Antitermitic effect of invasive plants on subterranean termite, Odontotermes wallonensis Wasmann. (Termitidae: Isoptera)

Aqueous extracts of nine invasive plant species viz., Calotropis procera, Datura metel, Lantana camara, Coleus amboinicus, Eucalyptus globulus, Anacardium occidentale, Jatropha curcas, Tecoma stans and Prosopis juliflora were screened to find out the antitermitic effect. Plant extracts at 10 per cent were evaluated on the subterranean termite, Odontotermes wallonensis, a most common mound building species in South India. All the treatments differed significantly from control and standard check (Chlorpyrifos 20 EC @ 0.1%). L. camara was observed to be the most effective termiticide, which shows cent per cent mortality and low food consumption (1.04 g). J. curcas was found to be a potential antifeedant where food consumption was very low (0.25 g) compared to untreated check (1.75 g).