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Title: The efficacy of bait supplements for improving the rate of discovery of bait stations in the field by the formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Author
item Cornelius, Mary
item Lyn, Margaret
item Williams, Kelley
item Lovisa, Mary
item De Lucca Ii, Anthony
item Lax, Alan

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/27/2009
Publication Date: 6/1/2009
Citation: Cornelius, M.L., Lyn, M.E., Williams, K.R., Lovisa, M.P., De Lucca II, A.J., Lax, A.R. 2009. The efficacy of bait supplements for improving the rate of discovery of bait stations in the field by the formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Journal of Economic Entomology. 102(3):1175-1181.

Interpretive Summary: Field tests of four different bait supplements were conducted in City Park, New Orleans, Louisiana. The four bait supplements tested included two different formulations of decayed material, a sports drink, and the combination of an application of an aqueous solution of Summon Preferred Food SourceTM disks with the disk itself. Although all the bait supplements in this study resulted in a slightly greater number of treated stations discovered compared with control stations, only the application of the aqueous solution combined with the disk caused a significant increase in the number of stations discovered by termites. This treatment enabled termites to discover six times as many treated as control stations after 14 d, nine times as many after 28 d, and 12 times as many after 42 d. This research will benefit both the pest control industry and the consumer by providing information that may lead to the development of more effective baits for termite control.

Technical Abstract: Field tests of four different bait supplements were conducted in City Park, New Orleans, Louisiana. The four bait supplements tested included two different formulations of decayed material, a sports drink, and the combination of an application of an aqueous solution of Summon Preferred Food SourceTM disks with the disk itself. Although all the bait supplements in this study resulted in a slightly greater number of treated stations discovered compared with control stations, only the application of the aqueous solution combined with the disk caused a significant increase in the number of stations discovered by termites. This treatment enabled termites to discover six times as many treated as control stations after 14 d, nine times as many after 28 d, and 12 times as many after 42 d. The development of methods to increase the permeability and longevity of attractants released into the soil directly underneath bait stations could significantly decrease the time taken for termites to infest stations and increase the number of stations discovered.