Ficus benghalensis latex-based combinatorial formulations and its use for control of wood weight loss and infestation caused by Indian forest termite Odontotermes obesus

Abstract

In the present investigation, various bioassays were conducted to evaluate the anti-termite efficacy of plant
latex-based formulations to control population of Indian white termite in sub-tropical soil. Crude latex and its
combinatorial mixtures have shown significant anti-termites efficacy against. Indian forest termite (Odontotermes
obesus). The LD50 values were found in range of 11.887–717.609 μg/g. In subsequent bioassays, crude latex
and combinatorial mixtures have shown high toxicity against termites, that is, LD50 was obtained in range of
717.609 µg/g for CU-MLT-C against O. obesus. It was observed in thread binding assays, poison baits, and direct
spray in field and garden saplings. Combinatorial mixtures of plant latex have shown synergistic activity against
termites. Bait formulation (0.125% w/v) was also used which significantly cut down infestation of crop field
termite in various crop field. Combinatorial mixtures CU-MLT-C repelled (80%) termites to the opposite arm in
Y-shaped tube. Besides this, Ficus benghalensis latex has shown significant reduction (86%) in termite infestation
in garden saplings. Same combinatorial mixtures were also used for wood seasoning of solid wood sticks and
hollow wood sticks which gave very good results as test wood sticks have shown significantly 65–86% reductions
in termite infestation. Plant latex-based combinatorial mixtures displayed significant protection to garden saplings
and resisted against wood invasion in field experiments. In field experiments, significant protection was seen in
maize and millet crops after using latex-based combinatorial mixtures.