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Field Attraction of Termites to a Carbon Dioxide-Generating Bait in Australia (Isoptera)

January 2006
Sociobiology 48(3)

Authors:

Steve Broadbent

Ecosect

Elisa Bernklau

Colorado State University

Matthew S Siderhurst

Eastern Mennonite University

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termite bait stations with or without a cO2-generating bait (Focus termite Attractant, produced by Brotica, Inc., Fort collins, colorado, and distributed by Ensystex Australasia) were tested at tree and house locations in Australia. The termite species Coptotermes acinaciformis (Froggatt) (Isoptera: rhinoter - mitidae), Schedorhinotermes intermedius (Brauer) (Isoptera: rhinotermitidae), Microcerotermes turneri (Froggatt) (Isoptera: termitidae), and Nasutitermes exitiosus (Hill) (Isoptera: termitidae) discovered more monitoring stations when the cO2-generating bait was present, and also discovered the monitor - ing stations more quickly when the c O2-generating bait was present.

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Field Attraction of Termites to a Carbon Dioxide-Generating

Bait in Australia (Isoptera)

Steve Broadbent1, Michael Farr2, Elisa J. Bernklau3, Matthew S. Siderhurst4, David

M. James5, & Louis B. Bjostad5

ABSTRACT

Termite bait stations with or without a CO2-generating bait (Focus Termite

Attractant, produced by Brotica, Inc., Fort Collins, Colorado, and distributed

by Ensystex Australasia) were tested at tree and house locations in Australia.

e termite species Coptotermes acinaciformis (Froggatt) (Isoptera: Rhinoter-

mitidae), Schedorhinotermes intermedius (Brauer) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae),

Microcerotermes turneri (Froggatt) (Isoptera: Termitidae), and Nasutitermes

exitiosus (Hill) (Isoptera: Termitidae) discovered more monitoring stations

when the CO2-generating bait was present, and also discovered the monitor-

ing stations more quickly when the CO2-generating bait was present.

INTRODUCTION

e economic impact of termites may exceed $11 billion each year in the

United States (Su 2002) and $40 billion worldwide (Wiseman & Eggleton

1994). e majority of damage to homes and other structures is caused by

subterranean termite species in the family Rhinotermitidae (Su 1990).

Baiting strategies for termite control have recently gained popularity due

to the withdrawal of chlordane, chlorpyrifos and other termiticides from

the market (Kard 1999, Su & Scherahn 2000). Current eorts are focused

on improving specic aspects of these systems, including the addition of at-

tractants and/or bait enhancers (Pawson & Gold 1996, Lewis et al. 1998,

Potter et al. 2001, Lax & Osbrink 2003). In a baiting system, the pesticide

is typically introduced into a station only aer termites are detected in that

1Ensystex Australasia

2Amalgamated Pest Control, ueensland, Australia

3Brotica, Inc., Fort Collins, CO

4Dept. of Chemistry, Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA 22802

5Dept. of Bioagric. Sci. & Pest Management, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523

2 Sociobiology Vol. 48, No. 3, 2006

station, and depending on the species, weeks may pass before termites locate

a station and begin to feed (Lewis et al. 1998, Potter et al. 2001).

Baiting has been promoted as a more desirable method of termite manage-

ment. It is generally considered to more environmentally sound as baiting

uses very small amounts of insect specic toxicants that are administered

in stations that are targeted at the economically important termite species

only (i.e., it replaces the broad-scale application of liquid chemicals used to

poison the soil around a building). For baiting to work successfully, termites

must nd the bait stations so that the matrix with toxicant can be added for

termite consumption and transfer it back to the nest. ese requirements

are important, and a successful baiting program can take up to nine months

(e.g. 3-9 months Su, 1994; 7 months Tsunoda et al., 1998; 3-7+ months Su

& Scherahn, 2000), which is much slower than by other methods.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) has been reported as an attractant for the termite

species Reticulitermes avipes (Kollar) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), R. vir-

ginicus (Banks) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), and R. tibialis (Banks) (Isoptera:

Rhinotermitidae) in the United States (Bernklau et al. 2005). e most at-

tractive concentration of CO2 is 5 mmol/mol for R. tibialis and 10 mmol/mol

for R. avipes and R. virginicus. An attractant such as CO2 has the potential

to improve the eectiveness of termite baiting systems by reducing the time

interval between station placement and introduction of the pesticide.

Focus Termite Attractant (produced by Brotica, Inc., Fort Collins, Colo-

rado, and distributed by Ensystex Australasia) is a granular formulation that

reacts in soil to generate CO2 in the optimum concentration range for termite

attraction (Bernklau et al. 2005). Focus Termite Attractant is a non-toxic

formulation composed of natural materials, and it contains no pesticidal

components. We tested Focus Termite Attractant in combination with

Exterra uarterra Termite Stations (Ensystex Australasia) to determine the

ability of the attractant to enhance the ecacy of bait stations by creating a

larger ‘footprint’ for termite discovery. Specically, we were interested in three

ecological eects, (i) the time required for station discovery, (ii) the number

of stations discovered, and (iii) the rate at which stations were abandoned

by termites.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Broadbent, S. et al. — Attraction of Termites to a Carbon Dioxide in Australia

Trial sites were established in the vicinity of known termite activity and/

or colonies of the species Coptotermes acinaciformis (Froggatt) (Isoptera:

Rhinotermitidae), Schedorhinotermes intermedius (Brauer) (Isoptera: Rhi-

notermitidae), Microcerotermes turneri (Froggatt) (Isoptera: Termitidae) in

ueensland, Australia, and Nasutitermes exitiosus (Hill) (Isoptera: Termi-

tidae) in New South Wales, Australia. Exterra uarterra Termite Stations

(Ensystex Australasia) were placed equidistant around the termite colonies

in holes 10 cm diameter by 20 cm deep, prepared using a Jarrett auger. Due

to the dry conditions encountered, the soil around each hole was moistened

with 100 ml water. For the CO2-baited stations, Focus Termite Attractant

granules (5 g) were added to each hole prior to station placement. A minimum

distance of three meters was maintained between any control station and

any Focus-treated station to minimise the chance of the CO2 gradient from

a Focus-treated station impacting the results at a control station. Stations

were inspected weekly for the presence of termites. Each station contained

six Eucalyptus delegatensis R. T. Baker timber interceptors for feeding by the

termites.

Coptotermes acinaciformis

ree colonies of C. acinaciformis were located in trees in a residential

park in Deception Bay, ueensland. Four control and four Focus Termite

Attractant stations were placed on either side of each colony. Stations were

placed in a line running east to west with one meter between each series of

four stations on either side, and four meters separating the line of control

stations from the line of Focus Termite Attractant stations. At two trees the

control stations were placed to the north of the colony and at one tree they

were placed to the south of the colony.

Schedorhinotermes intermedius

A domestic residence in a leafy suburb in Upper Caboolture, ueensland,

was selected due to the known long-standing presence of S. intermedius in

the garden. Evidence of Schedorhinotermes activity was noted in the garden

though no termites could be located. Stations were placed at three meter

intervals around the home. Sides were selected randomly, two sides with

Focus Termite Attractant stations and two with control stations. Nine sta-

tions for each treatment were placed.

4 Sociobiology Vol. 48, No. 3, 2006

Microcerotermes turneri

An inspection also revealed the presence of Microcerotermes turneri in

a timber gate post at the front of the same property in Upper Caboolture,

ueensland. Four stations were placed, two on the nature strip and two

in the front garden, equidistant at 1.5 meters from the post infested with

Microcerotermes, with three meters between the control and Focus Termite

Attractant stations.

Nasutitermes exitiosus

A mound of N. exitiosus was located in a garden bed at a domestic residence

in Maitland, New South Wales. Six Focus Termite Attractant stations and

six control stations were placed on either side of the mound.

Statistical Analysis

T-tests were used to analyze dierences in termite presence among stations

that contained or lacked CO2 baits (SAS 2000).

RESULTS

Exterra uarterra Termite Stations containing Focus Termite Attractant

were located more oen and also more quickly than control stations for the

four termite species that were tested (Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, Table 4).

Coptotermes acinaciformis

Termites were found signicantly more oen in Focus-baited stations than

in control stations (Table 1, P<0.05, t-test). Termites located 10 of the 13

Focus-baited stations, but only located 3 of the 13 control stations (Table

1). Over the course of the 9 week study, termites were found in Focus-baited

stations on 68 occasions, but termites were found in control stations on

only 12 occasions (Table 1). Two of the Focus-baited stations were found

by termites within the rst week aer installation, but none of the control

stations were located by termites until 4 weeks aer installation. On average,

of the stations located by termites, Focus-baited stations were found aer 3.20

+SE 0.57 weeks, but control stations were found only aer 6.00 +SE 1.15

weeks. None of the stations were abandoned by termites once the termites

were rst observed in them.

Schedorhinotermes intermedius

Broadbent, S. et al. — Attraction of Termites to a Carbon Dioxide in Australia

A Focus-baited station was the only station found to contain termites in

this test, and none of the 9 control stations were located by termites (Table

2). e Focus-baited station was located in Week 2 aer the stations were

installed. In Week 8 aer the experiment began, this station was found to

have been ooded by a broken pipe, and subsequent data was not available.

e station had not been abandoned as of the last reliable observation in

Week 7.

Microcerotermes turneri

A Focus-baited station was the only station found to contain termites in

this test, and neither of the 2 control stations were located by termites (Table

3). e Focus-baited station was located in Week 1 aer the stations were

installed.

Nasutitermes exitiosus

Table 1. Termite bait stations containing Coptotermes acinaciformis.

Stations Site Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9

CO2 bait Tree 1 - - X X X X X X X

CO2 bait Tree 1 - - - X X X X X X

CO2 bait Tree 1 X X X X X X X X X

CO2 bait Tree 1 - - X X X X X X X

CO2 bait Tree 2 - - X X X X X X X

CO2 bait Tree 2 - X X X X X X X X

CO2 bait Tree 2 - - - - - - - - -

CO2 bait Tree 2 - - - - X X X X X

CO2 bait Tree 3 - - - - - - - - -

CO2 bait Tree 3 - - X X X X X X X

CO2 bait Tree 3 - - - - - - X X X

CO2 bait Tree 3 X X X X X X X X X

CO2 bait Tree 4 - - - - - - - - -

Control Tree 1 - - - - - - - X X

Control Tree 1 - - - - - - - - -

Control Tree 1 - - - X X X X X X

Control Tree 2 - - - - - - - - -

Control Tree 2 - - - - - X X X X

Control Tree 2 - - - - - - - - -

Control Tree 3 - - - - - - - - -

Control Tree 4 - - - - - - - - -

6 Sociobiology Vol. 48, No. 3, 2006

A heavy infestation of termites was recorded in one of the Focus Termite

Attractant stations 16 days aer installation (Table 4). A light infestation of

termites was recorded in one of the control stations on the same date. Further

inspections each week thereaer revealed that the termites remained in the

Focus Termite Attractant station, but the termites vacated the control station

the week aer they were detected and did not return. Aer six inspections,

the trial was terminated to allow elimination of the termite colony and safe-

guard the property.

Table 2. Termite bait stations containing Schedorhinotermes intermedius.

Stations Site Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9

CO2 bait House - - - - - - - - -

CO2 bait House - X X X X X X N/Aa N/Aa

CO2 bait House - - - - - - - - -

Control House - - - - - - - - -

a In Week 8 aer the experiment began, this station was found to have been ooded by

a broken pipe.

Table 3. Termite bait stations containing Microcerotermes turneri.

Stations Site Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9

CO2 bait House - - - - - - - - -

CO2 bait House X X X X X X X X X

Control House - - - - - - - - -

Broadbent, S. et al. — Attraction of Termites to a Carbon Dioxide in Australia

DISCUSSION

We conclude that the CO2 gradient from each Focus-baited station eec-

tively created a larger ‘footprint’, and that the termites then followed the CO2

gradient to the station. For the four termite species tested, the presence of

Focus Termite Attractant in Exterra uarterra Termite Stations increased the

number of stations that were found by termites. Termites did not abandon

any of the bait stations once they located them, whether baited with Focus

Termite Attractant or not, except for one of the control bait stations that

was abandoned by Nasutitermes exitiosus aer a single week of occupancy

(Table 4).

e presence of Focus Termite Attractant also decreased the time required

for termites to discover the stations. is point is of particular interest in the

development of baiting system technologies, because it has been observed that

weeks may pass before termites locate a bait station and begin to feed (Lewis

et al. 1998, Potter et al. 2001). In the present study, two of the termite spe-

cies located Focus-baited stations within the rst week aer installation (C.

acinaciformis and Microcerotermes turneri), and the other two termite species

located the Focus-baited stations within the second week aer installation

(N. exitiosus and Schedorhinotermes intermedius). In contrast, control sta-

tions were never observed to contain termites for two of the species tested

(Schedorhinotermes intermedius. and Microcerotermes turneri), and required

a minimum of 2-4 weeks for the two termite species that did nd them (C.

Table 4. Termite bait stations containing Nasutitermes exitiosus.

Stations Site Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6

CO2 bait Mound - X X X X X

CO2 bait Mound - - - - - -

Control Mound - - - - - -

Control Mound - X - - - -

8 Sociobiology Vol. 48, No. 3, 2006

acinaciformis and N. exitiosus).

e use of Focus Termite Attractant in association with Exterra uarterra

Termite Stations will provide added benets to pest managers using the

Exterra Termite Interception & Baiting System by detecting the presence

of termites within the vicinity of a property sooner. Early interception in a

Station further reduces the risk of termites entering a structure and enables

earlier placement of Requiem Termite Bait. Previous data has shown termites

are more likely to discover the Exterra uarterra Stations compared to other

commercial Stations due to the larger size and use of a more favored timber

source for the interceptors. Focus Termite Attractant will further enhance

the benets of the uarterra Stations.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Matthew Camper assisted with the statistical analysis using SAS 2000.

is assistance is gratefully acknowledged.

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Jan 2000

Of the more than 2,300 termite species in the world, 183 species are known to damage buildings and 83 species cause significant damage. Subterranean termites, including mound building and arboreal species, account for 147 (80%) of the economically important species. The genus Coptotermes contains the largest number of pest species (28), whereas the genus Cryptotermes, especially Cr. brevis, is the most widely introduced. The world-wide economic impact figure of termites is uncertain, but the control cost for termite pests in the United States was estimated at $1.5 billion annually in 1994. Because of differences in their life histories, control measures differ between subterranean and drywood species. Insecticide barriers are used for exclusion of soil-borne subterranean termites, whereas slow-acting baits are used for population control of subterranean termite colonies in and near structures. Whole-structure treatments (fumigation and heat), compartmental treatments (heat or cold), and local treatments (wood surface treatments or insecticide injection) are the primary tools for drywood termite control.

Economically important termites in the United States and their control

Article

Full-text available

Jan 1990
SOCIOBIOLOGY

Novel technologies for subterranean termite control

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2002
SOCIOBIOLOGY

Nan-Yao Su

When building repair cost is included, the economic impacts of termites may reach up to $11 billion annually the United States. The dollar amount spent on termite control will continue to grow as the living standard in developing countries is improved and more termite pest species are transported by human commerce. Currently-registered soil termiticides include chlorpyrifos, permethrin, cypermethrin, bifenthrin, fenvalerate, imidacloprid, and fipronil. Physical barriers such as stainless-steel mesh and soil particle barriers are also available but have yet to see widespread use; while insecticide-impregnated polymer barriers may become available in the near future. Aside from these barrier techniques, population control using baits have become more widely adopted by the industry in recent years. Baits containing hexaflumuron, sulfluramid, or diflubenzuron are currently available for the pest control industry. As evidenced from these developments, future technologies need to conform to efficacy and environmental standards. It is no longer satisfactory to rely merely on barriers for structural protection from subterranean termites, and future control measures need to address structure protection through population management of subterranean termites (i.e., baits). It will probably become less acceptable to spray a large quantity of insecticide in soil to protect a house from subterranean termites, and future technologies need to use less pesticide (i.e., baits), no pesticide at all (i.e., physical barriers), or controlled-release pesticide barriers (i.e., insecticide-impregnated polymer).

Monitoring station for studying populations of Reticulitermes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in California

Article

Full-text available

Jul 1998
PAN-PAC ENTOMOL

The first appearance of live termites or feeding damage in previously reported subterranean termite monitor designs occur within several months of installation and involves <15% of the total number of monitors. The ability of monitors to sustain subterranean termite foraging often is less than 50%. The design of the monitor used for this study, featuring above and below ground sections, sustained subterranean termite foraging for over 80% of monitors for both wildland and residential sites for at least 2 years. The monitor is robust and can accommodate seasonal fluctuation in termite foraging activity. The modifications of this monitor and possible underlying mechanisms for increased sustainability of termite foraging are compared to already described collecting devices utilizing wooden stakes, toilet paper, corrugated paper, and below-ground monitoring systems.

Field Evaluation of a Hexaflumuron Bait for Population Suppression of Subterranean Termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Article

Full-text available

Apr 1994
J ECON ENTOMOL

Nan-Yao Su

A baiting procedure that incorporated a matrix containing a chitin synthesis inhibitor, hexaflumuron, was evaluated against field colonies of the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), and the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki. Wooden stakes were first driven into the soil to detect the presence of termites. Bait tubes were placed in soil where termites were detected. A self-recruiting procedure, in which termites collected from wooden stakes were forced to tunnel through the matrix in the bait tubes, significantly increased bait intake by termites. Approximately 4-1,500 mg of hexaflumuron was needed for 90-100% reduction of field populations containing 0.17-2.8 million foragers per colony.

Evaluation of Baits for Termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in Texas

Article

Jan 1996

Two baits, hydramethylnon (American Cyanamid Company) and hexaflumuron (DowElanco - Sentricon Colony Elimination System®), were evaluated for the control of subterranean termites in Texas. Hydramethylnon bait was tested for one year at four structures infested with subterranean termites. Control of termites was not achieved; however, colony suppression, as indicated by the number of wood stakes attacked by termites, may have occurred at two locations. Hexaflumuron bait was tested for two years at seven structures infested with subterranean termites. Control of termites occurred at one location where more than 17 Baitubes® were consumed. Colony suppression, as indicated by the number of monitoring stations attacked by termites, appears to have occurred at two structures. With both hydramethylnon and hexaflumuron, lack of termite activity at bait stations might indicate a reduction in colony population size (or elimination); however, independent monitoring stations (wooden stakes and wood blocks) used during these tests indicated that termites were present even though termites were not detected in the bait stations.

Managing subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in the Midwest with hexaflumuron bait and placement considerations around structures

Article

Jan 2001
SOCIOBIOLOGY

Wooden stakes and commercial Sentricon stations (Dow Agro-Sciences, Indianapolis, IN) were used to monitor seasonal activity and foraging location of Reticulitermes spp.(Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), around 46 residential structures in Kentucky. Termite activity in below-ground monitors was highest from spring through fall, with little activity during winter. Although certain parameters of the landscape (e.g., shade, ground cover) were associated with a higher incidence of attack, results were inconsistent, suggesting that commercial bait installers will have difficulty predicting where termites are located underground. The findings also bring into question whether it is advisable to selectively install below-ground monitors around houses in areas arbitrarily deemed 'conducive' to termite foraging. Established structural infestations of subterranean termites were, by visual determination, eliminated from 21 of 23 houses using hexaflumuron bait and the Sentricon® Colony Elimination System. De-infestation of one house was further confirmed by monitoring with an acoustic emission detector. The structures were subsequently protected for more than 3 years by monitoring and re-baiting as needed.

Colony Elimination of Reticulitermes speratus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) by Bait Application and the Effect on Foraging Territory

Article

Dec 1998
J ECON ENTOMOL

A natural colony of Reticulitermes speratus (Kolbe), the foraging population and territory of which had been estimated previously by a triple mark-recapture program at the Uji campus of Kyoto University, was used to determine the effect of bait applications. Bait stations and bait tubes containing hexaflumuron were placed in the foraging territory in October 1995 to eradicate the colony. The number of monitoring stations with foraging termites decreased after May 1996 and no attack was observed by July 1996. Because a later inspection in October 1996 demonstrated no further termite attacks of monitoring stations in the foraging territory, the colony that was composed originally of >300,000 foraging termites was considered to be eliminated by bait application. Approximately 33 mg of hexaflumuron was consumed by the colony. Ten months after the end of bait application (May 1997) some termites were present at 3 monitoring stations in the foraging territory of the eradicated colony. Reinfestation of a few more stations was found after June 1997. Because no marked termite individuals were recaptured from any station in the foraging territory of the test colony after elimination by baitings, it was impossible to determine whether this group of termites belonged to the original colony or came from a separate colony. Our results supggest limited applicability of mark-release-recapture methodology to determine colony eradication of R. speratus based on the presence or absence of marked termites.

Control of Coptotermes havilandi (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) with Hexaflumuron Baits and a Sensor Incorporated into a Monitoring and Baiting Program

Article

May 2000
J ECON ENTOMOL

A sensor consisting of a wooden monitor painted with a conductive circuit of silver particle emulsion was placed in a monitoring station to detect feeding activity of the subterranean termite Coptotermes havilandi Holmgren. Sensor accuracy was 100% 1 mo after installation, but 9 mo after sensor placement, the rate declined to 73%. After the detection of C. havilandi in the stations, baits containing the chitin synthesis inhibitor hexaflumuron were applied in five colonies, and four colonies were eliminated within 3-5 mo. Baiting could not be completed for the remaining one colony because the site became inaccessible.

United States Department of Agriculture - Agriculture Research Service research on targeted management of the Formosan subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Article

Jun 2003

The Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki is currently one of the most destructive pests in the USA. It is estimated to cost consumers over US dollars 1 billion annually for preventative and remedial treatment and to repair damage caused by this insect. The mission of the Formosan Subterranean Termite Research Unit of the Agricultural Research Service is to demonstrate the most effective existing termite management technologies, integrate them into effective management systems, and provide fundamental problem-solving research for long-term, safe, effective and environmentally friendly new technologies. This article describes the epidemiology of the pest and highlights the research accomplished by the Agricultural Research Service on area-wide management of the termite and fundamental research on its biology that might provide the basis for future management technologies. Fundamental areas that are receiving attention are termite detection, termite colony development, nutrition and foraging, and the search for biological control agents. Other fertile areas include understanding termite symbionts that may provide an additional target for control. Area-wide management of the termite by using population suppression rather than protection of individual structures has been successful; however, much remains to be done to provide long-term sustainable population control. An educational component of the program has provided reliable information to homeowners and pest-control operators that should help slow the spread of this organism and allow rapid intervention in those areas which it infests.

Field Attraction of Termites to a Carbon Dioxide-Generating Bait in Australia (Isoptera)

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