Report of termites infestation in tobacco (nicotiana tabacum) from khyber Pakhtoonkhwa, Pakistan

An extensive survey in tobacco growing areas of district Charsadda and Mardan of NWFP, Pakistan, was conducted and 30 localities were visited. Two termite species, Microtermes unicolor Snyder and M. obesi Holmgren, were recorded infesting tobacco crop in Charsadda and Mardan districts of NWFP, Pakistan. The percentage infestation due to Microtermes was 6.01 ± 1.7 percent in district Charsadda and 3.40 ± 2.0 percent in district Mardan. Whereas, M. obesi infested plants were 1.91 ± 1.1 and 0.83 ± 0.7 percent in Charsadda and Mardan, respectively. M. unicolor was the predominant species and infested greater number of tobacco plants (77.4 percent) than M. obesi. A total of 12.15 percent tobacco plants were found infested in both the districts by both the species. No infestation was recorded in Charsadda and Mardan tehsils. In both districts (Charsadda and Mardan), 20 and 7.5 percent plots were found infested by M. unicolor and M. obesi, respectively.