Survey stakes and in-ground (IG) stations have failed to intercept underground tunnels of the Asian subterranean termite, Coptotermes gestroi (Wasmann), in southeastern Florida, rendering nearly useless the IG bait station that is the main tool of commercial baiting systems. When placed over an active infestation, above-ground (AG) bait stations were readily fed on by C. gestroi, resulting in colony elimination. A new experimental type of AG bait application being studied is an injectable caulk bait. In this study, we compared the efficacy of AG bait stations and an experimental AG caulk bait against field colonies of C. gestroi. Following the applications of AG bait stations at 3 sites with infested houses and trees, C. gestroi colonies were eliminated 7.1–28.1 wk later. The experimental AG caulk bait was applied at 7 sites including 4 houses, 2 office buildings, and 1 docked sailboat. Colony elimination times at caulk bait sites ranged from 3.1 to 13.6 wk, but there was no statistical difference in mean colony elimination time between AG station bait sites (17.4 ± 10.5 wk) and AG caulk bait sites (8.4 ± 3.8 wk). This study showed that AG caulk bait applications were equally efficacious in eliminating existing C. gestroi in structures as AG bait stations and will offer another tool for termite control professionals to better manage subterranean termites including C. gestroi.
How to translate text using browser tools
7 August 2023
A comparison between above-ground bait stations and experimental caulk baits for elimination of field colonies of the Asian subterranean termite, Coptotermes gestroi (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae)
Nan-Yao Su,
Aaron Mullins
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE
It is not available for individual sale.
This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
It is not available for individual sale.
Journal of Economic Entomology
Vol. 116 • No. 5
October 2023
Vol. 116 • No. 5
October 2023
experimental AG caulk bait
injectable fluid bait
M7A-1
noviflumuron bait