Termite: Odontotermes obesus  

Symptoms of damage:

• Poor germination of setts (after planting)
• Characteristic  semi-circular  feeding  marks on the leaves in the standing crop
• Entire shoot dries up and can be pulled out easily
• Setts hollow  inside  and may be filled with soil
• Cane collapses if disturbed
• Rind filled with mud

 Identification of the pest:

• Cream coloured, tiny insects resembling ants with dark coloured head

 Management:

• Flood irrigate the furrows to avoid termite attack in the furrows at the time of planting
• Sett treatment: Dip the setts in imidacloprid 70 WS 0.1% or Chlorpyriphos 20 EC 0.04 % for 5 min.
• Spray any one of the following:
  • Chlorantraniliprole 18.5%SC 500-625 ml/ha
  • Imidacloprid 17.8% SL 350 ml/ha
  • Chlorpyriphos 20%EC 750 ml/ha