Assessment of Severity of Termites Attack in Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko Campus, Ondo State, Nigeria
Abstract
Termites’ attack has been a major problem for wooden structures and buildings. The severity of termites’ attack on the AAUA campus area using Triplochiton scleroxylon wood as bait was examined. Identification of prevalent termite species as well as the soil’sphysical properties were studied in twenty sampled locations. Defect-free wood samples of Triplochiton scleroxylon dimensioned 35 × 35 × 450mm according to ASTM D3345-17 (2017) were buried halfway in the soil and exposed to termite attacks for 12 weeks (3 months) in an established timber graveyard at the locations. A weekly visual assessment of the stakes was done in accordance with the ASTM D 3345 rating scale and a gravimetric weight loss assessment was carried out after the period of exposure. Data obtained were used to produce termites severity probability map of the campus area was prepared using ArcGIS software and following the USDA standard color codes. Six termites species identified were: Ancistrotermes cavithorax (Isoptera: Macrotermitidae; termite), Odontotermes pauperan (Isoptera: Macrotermitidae; fungus-growing termite), Microtermes species (Isoptera: Termitidae; termite), Trinervitermes species (Isoptera: Termitidae; Trinervitermes), Macrotermes subhyalinus (Isoptera: Termitidae; Rambur), and Amitermes evuncifer (Isoptera: Termitidae; amitermes). The result showed that soil properties ranged from 7.19±0.02 to 19.78±0.03% for the moisture content, 28.82±0.02 to 51.72±0.02% for water holding capacity, 1.08±0.01 to 1.76±0.01 for the bulk density, while the soil organic matter values across the locations ranged from 6.08±0.02 to 21.29±0.04, however, only the water holding capacity has a moderate positive correlation with the severity of termite activities. The termite infestation probability map revealed that almost every part of the AAUA campus showed termite activities ongoing with a varying degree.
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Introduction
Wood is a traditional building material used for a variety of applications, such as fencing, decking, cladding, and construction of domestic dwellings, it has found applications in the construction of heavy load-bearing structures like jetties, bridges and industrial buildings, etc. (Ritter 1990). However, whenever wood is exposed directly or indirectly to environmental factors, it requires protective measures against weathering and bio deteriorating agents, like fungi, insects (termites), and bacteria.
Termites are an important factor in the forest and its associated ecosystems including micro-human-modified environments; contributing immensely to soil formation, and fertility through cellulosic biomass degradation processes (Ssemagandaet al, 2011). They are social insects of the order of Isopteran with about 3,000 known species of which 75% are classified as soil-feeding termites (Grimalkin and Engle, 2005). They live in colonies consisting of workers, soldiers, a queen, and a king which collectively form well-organized social formations.
Termites play important contrasting ecological roles in reworking the soil profile and the destruction of material meant for building construction, agriculture, and forestry (Lee and Wood, 1971; Milked and Mike, 1982; Joni; Gummier and Nyanganji, 2005). As polymorphic social insects, they live in self-constructed mounds called termitaria, whose destructive activities are usually higher during the dry season or drought compared to the rainy season, lowland rather than highlands, and in plants cultivated under stress and such are referred to as predictable ‘ecosystem engineers’ (Rajeev and Sajeev., 1998). It has been discovered that builders, developers, site buildings without the initial assessment of the prevalence of termites which is a major wood pest. This has led to frequent construction failures of the roof, ceiling, and other wood structures. This study, therefore, was carried out to determine the prevalence of termites using AAUA campus as a case study to advise developers on what needs to be done before putting up a structure.
Conclusion
The study has established the presence of termites activities within the AAUA campus with Ancistrotermes cavithorax most associated with aggressive foraging activities within the campus area co-existing with the Microtermes species. Activities of termites have imparted negatively on wooden structures in buildings. The knowledge of its prevalence is important when sitting building in a residential environment. The termite’sprobability map developed for AAUA will serve as a guide for what pre-constructional methods to adopt in a new environment; while it will also guide on what remedial approaches to take in areas where buildings have been erected already. Studies on termites’ severity should be conducted periodically as termites move from one location to another as evidenced in the periodic swarming activities of winged termites.
