FEEDING PREFERENCES OF SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES, Psammotermes hypostoma (DESNEUX) (BLATTODEA: RHINOTERMITIDAE) FOR IMPROVING TRAPPING SYSTEM IN EGYPT UNDER FIELD CONDITIONS

The feeding preferences of the subterranean termites depend on the cellulose contents of the subjected material. Therefore, the effectiveness of a trap is measured through the rate of bait consumption by termite individuals. Accordingly, the present study aimed to evaluate the feeding preferences of subterranean termites toward nine types of dry plant materials. The experimental area was selected as it is highly infected. The results obtained showed that the sugarcane pit (Saccharum officinarum), in the first year, and berseem hay (Trifolium alexandrinum L.), in the second year, were the most preferred hays among all evaluated hays as they recorded the highest food consumption rate during two successive years, 2018 and 2019, respectively. We can conclude that using either sugarcane pit or berseem hay can provide excellent content for termite traps for further employment to control this pest.