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Activity of Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) Exposed to Nestmates Treated with Slow-Acting Nonrepellent Termiticides

Formally Refereed

Abstract

A 32-channel acoustical event detector was used to monitor termite activity in donor/recipient bioassays of slow-acting nonrepellent termiticides. Acoustical detection of termite activity illustrated termite mortality over time, attributed to termiticides moving from donors to recipients. In the first of two donor-recipient experiments, worker termites (donors) were exposed for 1.0 h to sand treated with 50 ppm concentrations of fipronil or imidacloprid. Donors were then combined with recipients at 5% of the total population of 200 workers. Termite activity was monitored for 14 d. Only fipronil significantly reduced termite activity (sound events), survival, and wood consumption below controls. In a second donor-recipient experiment, fipronil significantly reduced activity, survival, and consumption below controls when donors (12.5% of the population) were exposed to 1.0 ppm for 1.0 h.

Keywords

termite activity, nonrepellent, termiticide, acoustical event, Reticulitermes flavipes

Citation

Mulrooney, J.E.; Hasse, R. D.; Wagner, T. L.; Gerard, P. D. 2007. Activity of Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) Exposed to Nestmates Treated with Slow-Acting Nonrepellent Termiticides. Sociobiology 50(1):71-86.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/40837