Smeathman) (Blattodea: Termitidae
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BIOPESTICIDAL POTENTIAL OF EXTRACTS OF TWO PLANTS AGAINST SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES, MACROTERMES BELLICOSUS (SMEATHMAN) (BLATTODEA: TERMITIDAE). BY ADEDARA, WASOLA (BIO/08/4489) A THESIS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AKURE, ONDO STATE, NIGERIA. IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF TECHNOLOGY (M.TECH) DEGREE IN BIOLOGY (ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY AND PUBLIC HEALTH OPTION), FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AKURE, ONDO STATE, NIGERIA. AUGUST, 2018. ABSTRACT Termites are important because their activities impact positively or negatively on the environment. Synthetic insecticides offer reasonable protection against termites and their uses are however not without problems. This has led to an increasing interest in the development of alternative termite control methods and plants with pesticidal properties are one of such alternatives. The bioactivity of Milicia excelsa (Welm) C. Berg (heart wood) and Khaya senegalensis (Desr) (leaves) were tested in protecting Triplochiton scleroxylon (Schum) against subterranean termites. The extracts were analyzed using Head Space – Solid Phase Micro Extraction (HS-SPME) coupled with Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) to reveal their profiles of compounds, which were evaluated for termiticidal effects against Macrotermes bellicosus (Smearthman) in wood protection. The pulverized plants were used for laboratory test. Toxicity and repellency tests were carried out in laboratory while assessment of wood damage (visual rating and weight loss) was conducted in the field. The laboratory results showed that, highest mortality of termites, 98%, was recorded in M. excelsa treated substrate at 72 h. Student t-Test revealed significant differences between termite mortality obtained with the powder of K. senegalensis and M. excelsa at the four levels of exposure periods (12, 24, 48 and 72hrs). Correlation coefficient showed that M. excelsa had a greater potency (r = 0.94) on termites mortality than K. senegalensis with r = 0.86. M. excelsa had 100% repellent effect on the termites exposed at all levels. The highest repellency (100%) was observed at 1 h exposure to K. senegalensis treatment while the lowest percentage repellency (88) was recorded at 5 and 8 h of exposure. Treated wood blocks in open field were less infested compared to those under shade. Generally, there were significant differences between the two conditions for all extracts tested using Student t – test. Of all the extracts tested, wood treated with n-hexane extract of the mixture of K. senegalensis and M. excelsa in open field was found to have lasting protective potential on wood blocks with lowest damaged (21%) compared to those treated with other single and mixture extracts. Treated wood blocks in open fields had lower percentage weight loss to termite when compared to those under shade. Wood blocks in open field treated with n-hexane extract of the mixture (M. excelsa + K. senegalensis) had the lowest weight loss (21.14%) while those treated with water extract of M. excelsa under shade had lowest weight loss (70.73%). GC-MS analysis showed quantitative and qualitative differences between the extracts. Thirty-seven (37) chemical compounds were identified in heartwood of M. excelsa. Major compounds identified are Tridecane <n-> (11.61%), 1, 2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid (8.30%) among others. The lowest revealed compound was 2, 5-di-tert-Butyl-1,4-benzoquinone (0.55%). Only five (5) out of the thirty-seven (37) chemical compounds revealed were found to have pesticidal properties. These compounds are; Butylated Hydroxyl toluene (BHT) (7.90%), Docosane <n-> (1.36%), Tridecane (11.61%), Cyclohexane (0.78%) and Citral (1.22%). Fourty-seven (47) chemical compounds were identified in leaves of K. senegalensis. Major compounds identified are Ylangene (14.93%), Cadinene <gamma-> (10.14%) among others. The lowest revealed Decanedioic acid was least in quantity (0.04%). Only two (2) out of the fourty-seven (47) chemical compounds revealed in K. senegalensis were found to have pesticidal properties. These compounds are Cyclohexane (5.52%) and Cucubene <alpha> (0.55%). The revealed compounds with insecticidal properties in this study could be of importance in developing ecologically tolerable agents for managing subterranean termites. CHAPTER ONE 1.0 INTRODUCTION Wood is one of the most frequently used material for construction purposes worldwide and had been directly linked to civilization of man (Tolunay et al., 2008). Wood as construction materials is prone to damage by termite by posing a lot of socioeconomic problems. Termites (Order: Blattodea ; Family: Termitidae) are the most troublesome pest of trees and wooden structures, causing gross damages throughout the world by severely damaging agricultural crops and urban infrastructure. There are currently approximately 2,800 named termite species in 282 genera worldwide. The genera of termites commonly found in Western Africa include Ancistrotermes, Macrotermes, Odontotermes, Microtermes, and Cubitermes (Termitidae). They are social insects that live together as a colony in a nest. Colony members belong to one of three interdependent groups with specialized form and function known as castes. There are three basic castes present in the colony which are the workers, soldiers and reproductive forms. Workers and soldiers are wingless, sterile and blind. Workers construct the distinctive shelter tubes and collect food to feed the young and other members of the colony. The primary function of the soldiers is to defend the colony, usually against ants. The reproductive caste is usually referred to as the king and queen who are responsible for the production of fertilized eggs for the colony. They are also involved in managing the inhabitants of the colony by producing specialized chemicals (hormones). Mature colonies produce winged reproductive forms or alates at certain times of the year. The alates attempt to find mates and form new colonies (Brisibe et al., 2011). The destructive activities of termite as a result of their feeding cannot be over emphasized. It includes the damage done to agricultural crops such as cash crops and food crops, timbers in building, post, fences, damage to clothes, books, underground cables and airfield (Harris, Full text of this document can be accessed by visiting the Post Graduate Research Unit of Albert Ilemobade Library, FUTA or contact the Reference Librarian via [email protected] .