Abstract

The nature of damage caused by termites to Eucalyptus tereticornis and E. grandis planted in recently cleared natural forests in Kerala, India and the factors influencing the incidience of attack were studied. Typically, termites attacked the tap root of saplings. Three kinds of attack were recognized: (1) primary attack on healthy, vigorously growing saplings, (2) secondary attack on saplings dead due to other causes, and (3) complementary attack in which death of saplings resulted from the combined effect of termite damage and other factors. The first kind accounted for most of the mortality. In most experimental plantings, 20-80 of the saplings were killed, although in some the loss was below 10. Most deaths occurred during the initial 4 months after the saplings (4-6 months old) had been planted out in the field, and practically none after the first year. Contrary to general belief, there was no positive correlation between drought and the incidence of termite attack