Assessment of Severity of Termites Attack in Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko Campus, Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract— Termites’ attack has been a major problem for wooden structures and buildings. The severity of termites’ attack on the AAUA campus area using Triplochiton scleroxylon wood as bait was examined. Identification of prevalent termite species as well as the soil’s physical properties were studied in twenty sampled locations. Defect-free wood samples of Triplochiton scleroxylon dimensioned 35 × 35 × 450mm according to ASTM D3345-17 (2017) were buried halfway in the soil and exposed to termite attacks for 12 weeks (3 months) in an established timber graveyard at the locations. A weekly visual assessment of the stakes was done in accordance with the ASTM D 3345 rating scale and a gravimetric weight loss assessment was carried out after the period of exposure. Data obtained were used to produce termites severity probability map of the campus area was prepared using ArcGIS software and following the USDA standard color codes. Six termites species identified were: Ancistrotermes cavithorax (Isoptera: Macrotermitidae; termite), Odontotermes pauperan (Isoptera: Macrotermitidae; fungus-growing termite), Microtermes species (Isoptera: Termitidae; termite), Trinervitermes species (Isoptera: Termitidae; Trinervitermes), Macrotermes subhyalinus (Isoptera: Termitidae; Rambur), and Amitermes evuncifer (Isoptera: Termitidae; amitermes). The result showed that soil properties ranged from 7.19±0.02 to 19.78±0.03% for the moisture content, 28.82±0.02 to 51.72±0.02% for water holding capacity, 1.08±0.01 to 1.76±0.01 for the bulk density, while the soil organic matter values across the locations ranged from 6.08±0.02 to 21.29±0.04, however, only the water holding capacity has a moderate positive correlation with the severity of termite activities. The termite infestation probability map revealed that almost every part of the AAUA campus showed termite activities ongoing with a varying degree.