Biological effects of thiamethoxam against sugarcane termite complex

Termite infestation occurred soon after planting and till harvest and damage the setts by destruction of buds which affects germination and results in yield loss. The sett treatment improved the germination from 62.6–65.8% in untreated check to 70.5–93.4% in treated plots. The termite damage was 12.2–42.2% at 6 weeks after planting (WAP) and increased to 32.2–55.7% at 10 WAP. The damage in treated plot was kept under check and the extent of termite damage was 1.1–3.3% in thiamethoxam and 3.3–7.9% in imidacloprid and 3.3–15.5% chlorpyriphos treatments.