Coniotermes

Coniotermes (lat. Coniotermes) belongs to the order Isoptera, family Kalotermitidae. These insects are classified in agronomic and forestry practice as wood-boring pests. Unlike many subterranean termites, they do not require constant soil contact, making them particularly dangerous for the aerial parts of woody plants and crops.

This pest primarily affects woody plants, including both wild species and agricultural plantations. Orchards, fruit-bearing shrubs, and forest stands that are weakened by drought, disease, or mechanical damage are particularly susceptible. The pests bore into trunks and branches to feed on cellulose, living entirely within the wood.

The biology of Coniotermes is closely linked to maintaining a controlled microenvironment within their galleries. The life cycle involves development within colonies where worker and soldier castes ensure the survival of the colony. Reproduction occurs through the dispersal of winged alates, which, after mating, establish new infestations, often settling within cracks or damaged wood segments.

The damage caused by these insects involves the excavation of extensive galleries inside stems and trunks. This structural destruction disrupts the plant's vascular system, leading to wilting, branch dieback, and eventually the death of the entire plant. Because they feed internally while leaving the outer bark largely intact, infestations can remain hidden for long periods.

Control measures require an integrated management approach:

• Regular inspection of bark and stem surfaces for small entry holes and frass.
• Sanitary pruning and removal of heavily infested plant parts.
• Treatment of pruning cuts and wounds with insecticide pastes or protectants.
• Targeted chemical application, such as fumigation or direct injection into galleries, using approved insecticides.