EFFICACY OF HEXAFLUMURON AGAINST THE FUNGUS-GROWING TERMITE PSEUDACANTHOTERMES SPINIGER (SJOSTEDT) (ISOPTERA, MACROTERMITINAE)

The efficacy of hexaflumuron, a benzophenylurea insecticide, has been studied for the first time on a fungus-growing termite (Pseudacanthote rmes spiniger Sjostedt, Macrotermitinae). Results show that hexaflumur on could be useful in treating infestations of such pest species, whic h are of great economic importance in many tropical and equatorial cou ntries. Foraging workers harvested and introduced treated food into th e nest and subsequently contaminated the brood by trophallaxis. Hexafl umuron showed potent larvicidal activity. The compound did not appear to be rapidly degraded by the digestive enzymes of termite workers, no r by the symbiotic fungus Termitomyces eurhizus Helm growing on fungus combs. This chitin synthesis inhibitor did not act as a fungicide, si nce growth of the mycelium of this fungus was not inhibited in vitro. (C) 1998 Society of Chemical Industry.