IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science (IOSR-JAVS) e-ISSN: 2319-2380, p-ISSN: 2319-2372. Volume 8, Issue 2 Ver. II (Feb. 2015), PP 123-126 www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/2380-0822123126 www.iosrjournals.org 123 | Page Incidence and Severity of Termites Infestations on Azadirachta indica A. Juss. Used as Avenue Trees in University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria 1 Adedeji, G. A., 2 Emerhi, E. A. And 1 Nyenke, E 1 Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria 2 Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Delta State University, Asaba, Nigeria Abstract: Termites are economic pest of both wood under services and standing trees, which have become routine burden of research and responsibility globally. Much research progress has been largely concentrated on woods under services with little attention given to standing trees; however, few literatures have reported the infestations of standing trees by termites in Sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, the incidence and severity of termites’ infestations on Azadirachta indica used as avenue trees in University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) from Delta axis road to Ofrima/Senate roundabout was investigated between July and October, 2014 using field surveys and observations. Survey showed that 62 trees or 29.8% of the 208 trees studied were infested by termites. 21 (10.1%) were severely infested, 11 (5.3%) were more severely infested while 30 (14.4%) were most severely infested. Amitermes evuncifer Silvestri was the dominant termite species observed in all the 62 infested trees while 4 trees were co-infested by Macrotermes bellicosus Smeathman. The ability of the trees to ameliorate and support the university population has been hindered and most of trees represent potential sources of hazard. The result indicated that Azadirachta indica could not sustain the expected environmental service functions of avenue trees over time. Keywords: Avenue trees, burden, environmental services, infestation, Port Harcourt I. Introduction Termites are important factor of forest and its associated ecosystems including micro human-modified environments, contributing immensely to soil formation, and fertility through cellulosic biomass degradation processes. Woods under services provide structures for humans and their degradation by termites has become human’s routine burden. On the other hand, standing trees provide complex structures and ensure biosecurity of human environments and their infestations by termites are less care for. Though, few estimates of the national burden of wood degradation by termites have been reported but largely geared towards woods under services [1- 6]. While Africa is recognized as region with the highest distinct diversity of termites globally [7], characterization of termites’ species in Nigeria, being the giant of the region has not been fully explored and reported. Termites are renowned for utilizing ligno-cellulosic materials for nutrition. However, they showed special preference for woods among the cellulosic materials as diet. This could be attributed to stable bulk density of biomass in woods. Hence, woods remain the principal foraging items globally. Termites’ infestations studies and responsibilities have become increasingly more concentrated on wood under services. In Nigeria, information on the extent of infestations by termites to both wood under service and standing trees are scanty. More importantly, little is known about the infestations of ornamental live trees by termites. Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) locally known as Dongoyaro is one of the popular tree species grown for landscaping purposes in Nigeria. Despite the pyramid of its parts antimicrobial and insecticidal properties reported, Neem was reported to be vulnerable to fungus ( Ganoderma lucidum) attack which caused more than 40% mortality of Azadirachta indica used as avenue trees in the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria [8]. Recently, termites were observed as distinct secondary contributing factor to decline of the avenue trees. The extent of termites’ infestations and their contributing impacts are of great importance to the decline of the trees. Surprisingly, considering the wide range of environment services rendered by woody ornamentals in human immediate environments, few researches have been reported on the causes of ornamental trees decline in Nigeria. Therefore, the study was undertaken to record the severity of termites’ infestations and their impact on the increasing decline of the A. indica used as avenue trees in the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. II. Materials And Method The study area, tree species and data collection The study was carried out from Delta axis main road to Ofrima/Senate roundabout (Latitude 40 54’ 6.14’’ and 40 54’ 23.26’’N and longitude 60 54’ 24.63’’ and 60 55’ 8.98’’ E) between July and August, 2014 within the University of Port Harcourt. The University is located on a land area of about 400 hectares in