TERMITE TRAP

A common tall grass variety provides a chemical-free option to control termites, highlights the need for mainstreaming local ecological knowledge

- VIVEK RANJAN, GOPI GV AND SIPU KUMAR

FEW PESTS spark as much alarm as termites, when spotted inside the house or on the farmland. The soft-bodied insects, 3-15 mm in length, can grow in number from a few to thousands in a matter of days. They can damage buildings by voraciously feeding on structures containing cellulose, like paper or wood, and insulating wires. They also cause significant damage to forests and plantation and agricultural crops, such as maize, wheat, cotton, sorghum and paddy.

As troublesome as these pests are, their control also comes with risks. Termite control involves the use of chemical pesticides such as organophosphates (like chlorpyrifos and diazinon), pyrethroids (permethrin, cypermethrin), organochlorines (aldrin and dieldrin), and fipronil, a broad-spectrum insecticide sold under trade name Termidor. These chemicals kill the termites by disrupting their nervous systems or digestive processes. Though some of these pesticides are banned in India, scientific studies show that exposure to these chemicals, which can be absorbed through inhalation, ingestion, ocular contact and dermal exposure, can cause serious illnesses in humans and other animals.

For instance, organophosphate poisoning can lead to respiratory failure, influenza-like symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, and cancer in humans, according to a 2024 review paper published in