Termites are pests notorious for causing grave damage to standing crops and buildings. Odontotermes obesus (Rambur) (Isoptera: Termitidae) is a commonly found species in the Indian subcontinent known to cause serious damage to crops. The fungus Actinomucor elegans Benjamin & Hesseltine is reported to have a ubiquitous distribution and been isolated from various hosts, as well as substrates. We have collected the isolates of A. elegans from the soil and dead termites present in the root zone of wheat plants in Haryana (India). The isolates were subjected to molecular analysis based on both morphological-and ITS (internally transcribed spacer) region and confirmed as A. elegans. After the identity verification, the pathogenicity of isolates against worker caste termites of O. obesus was tested by the topical application of an aliquot of the control or suitable suspension (0.5 mL) to the dorsum of each termite. The concentrations of the tested fungus A. elegans were 5 × 10² to 5 × 10⁷ conidia mL⁻¹, and their mortality against worker individuals of O. obesus was evaluated. Lethal time and concentrations were estimated. The assay was completely repeated three times. The results of the pathogenicity test revealed that A. elegans was highly pathogenic to worker caste termites of O. obesus, recording 90% mortality with 5 × 10⁷ spores mL⁻¹ and 94% mortality at 168 h. The median lethal concentration (LC50) and the median lethal time (LT50) of A. elegans were found to be 5.974 × 10⁶ spores mL⁻¹ and 108 h, respectively. Our results have provided new opportunities to control termites in agriculture, horticulture, and forest ecosystems. However, additional investigations both in controlled and field conditions are necessary, and when using A. elegans var. elegans, human safety also needs to be considered. Further investigations related to secondary compounds released by this fungus would add a new dimension to termite management strategies.

白蚁是臭名昭著的害虫，会严重破坏现成的农作物和建筑物。Odontotermes obesus（Rambur）（等翅目：螨科）是印度次大陆上常见的物种，已知会对农作物造成严重破坏。真菌雅致放射毛霉本杰明＆Hesseltine被报道具有普遍分布和来自各种主机，以及底物被分离。我们从印度哈里亚纳邦小麦植物根系中存在的土壤和死白蚁中收集了线虫的分离株。对分离物进行了基于形态学和ITS（内部转录间隔子）区域的分子分析，并确认为秀丽隐杆线虫。身份验证后，通过对每只白蚁的背部局部施用等分试样的对照品或合适的混悬液（0.5 mL），来测试分离株对黑曜石工人白蚁的致病性。被测真菌线虫的浓度为5×10 ²至5×10 ⁷分生孢子mL ^-1，并评估了它们对黑胸果蝇工人个体的死亡率。估计致死时间和浓度。将该测定完全重复三遍。致病性测试的结果表明，秀丽隐杆线虫对工蜂的种姓白蚁具有很高的致病性。，记录的90％的死亡率和5×10 ⁷孢子mL ^-1和168 h的94％死亡率。秀丽隐杆线虫的中值致死浓度（LC50）和中值致死时间（LT50）分别为5.974×10 ⁶孢子mL ^-1和108 h。我们的结果为控制农业，园艺和森林生态系统中的白蚁提供了新的机会。但是，在控制条件和田间条件下以及使用线虫变种时，都需要进行其他研究。线虫，还需要考虑人身安全。与这种真菌释放的次级化合物有关的进一步研究将为白蚁管理策略增加新的维度。