Potential Fungal Control of the Subterranean Termite Heterotermes indicola (Wasmann)

This study was conducted for isolation and identification of fungal species from cadavers of notorious subterranean termite, Heterotermes indicola. Virulence of Rhizopus stolonifer isolate and resultant variations in food consumption of H. indicola workers were evaluated over a period of one month by employing surface culture method. Following different time exposures, R. stolonifer significantly produced epozootics on the tested insects, with resultant decrease in food consumption. Behavioral changes included lethargic workers which were observed even being eaten up by other workers. These experiments revealed that R. stolonifer is a potent biological control agent against H. indicola. Scaleable cultivation of this fungal species and its application for controlling the termite under select situation need further investigation.