropoda Class Insecta Order isopteran Family Termitidae Genus Odontotermes Species Obesus Locally known as demak /termite

3. Distribution Important pest of Wheat throughout India Termites were surveyed in seven forests (plantations) of Punjab pakistan Chichawatni , Changa Manga, Jallo Forest Park,Attock … This termite is found in western Asia, where it is a pest of wood products and crops like cereals, sunflower or sugarcane etc.

4. Marks of Identification Adult are yellow white in colour Small and soft body Social insect lives in colonies Chewing and cutting type of mouth parts

5. Nature of damage Damage wheat crop They feed on the roots and stem below the soil and plant dried up It cause 25% destruction of germinating grains

6. Life Cycle Include 3 developmental stages ---Egg ,Nymph and Adult Breeding takes place after the onset of monsoon.they copulate during nuptial flight. After copulation king and queen shed their wings and fall on the ground ( serwaraki ) and form new colony and they become the queen and king. The queen lays upto 25000-35000 eggs per day. Som kar e wrta wely ye.

7. Mounds The termite forms mounds which may reach 50 cm in height and 100 cm in circumference .

8. Eggs Eggs are small kidney shape. Yellowish in colour. 5 mm in length. The eggs hatches in about 7-10 days to produce tiny nymphs .

9. White Eggs

10. Nymph Yellowish white in colour.. 1mm in length. First feed upon excreta of parents then on the roots and stem of wheat crops. After 6-12 months nymph metamorphoses into adult undergoing 5-10 moults

11. Adults types Adult of the colony is divided into 2 groups 1.The reproductive forms 2.The vegetative forms Reproductive forms:- They take part in reproduction and responsible for continuation of the race. Cast of reproductive forms are –Queen- king- complementary form and colonizing forms. Queen:- Largest member of colony. Mother of the colony and live in royal chamber at 5 feet depth underground. Wingless female. Abdomen is transversely marked.

12. King Responsible for copulation with the queen Smaller than queen and live in the royal chamber with queen.

13. The vegetative forms They are sterile forms. They perform various activities of the colony. Different cast of vegetative from are is Workers and soldiers. Workers:- 80-90% of the colony population. smallest members of the colony. Having strong MP so that performing different function such as ->food collection Storage ,building of termitorium and looking after young ones.

14. Soldiers Their function is defence and offence to protect colony. Slightly larger in size then workers. They posses very strong MP. Mandibles are very strong for variety of function but the main job is protection of colony . Act as scavenger b/c remove dead and sickly members of colony.

15. soldier

16. Control We have 2 methods of control A. Cultural method B. Chemical method A. Cultural method:- Removal of dead or stubbles from field b/c they attract the termites Deep ploughing and clean cultivation check the spread of this pest Partially decompose manure should not be used b/c it attract this pest. B.Chemical method:- Dusting with 5% aldrine or 10% BHS 25kg/ hc in furrows at the time of sowing is quite effective Wheat seed should be treated with insecticides before sowing.