We plucked 4 papaya.
nest at papaya lower stem
nest at papaya lower stem
termites
termites
little holes at the stem
I suspect termites has got into the stem. Papaya has hollow stem.
The plant is very tall, almost to the roof.
Papaya and Termites
I have seen termites nest at the lower part of papaya stem. The nest was fresh and it was easy to scrape them off using stick. Then there were termites running about. I sprayed them with shelltox, the ordinary mosquito repellent. The next day, the nest would be built again. After a couple of hide and seek game, i went over the hardware shop and ask for termite poison. A medium sized bottle at RM13.00. The next day, We did a final hide and seek game with the termites as shown in the photographs.
I dont think the plant will last for much longer. Termites are just agents for death. The plant is really changing now, a general weakening process is taking place... That morning we plucked 4 mature papaya. That would probably be the last mature papaya we could harvest. The death is imminent.
Some info about termites
There are about 3,000 species of termites. Termites are small, pale, soft-bodied insects that live in a nest or colony system. They feed primarily on wood. They have numerous castes which are relatively undifferentiated and perform much of the colony work. There is a specialized soldier caste with stronger head and jaw features and often with mouthparts that are more suited to defense than to feeding. The reproductive caste is produced when nymphs mature to develop wings and generally have a darker coloring. Termites are very weak fliers, and their wings are shed shortly after nuptial flight. Their heads are rounded, their antennae are beaded, and they generally do not have eyes, except those in the reproductive caste. (click here for full: Termite Control)
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