Termite control technologies using physical barrier

Professorial Chair Lecture

UPLB Alumni Association Professorial Chair

Place

Operations Room, Tameses Hall, CFNR, UPLB, College, Laguna

Date

3-16-2005

Abstract

Public and government concerns over the environmental dangers in the use of chemicals in termite control have resulted in the use of physical barriers to prevent infestation of subterranean termites. Physical barriers are materials that are laid beneath floors, foundation footings or potential entry points of termites to effectively exclude or prevent termites from entering wooden structures. Materials and commercial products that are already being use as barrier against termites include stainless steel mesh (Termi-meshR), stone (GranitgardR), plastic sheets impregnate with insecticide (ImpasseR) and sand. A new material that could potentially serve as physical barrier is volcanic debris (lahar) from Mt. Pinatubo. This paper reports on the laboratory and field evaluations on the use of uniform and mixed size particles of lahar from Mt. Pinatubo as physical barrier to prevent tunneling of the Philippine milk termite. Workers of the Philippine milk termite (Coptotermes vastator Light) were tested for their abilities to tunnel and penetrate barriers consisting of uniform and mixed particles of lahat from Mt. Pinatubo. Particle diameter in the range of 1.18 - 2.36 mm prevented C. vastator from penetrating the lahar barrier. Repellency tests showed that lahar particles were neither repellent nor toxic to C. vastator. When several sizes in the diameter range 1.18 - 2.36 were uniformly mixed, the resultant barrier effectively prevented penetration of the termites. Field evaluations using mixed particles sizes 1.18 - 2.36 mm were also effective in preventing tunneling of field colonies of C. vastator. The use of lahar in termite control helps utilize a material that pose a threat to both people and environment.

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

College

College of Forestry and Natural Resources (CFNR)

Language

English

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS