Source: UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA submitted to
IMPROVING OUR UNDERSTANDING OF NATIVE SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES OF THE ARID SOUTHWEST.
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0220330
Grant No.
(N/A)
Project No.
ARZT-1361350-H31-151
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jul 1, 2009
Project End Date
Sep 30, 2013
Grant Year
(N/A)
Project Director
Baker, P.
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
888 N EUCLID AVE
TUCSON,AZ 85719-4824
Performing Department
Entomology
Non Technical Summary
Rationale: Subterranean termites play a significant ecological role in the detritus cycle worldwide; however, this can be overshadowed by their economic impact. In the United States alone subterranean termites cost consumers in chemical cost and repairs in today's dollars at least $US 1.5 billion (Su and Scheffrahn 1990). Species of Reticulitermes spps, Coptotermes formosanus, and Heterotermes aureus are among the most economically important pests of structures in the United States. In Arizona, Heterotermes aureus (Snyder) is the most economically important termite pest. Control strategies include: physical barrier exclusion; soil treatments with chemicals or by use of commercial baits. Regardless of the method, it will improve our knowledge and understanding of termite foraging biology and ecology. The projects are to mark termites to better understand their foraging patterns while securing a better collection design. The outcome will be better understanding of how termites forage and what collection designs they prefer. This information will be available to the pest management professional (PMP).
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
7213110107050%
7215399107050%
Knowledge Area
721 - Insects and Other Pests Affecting Humans;

Subject Of Investigation
5399 - Structures, facilities, and equipment, general/other; 3110 - Insects;

Field Of Science
1070 - Ecology;
Goals / Objectives
Objectives: 1) The evaluation of commercial monitoring stations alone with several novel designs to compare capture efficiency with regards to termites with implications for termite baiting and research studies. 2) Developing a new methodology for delineating the foraging territories of H. aureus colonies using an animal protein marking technique.
Project Methods
Procedure 1: A randomized complete block designed grid with 10 replications of the initial commercially and novel stations representing eight treatments will be established. Evaluations will be taken on three separate dates starting in the fall. Treatment 1- Arizona Research Monitoring Station (ARMS)-ASH consisted of 15.8-cm long x 15.8-cm diameter PVC pipe. Within each station/collar were placed a section of rolled cardboard (B flute) with a piece of ash (Fraxinus sp.) was in the center with the cardboard wrapped around the wood. A 16-cm x 16-cm x 1.5-cm concrete brick paver will be placed on top to secure it. Treatment 2- ARMS- with PINE southern yellow pine (Pinus spp.) Treatment 3 -ARMS-BLANK BAIT TUBE of Sentricon with no AI. A 7.6-cm hole will be dug in the middle of the collar to accommodate the bait tube. Treatment 4-CARDBOARD ONLY of a 10-cm x 120-cm section of rolled cardboard (B flute) that will be wrapped in 6.7-cm duck tape. Treatment 5 CARDBOARD ONLY ASH consisting of rolled cardboard (B flute)that will be wrapped in tape. A piece of 2.5-cm x 1.5-cm x 10-cm ash (Fraxinus sp.) will be positioned in the center and forced 2 mm into the soil. Treatment 6 will be FirstLine Termite Defense System which is manufactured by FMC; Treatment 7 Termicon Termite Interceptor Station by Pestube Systems and Treatment 8 the Termitrol Bait System. Procedure 2: The field study again will be conducted on H. aureus colonies located at the Santa Rita Experimental Range, Pima Co., Arizona. We will establish six field circular grid plots in which we will collect monthly samples. Each collection station consists of three cardboard wood-centered rolls placed within a piece of 0.15-m dia. X 0.15-m long PVC pipe capped with a concrete brick. The grid will consist of 50 additional collecting stations set out along the circumference of five annuli. The annuli are centered on the original active collecting station with radii of 1.5, 2.0, 4.0, 7.0 and 10.0 m. Termite populations will be sampled every 30 days for several months by removing one of the three cardboard rolls containing termites from each station occupied by termites, we can proceed with the treatment. A subsample of at least five termites will be placed in 100% EHOL for DNA analysis at a later date for confirmation of core colony determination. In the fall, one cardboard roll in the center collecting station of the grid will be replaced with a rabbit IgG marked roll. Termites in the center collecting station of the grid will be allowed to feed on the roll for minimum of 30 days. At which time, the grid will again be sampled by collecting one cardboard roll and return them to the lab for processing. All six plots will be subject to an ELISA marking technique. Data collected, along with possible DNA analysis, will be used to determine the colony size and foraging area of each colony within the plot.

Progress 07/01/09 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Nothing Reported Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? PI has retired and is longer at the University of Arizona.

Publications


    Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12

    Outputs
    OUTPUTS: Laboratory and field ecological studies continue to characterize termite/species in both field sites and laboratory bio-assay studies. This is represented in abstracts, publications and invited speaker presentations both local and regionally. The following are presentations given in the this time period: SW Regional Pest Control Conference (Albuquerque, NM), California Urban Conference (Riverside, CA), AZPPO conference in Phx and Tucson and National Conference on Urban Entomology in Atlanta, GA) PARTICIPANTS: Participants: University personnel ( student workers and graduate students) and termiticide manufacturer. The Federal government gave no funds to support this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audience: The public ( phone calls and presentations) and the pest management industry in the for of reporting research findings. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: None

    Impacts
    The general public and the pest management industry are constantly looking for additional information on the control of termites. As products become available on the market information about the effectiveness in the desert southwest is needed. Our finds of the effectiveness of termiticides particularly a product with no LD 50 has significant advantage. The impact to the environment is significant and the testing coming from a neutral party is what we represent both to the public and the pest industry.

    Publications

    • Paul B. Baker (2012) Field and Laboratory Evaluation of Altriset in Southern Arizona in the Proceeding of the National Conference on Urban Entomology Edited by Dan Suiter University of Ga. Pg 62 in Press
    • Miguelena J. G. and P. B. Baker. 2012. Forging populations of tube building termites Gnathamitermes perplexus (Banks) associated with termiticide experiments in southern Arizona (Isoptera:Termitidae) Sociobiology 59 Vol 3 Pp 641-652.


    Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10

    Outputs
    OUTPUTS: Project is near completion with data analysis being done. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

    Impacts
    It appears that our modified monitors are more efficient than commercial monitors in capturing termites. This is significant for understanding termite baiting.

    Publications

    • No publications reported this period


    Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09

    Outputs
    OUTPUTS: Termites continue to be a significant urban pest. The goals and objectives are to better understand termites in their native environment so as to improve our knowledge of control tactics. The evaluation of commercial and newly design termite monitors will help us improve our ability to hopefully attract and design toxic food for control. PARTICIPANTS: Paul Baker and Ruben Marchosky TARGET AUDIENCES: The general public and pest control professionals PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: No major changes to date.

    Impacts
    We are currently evaluating the design and determining the best analysis to determine which of the designs has the greatest possibility of success compared to commercial monitors.

    Publications

    • No publications reported this period