Termite Species and Structural Pest Identification in Selected Rural Areas of Kelantan, Malaysia

Abstract

Termites (order: Blattodea) are insects that playing huge role in organic decomposition, consuming dying wood materials and plants remains. They are commonly found in forest and rural area, where the rural area species are less documented in Malaysia, especially in Kelantan state. This preliminary survey had been done to identify the termite species and also determine the termite that act as a structural pest in the rural area of Kelantan. The aim of this study also to reveal the damages caused by the structrural pest termites in rural area of Kelantan. Termite samplings were conducted at Jeli, Pasir Mas, Tanah Merah, and Bachok areas. The methods used were a casual collection of termites using forceps and a survey regarding the pest conflict related to termites at selected houses. A total of seven species of temites were recorded at the rural area of Kelantan. The highest presence of termite species at the study area was Macrotermes gilvus (four locations), followed by Globitermes sulphureus (three locations). Among the species, M. gilvus, G. sulphureus and Odontotermes javanicus were identified as the species that attack the houses in rural areas of Kelantan. The attacks took place in both wooden and concrete houses. This study provides the details of termite species and termite pest that attack houses in the rural area of Kelantan. The information obtained from this study will be a reference for future research in rural area of Kelantan.