Writer: Edith A. Chenault, (979) 845-2886, e-chenault1@tamu.edu
Contact: Dr. Barry Pawson, (979) 845-5855
COLLEGE STATION — When it comes to termite control, it’s the homeowner’s choice whether to use conventional treatments or some of the newer treatments now available through pest control operators. However, the key to management is to be thorough any time a home or business is treated, according to Dr. Barry Pawson, assistant research scientist with the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station.
Pawson, who studies the behavior of termites at Texas A&M University, said, “Termites are not going away. If there is one area that is not treated, they will eventually find it.”
He collects termites and feeds them on blue and red filter paper. The dye gets into their bodies and marks them as being part of his sample. By studying their lives, he can figure out how best to manage their numbers.
There are about 2,200 species of termites in the world — 22 of which reside in the state. From 12 to 15 of these in Texas can be considered pests, depending on the severity of the damage, he said. Conventional treatments, which place termiticides around the foundation of the home, still work well. They usually give protection for about four years, Pawson said.
The success of conventional treatments will depend on several factors, he said. Soil texture, or the amount of sand, silt and clay, soil pH and the amount of organic matter all interact with termiticides making it less available to the invading termites. Applicators also play an important role in successful treatment. A thorough job using the highest label rate of termiticide will provide the longest protection.
In the warm South, termiticides break down more quickly, he said. On the other hand, they break down more slowly in the colder climate of the northern United States. Additionally, it’s important to know what species is being treated, he said.
Some homeowners may opt for using the newest control methods becoming available to pest control operators. The newest strategy involves placing baits around a home. Pawson is currently testing baits under varying conditions in Texas.
One of these baits, buried in tubes from 12 to 18 inches away from the foundation of the house, uses a insect growth regulator (IGR). Termites molt every six to eight weeks and the IGR prevents them from forming a new cuticle. Without new skin to protect them, they will die. One of the drawbacks of this method is that control does not occur immediately.
Another type of bait station uses a toxic bait. Termites feed on the bait and carry it back to the colony, feed on it and die. “The amount of toxic material in the bait is very important so that termites don’t detect it,” he said. Pawson is currently studying bait formulations to see which works best.
In the spring, termites will swarm and new colonies are formed. “They’re very bad fliers,” Pawson said. “Only about 1 percent to 2 percent survive. Birds love them. They’re susceptible to heat and arid conditions.”
As they swarm, males and females pair off. The king and queen will raise about 50 to 60 pseudergates, or workers, during the first year. “It takes a while for the colony to build up,” he said.
On the other hand, if a colony becomes fractured, or isolated, due to drought or heavy rainfall, the colony may reproduce faster. The key to protection is keeping that barrier — whether it’s conventional or baits — around the home, he said.
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