Notes on some Trees commonly attacked by Termites

Just like other Agricultural crops, trees are also susceptible to termite attack and damage. Some of these trees could be under cultivation in plantation or may be preserved as ornamentals or tended as a shade-providing, or maintain as fencing or decorative purposes. A good number of them are harvested as timbers for various domestic, industrial, medicinal and other uses. Termite damage on these trees would therefore reduce their value both in content and viability. To stem the tides of attack and strategize on appropriate control methods, the first basic step is to identify the termites, understand their behavior and mode of attack. This will enable the controller to know how and where to deploy his control measures. Termite attack on the following trees is described below:

 Cassia

Young transplanted saplings in dry exposed sites are hollowed out from below by Microtermes sp. and Microcerotermes fuscotibialis. Matured trees may be attacked from the site of injuries caused by fungi and other organisms.

 Dalbelgia

Attack on this tree is similar to that of Cassia. Seedlings in Nurseries are attacked by Amitermes evuncifer, which hollowed the stem from below.

 Eucalyptus spp.

The most consistent and severely attacked plantation trees are the Eucalyptus. The most devastating termite species on Eucalyptus are Macrotermes bellicosus and M. subhyalinus. Pseudocanthotermes militaris has also been observed to cause serious losses to Eucalyptus in many areas. All these three species, including Odontotermes sp., ring-bark and sometimes fell young trees. Other termite species with devastating attack on Eucalyptus are Ancistrotermes sp., Microtermes spp., Amitermes evuncifer, Coptotermes sp., Microcerotermes fuscotibialis and Trinervitermes occidentalis.

 Delonix regia (Flamboyant Tree)

Seedlings of this ornamental tree are attacked in the nurseries generally, cut at soil level by Odontotermes sp., and hollowed out from below by Microtermes sp.

 Azadirachta indica (Neem )

Larger trees are ring-barked, while smaller ones are ringed and felled by Macrotermes bellicosus and Odontotermes sp.

 Tectona grandis (Teak)

Seedlings of this tree have been observed to be severely attacked innurseries by Amitermes evuncifer, with smaller subsidiary damage by Microtermes sp., and Microcerotermes fuscotibialis.  A. evuncifer cuts the seedlings off at ground level, while Microtermes and Microcerotermes hollows them from below. Most of these attacks takes place in very exposed nurseries where the young trees suffer severe desiccation.  

 In general, termite attack on mature trees is few, while damage is severe on seedlings. In Tropical Africa, termite of the subfamily, Macrotermitinae (The fungus growing termites) are serious pests of forest trees. The activities of man to lumber timber have greatly contributed to the elevation of termites to “serious pest status” in some instances. Efforts must therefore be geared up to put effective control mechanisms in place to protect these trees from termite attack.