Abstract

TERMITE CONTROL BY USING PLANT LATEX FROM FAMILY MORACEAE IN HIGH HUMIDITY ZONE OF EASTERN UTTAR PRADESH

*Abhishek Kumar Tripathi and Ravi Kant Upadhyay

Abstract

The present review article presents various methods for termite control in the high humidity climatic zone of Eastern Uttar Pradesh. It emphasizes the use of various plant latexes as insecticides to control forest, household and garden termite population. Plant latex is a milky white complex mixture of proteins, alkaloids, starch, sugars, oils, tannins, resins, and gums. It is a natural plant polymer secreted by highly specialized cells known as laticifers. Latex components show multiple deleterious effects like toxic, anti-feedant, repellent, growth and reproductive inhibitory activity in number of in number of insect species. It delays egg maturation, development and inhibit gonad development in insects. Latex constituents display contact and systemic action and primarily used as poison baits to control soil termite. This article suggests the use of plant origin termitisides/biopesticides and botanical methods to control termite menace rather than chemical insecticides. These alternate methods will minimize the risk of poisoning of food-chain, soil and aqueous environment.There is an urgent need to prepare highly effective latex based combinatorial anti-termite formulations. This article also suggests use of control-release of latex components inside soil from poison baits to control field termites. For wider use of natural eco-friendly anti-termite formulations multicomponent latex based low cost methods must be developed to replace highly toxic synthetic pesticides.

Keywords: Plant Latex, Anti-termite activity, Natural Pesticides feeding and reproductive inhibition.