Destructive effect of invasive termites and ants on rainfed rice cultivation in Cote d’Ivoire

Invasive arthropod presence in upland rice field 3 in Cote d’Ivoire can affect both the distribution and the density of rice plants leading to decrease rice yields. Our results have shown that 9697 plants were destroyed by the ants and termites even though the growing field was treated with an insecticide. The destruction of rice plants by the Ancistrotermes sp and Crematogasters africana according to our results is accomplished through the construction of galleries, veneers and mounds. The search for food will redirect these arthropods towards rice fields. Furthermore, once these insects are in the growing fields it is difficult to remove them.