An effective method for evaluating the efficacy of insecticides against sugarcane termites

A method has been developed to evaluate the efficacy of insecticides against sugarcane termites without requiring a standing crop of sugarcane. This method eliminates the possibility of ‘escape’ of attack in treatments and replicates together with applicability in as small as 1m 2 plots. In addition the method facilitates the evaluation to be completed in a short duration of about 30 days. In this method, bed system of planting was followed instead of the conventional ridges and furrows to accommodate more number of setts per unit area. Also, the setts were planted radially instead of the normal linear pattern to avoid bias due to unequal distance of setts from the bait spot. This method was used to assess the efficacy of dipping and drenching of setts for the protection against termites. Sett dipping was more effective, persistent and economical than sett drenching. All the test chemicals viz. , Confidor, E2Y45 and Lindane effectively protected the setts for up to 30 days. However, lindane as sett dipping significantly suppressed bud germination.