AVALIAÇÃO DE ESTACAS DE Pinus sp. COMO ISCA-ARMADILHA EM DIVERSOS PERÍODOS DE EXPOSIÇÃO A CUPINS SUBTERRÂNEOS

Evaluation of Pinus sp. stakes as bait-trap with se veral periods of exposure to subterranean termites. This study aimed to evaluate stakes of Pinus sp. as bait-trap for several periods of exposure t o subterranean termites in areas of different florist ic compositions in the Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro (JBRJ). Bait-traps were previously immersed in distilled water for 0, 24 or 48 hours. They were buried in three areas of JBRJ for monthly with drawals in groups with exposure of 1 to 12 months on the species of subterranean termite, Coptotermes gestroi (Wasmann) and Heterotermes longiceps (Snyder). We observed statistical difference on ex posure time of the bait-trap,but no difference for the period of immersion in water. We concluded that the bait-trap are naturally attractive to subterranean termites and do not requ ire immersion in distilled water previously in orde r to increasing their softness. The exposure time of the bait-trap in soil should not exceed 3 months to C. gestroi , under conditions of prolonged effect of sunlight and scarce availability of organic matter, while for H. longiceps the exposure time can be extended to 12 months und er conditions of low incidence of sunlight and high availability of orga nic matter, facts that must be considered on termit es control programs.