Wednesday, 17 November 2004 - 10:48 AM
1021

Suppression of a subterranean termite community using the Sentricon® termite colony elimination system: A case study in Chatsworth, California

Gail M. Getty, ggetty@berkeley.edu1, Christopher W. Solek, csolek@nature.berkeley.edu, Ronald J. Sbragia, rjsbragia@dow.com2, Michael I. Haverty, mhaverty@fs.fed.us3, and Vernard R. Lewis, vlewis@nature.berkeley.edu4. (1) University of California, Berkeley, Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, Divison of Insect Biology, P.O. Box 1557, Blue Jay, CA, (2) Dow AgroSciences, P.O. Box 1671, Placerville, CA, (3) Pacific Southwest Research Station-Forest Service, Chemical Ecology of Forest Insects, P.O. Box 245, Berkeley, CA, (4) University of California, Berkeley, Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management Division of Insect Biology, Division of Insect Biology, 201 Wellman Hall, #3112, Berkeley, CA

The RockPointe condominium complex in Chatsworth, CA has had a long history of subterranean termite activity and termite-related homeowner complaints. A total of 7,327 Sentricon® stations were installed between October and December of 2001 around 134 buildings, and inspected monthly thereafter. Per label instructions, as termites appeared in the Sentricon® stations they were immediately baited with hexaflumuron. When feasible, auxillary stations were installed adjacent to the active stations to enhance the rate of station discovery and bait consumption. Within two months of installation, 41% of the buildings had stations that revealed visual signs of subterranean termite activity and were baited; this percentage rose to 90% after 6 months and 95% after one year. A total of 423 auxillary Sentricon® stations were installed between February 2001 and October 2003. Of the 7,327 Sentricon® stations initially installed, 12% had subterranean termite activity; 13% of the auxiliary stations became active. The number of newly infested stations plummeted in 2003 apparently due to baiting. Comparing means for newly active stations between 2002 and 2003 resulted in a 70% reduction in new activity. By March 2004, very few newly active Sentricon® stations have been recorded. Paralleling the reduction of termites in stations at the site was a reduction in complaints from residents at the complex. These results strongly suggest that the ongoing baiting program utilizing the Sentricon® Termite Colony Elimination System has had a significant impact on the subterranean termite community at this site.


Species 1: Isoptera Rhinotermitidae Reticulitermes (western subterranean termite)
Keywords: termite baits

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