Subterranean Termite, Reticulitermes spp. (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), Colony Response to Baiting with Hexaflumuron Using a Prototype Commercial Termite Baiting System

Abstract

Six subterranean termite colonies, representing two species, Reticulitermes flavipes and R. virginicus were characterized and baited during the spring and summer of 1993 at three locations in the Piedmont Soil Zone in west-central Georgia. Characterizations included population and foraging territory estimates, indices of activity, wood consumption rates, and number of termites collected per site per visit. The four characterized colonies that were baited averaged 43,000 termites per colony and occupied foraging territories averaging 16 m2. An additional 12 colonies were baited in 1994 simulating a commercial bait application where only indices of termite activity were recorded. Each termite colony was baited using a prototype baiting system which included the active ingredient hexaflumuron. Activity of each colony was monitored before, during, and after baiting. Three of the characterized colonies were baited during June and July 1993, and activity was undetectable within 3 months. One colony, baited in September, continued to show activity for 8 months. Six of the colonies baited in 1994 showed no activity at least 5 months after bait acceptance, two colonies removed bait starting in September and were still showing activity in May, two colonies did not revisit monitors following bait stake attack, and one colony did not accept bait and remained active in the nearby monitor. Colony characterizations, baiting procedures, measures of termite activity, and the difficulties of determining termite baiting efficacy from field trials are discussed.