Feeding Preferences of Microcerotermes championi (Snyder) for Different Wooden Blocks Dried at Different Temperatures under Forced and Choice Feeding Conditions in Laboratory and Field

Microcerotermes championi (Snyder) was exposed to eight commercial wood species for studying the drying effect of temperature on natural resistance of wood and feeding preferences of M. championi under forced and choice conditions in the laboratory and the field. Wooden blocks of Cedrus deodara, Tectona grandis, Acacia arabica, Morus alba, Ficus religiosa, Melia azederach, Mangifera indica, Azadirachta indica were dried at 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 degrees C. It was observed that wood consumption was proportional to the degree of drying temperature, increase in drying temperature would increase consumption percentage. The feeding propensity of M. championi was Acacia arabica > Ficus religiosa > Azadirachta indica > Morus alba > Melia azederach > Mangifera indica > Cedrus deodara > Tectona grandis.