Termite occurrence and damage on eucalyptus trees in Nangendo Village Mafudu SubCounty in Sironko District in Uganda

Abstract

Eucalyptus is highly grown in Uganda because it is a fast-growing tree species used to cope with the gap of increasing demand for tree products and services because it is highly adaptable and utilizable. However, termites are one of the key pests attacking Eucalyptus species in Uganda especially in Eastern Uganda. However, there are still inadequate studies of termite infestation on-Eucalyptus trees in Sironko district. This study assessed the occurrence of termites and damage on eucalyptus trees in Nangendo village, Mafudu sub county Sironko district. The specific objectives were to determine the incidence of termite infestation in Sironko district, compare the abundance of termite mounds in Sironko district and to determine the severity of damage on eucalyptus germplasms in Sironko district. Field surveys were conducted in nine eucalyptus plantations in Nangendo village, Mafudu Sub County in Sironko district. Purposive sampling was used to select Nangendo village which is known to have the highest termite infestation in Mafudu Sub County. All eucalyptus plantations in that village were assessed to determine termite occurrence and damage on eucalyptus trees. The occurrence of termites in the area was assessed basing on the abundance of mounds. Termite species from trees and mounds were collected and identified in the laboratory. The incidence of each termite species was obtained by recording each termite species infesting assessed trees. The Abundance of termite mounds was assessed by recording all live and dead mounds of different termite species in different plantations. Severity of termite damage was visually scored for every sample tree based on the extent of damage on 1-meter length of the tree stem from the ground. The data was checked, organized, coded and summarized in the Microsoft excel package and later entered into (SPSS) Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21 for Analysis. Five termite species were identified in the area of study. These included Pseudacanthotermes, Macrotermes subhyalinus, a Trinervitermes species, Microtermes and Odontotermes species. Macrotermes subhyalinus and Odontotermes had the highest mean incidences in all the clones. There was no significant variation among the termite species infesting the germplasms. The most abundant termite mounds were those of Macrotermes subhyalinus. There was also no significant variation in the occurrence of the different termite species which build mounds. The most common severities in all clonal plantations were moderate damage and high damage. I recommend the government to provide more effective extension services to equip people with the knowledge on how to reduce termite damages and losses. I also recommend that tree farmers resort to planting more of GC550 clonal species which are less infested by the three-termite species compared to GU8 clones which have a higher termite infestation than GC550 clones.