title: Response of Reticulitermes hesperus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) colonies to baiting with lufenuron in northern California.
abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate lufenuron termite bait (1,500 ppm) for the elimination of colonies of Reticulitermes hesperus Banks (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Dispersion of colonies in six baited and six unbaited sites near Placerville, CA, was determined by genetic (microsatellite) analyses. Twenty-one colonies of R. hesperus inhabited the six baited sites and eight colonies of R. hesperus occurred in the six unbaited sites. Five criteria provided a cause-and-effect link between the deployment of lufenuron termite bait and elimination of baited colonies: 1) association of foragers, as members of the same colony, in the independent monitoring stations and bait stations; 2) quantity of bait consumed; 3) abnormal physical appearance of foragers in bait stations; 4) disappearance of foragers from, and cessation of feeding in, independent monitoring stations visited by baited colonies; and 5) presence of foragers from, and continuation of feeding in, independent monitors visited by unbaited colonies. Baited colonies were devoid of foraging termites within a mean of 70.6 d (range, 37-93 d) of bait deployment. Colonies consumed a mean of 8.0 g of bait (range, 2.2-16.0 g). Wood consumption by baited and unbaited colonies was not significantly different during the 2 mo before baiting, 281.4 versus 590.5 mg/d per colony, respectively, nor during the 3 mo immediately after baiting, 112.5 versus 436.8 mg/d per colony, respectively. However, from 10 to 16 mo after baiting, wood consumption by baited colonies essentially ceased and was significantly less than the unbaited colonies, 7.9 versus 470.1 mg/d per colony, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Division of Organisms and the Environment, Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California/Berkeley, 1301 South 46th St., Bldg. 478, Richmond, CA 94804-4698, USA. mhaverty@berkeley.edu
authors.forename: Michael I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Haverty
authors.forename: Robin L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Tabuchi
authors.forename: Edward L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Vargo
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Lori J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Vernard R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001549:Benzamides; D002140:California; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D007306:Insecticides; D020049:Isoptera; D014934:Wood; D005466:Fluorocarbons
chemical_list: D001549:Benzamides; D007306:Insecticides; C070364:fluphenacur; D005466:Fluorocarbons