The Diversity of the Subterranean Termites in the Residential Areas, Bogor, West Java
Arinana Arinana(a*), Mohammad M. Rahman (a), Rian Perdana (a), Sulaeha (b)

(a) Forest Product Department, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, IPB University, Bogor, 16880, West Java, Indonesia
(b) Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar, South of Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract

The increasing need for residential areas in Bogor is changing the environmental conditions which eventually affect the presence of the pests, especially the subterranean termites. This study aimed to identify the subterranean termites and their diversity in Bogor, to determine the soil characteristics and the weather, and to assess the damage intensity and the attack frequency. The study was conducted in 12 sample villages. After hot vapor pressure treatment (105 &#8451-, 1 bar, 5 hours), a total of 25 pine wood samples (2 x 2 x 46 cm) were installed in each sample village. The soil samples were obtained from each village, while the weather was measured in one (1) village only. The results showed that there were three (3) subterranean termite species found in the residential areas in Bogor, namely Microtermes sp., Macrotermes sp., and Schedorhinotermes sp., with Microtermes sp. as the dominant species. The soil characteristics and the weather in the areas were found suitable for termites^ life. The attack frequency of termites was 38% (high), whereas the intensity of wood damage was 6-9.

Keywords: attack frequency, damage intensity, soil characteristics, Pinus merkusii, steam pressure hot

Topic: Biodiversity, soil health and agricultural practices