Termite distribution and damage to crops on smallholder farms in southern Malawi

Termite damage to annual crops on smallscale farms was surveyed in eight areas in southern Malawi during 1989/90 to 1991/92. The most frequently grown crop was maize, followed by pigeonpeas, Phaseolus beans, cotton, cowpea and groundnuts. Twenty-seven species of termites were found attacking crops. The most numerous and widely distributed were several species of the Macrotermitinae, including Ancistrotermes latinotus, four species of Macrotermes, four species of Microtermes, three species of Odontotermes and Pseudacanthotermes militaris. All species damaged maize but only a few damaged bambara, cassava and banana. The damage appeared to be more frequent in dry areas than in wet ones.