Assessment and Control of Termites Infestation in the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine, Sinai, Egypt

The research is based on the inspection performed in June 2002 for carrying out a research program for the eradication of a termite infestation due a desertic species in the area of the Saint Catherine Holy Monastery at Mount Sinai - Egypt. The paper describes the application of the registered European bait system SentritechTM and the trend of eradication during the first year. The application of bait system blocked the termite infestation inside the Katholikon (Main church) and in the surrounding after 6 months. Nevertheless, the infestation restarted and even increased again in the surrounding of the main church. An explanation of this surprising event is attempted in this paper.

EFEKTIFITAS ATRAKTAN ALAMI DENGAN TAMBAHAN LIMBAH CAIR PABRIK TAHU TERHADAP RAYAP TANAH (Coptotermes sp)

Efforts to reduce losses caused by termite attacks are require an effective and environmentally friendly method. One of the environmentally friendly termite controls can be used such as bait system using natural attractants. Plants that can be used as natural attractants include eucalyptus leaves (Melaleuca leucadendra). The purpose of the study were to evaluate the effectiveness of the mixture of eucalyptus leaves, waste paper and liquid waste from tofu factory which has potential as natural attractants to control of termites and to determine the most effective composition of eucalyptus leaf, waste paper and liquid waste from tofu factory as a bio-atactant. Testing was done in two methods: No-choice test and two choice test, using five compositions of eucalyptus leaves: waste paper i.e 0%: 100% (as a control), 20%: 80, 40%: 60%, 60%: 40 %, and 80%: 20%. The results showed that the mixture of eucalyptus leaves and waste paper with composition of 40%: 60% can be used as a bio-attractant against termites (Coptotermes sp).Keywords: bio-attractant, eucalyptus leaves, waste paper, Coptotermes sp.

Application of Bait Treated with the Entomopathogenic FungusMetarhizium anisopliae(Metsch.) Sorokin for the Control ofMicrocerotermes diversusSilv.

Microcerotermes diversusSilvestri (Isoptera, Termitidae) is considered to be the most destructive termite in Khuzestan province (Iran), and its control by conventional methods is often difficult. Biological control using entomopathogenic fungi could be an alternative management strategy. Performance of a bait matrix treated with the entomopathogenic fungusMetarhizium anisopliae(Metsch.) Sorokin, Strain Saravan (DEMI 001), againstM. diversuswas evaluated in this paper. The highest rate of mortality occurred at concentrations of 3.7 × 107and 3.5 × 108(conidia per mL). There was no significant difference between treatments, in the rate of feeding on the bait. The fungal pathogen was not repellent to the target termite over the conidial concentrations used. The current results suggest potential of such bait system in controlling termite. However the effectiveness ofM. anisopliaeas a component of integrated pest management forM. diversusstill needs to be proven under field conditions.