Journal of Economic Entomology (2007) 100, 1391-1399

Renato Ripa, Paola Luppichini, Nan-Yao Su and Michael K. Rust (2007)
Field evaluation of potential control strategies against the invasive eastern subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in Chile
Journal of Economic Entomology 100 (4), 1391-1399
Abstract: Four different termite control strategies consisting of two soil treatments with cypermethrin and fipronil and two bait treatments with hexaflumuron and sulfluramid were evaluated for their efficacy and potential for controlling the invasive eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), in Quillota and Valparaíso, Chile. Monitoring stations were installed at all sites to measure the overall termite activity next to and at distances up to 30 m away from infested structures, most being 3-5 m. Foraging activity was extremely seasonal with the maximum consumption rates occurring from January to April. Termite foraging activity was low from July to September. After treatments in January 2003, there was a significant decrease in wood consumption, percentage of active stations, and numbers of termites in traps for the first 6 mo with hexaflumuron baits. No significant change in R. flavipes foraging activity was observed on wood consumption and percentage of active stations for sulfluramid bait or cypermethrin and fipronil soils treatments. The seasonal pattern of foraging activity remained unchanged for all treatments in 2004 and 2005, except structures baited with hexaflumuron. Feeding activity at the monitors in the area surrounding the hexaflumuron baits declined to 0 after January 2004. Alate flights occurred in ~ 38% of the structures treated with cypermethrin and sulfluramid bait in 2003 and in ~ 40% of the structures treated with cypermethrin, fipronil, and sulfluramid bait in 2004. Sulfluramid baits and cypermethrin soil treatments did not have any impact within a 15-m radius of the structures. Soils treatments of fipronil and cypermethrin prevented termites access in 75% of the homes. The number of active monitoring stations only declined within 2 m of the fipronil-treated zone. Hexaflumuron exhibited a reduction in activity for at least a 15-m radius.
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Full text of article
Database assignments for author(s): Renato Ripa, Nan-Yao Su, Michael K. Rust

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general
surveys/sampling/distribution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Reticulitermes flavipes	Wood products	Chile (continental)