We conducted surveys of termite assemblages and tree trunks damaged by termites in teakwood (Tectona grandis L.f.) plantations. The surveys were conducted in five-, six-, and nine-year-old plantations. We used a standardized belt-transect to collect termites and build tree inventories. Data of collected termites at the genus and functional-group levels and termites’ diversity between plantations were compared with their attack rate. The results showed that four genera of soil recycler termites belonging to groups IIf and III were present across the plantations. Distribution analysis suggested that termite communities might develop from a stochastic distribution to a nonrandom co-occurrence distribution over time. Diversity analysis showed an increased nestedness-resultant diversity contribution to the total dissimilarity over time. Observed attacks on tree trunks were superficial and limited to the outer bark, with group IIf as the main contributor. Furthermore, the level of damage done by termites to tree trunks was positively correlated with increases in the group IIf occupancy area and overgrown understory vegetation. Plantation management by maintaining an adequate understory might suppress termite attacks on fast-growing teakwood, although in the case of our study, termite attacks are inevitable when termites from group IIf were already present.

Toba, North Sumatera is famous not only for its tourism destination but also for biodiversity. The aim of this research is to explore the potency of the local plant from Toba as bioinsecticide. Six local plant samples, which consists of genus Compositae, Meliaceae, Staphyleaceae, and Actinidiaceae, were obtained from the Toba region,. The macerated extracts were tested their insecticidal activity against Coptotermes gestroi and Spodoptera litura. Bioassay results showed that leaves extract of Ingul (Toona sinensis) at a concentration of 10% (w/v) had the highest mortality effect against Coptotermes gestroi on the tenth day of observation. Whereas, leaves extracts of Pirdot (Saurauia bracteosa), Ingul (Toona sinensis), and Haurese (Azadirachta indica) at the concentration of 1% (w/v) showed the best insecticidal effect with 80% mortality percentage respectively against Spodoptera litura in 4 hours of observation.

Termite’s biodiversity is known to be strongly affected by disturbance, particularly in an urban area. The present study evaluated termite biodiversity and distribution in Batam Botanical Garden, an urban conservation area in Batam Island. In the surveyed area, termites could play a major beneficial role through the promotion of essential ecological processes in ecosystems, such as soil modification and rehabilitation; as well as their well-established role as pests for vegetation. Therefore, biodiversity evaluation of termite is very important to identify economically and ecologically important species. Termite survey had been conducted by a 100 × 2 m belt-transect. Transect area was divided into 20 sections (5 × 2 m), in which each section was surveyed for 30 minutes by two trained people. In total, 106 specimens (15 termite genera) were collected from three sampling sites: Plantation, Mangrove forest, and Forest.

Preliminary study on termite recognition for food source location was carried out by the subjection of volatile compounds emitted by Sumatran Pine (Pinus merkusii Jungh. & de Vriese). Food source recognition by termite was evaluated using a set-up model on the inverted Y-tube apparatus. The apparatus consisted of a release chamber, in which five workers had been released; an intersection chamber, in which termite movement would be evaluated for clockwise and counter-clockwise movements; and a pair of food chamber. Between the intersection chamber and food chambers, a tunnel with 5 cm length was divided into five scale ranges, in which each range was related to a preference score. Various set-up models had been prepared from these concentrations: 0%; 0.5%; 1%; 2%; 4%; 8% of the macerated extract of Sumatran Pine sapwood in 8 mm paper dish. Each set-up consisted of a pair of concentrations: low & high concentration, which was located on different food chambers. The results suggested that termite showed directional preference to a low concentration, even in a set-up model of 0% & 0.5% (F= 16.65, P = 0.002), which indicated that the extracts might have a repellent effect against termite. When the results were clustered based on termite’s movement, clockwise and counterclockwise, significant preference for low concentration was observed in two and one set-up models, respectively. Behavioural observation showed that in most of the set-up models, the first food chamber explored by a termite would generate more preference scores, regardless of the concentrations.