Survey of Termites along Yenagoa-Imiringi-Otuoke Axis of Bayelsa State, Southern Nigeria

Termites are very useful in tropical ecosystems as they contribute greatly to decomposition of organic matter, nutrients recycling, and to soil improvements and fertility. However, they also constitute very significant negative impacts to man and society worldwide, owing to their devastations on crops, forestry and to household and public resources. Knowledge of correct termite species composition, and distributions for a given area or locality, are prerequisites for their effective control; and so formed the key objective of this survey along the Yenagoa-Imiringi-Otuoke axis of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The study identified 3 main termite genera as predominant here namely, Microtermes Wasmann (71%), Macrotermes Holmsgren (19%) and Globitermes Holmgren (10%). Relatively higher termite incidences were recorded at Imiringi, and Otuasega compared to the scanty numbers observed at the other three locations; and these variations may be due to the intense human interferances and infrastructural developments (i.e. more farming activities, housing and road projects at the latter places than at the former, and their resultant impacts on termite abodes). The Simpson’s diversity index for the entire study area was 0.445, suggestive of a generally moderate termite species abundance and distribution. The results recorded here would guide future projects in this area and may also be helpful when contemplating cheap and sustainable control options against termites for Bayelsa State in general.