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The effect of bait design on bait consumption in termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

T.A. Evans  and
P.V. Gleeson
T.A. Evans*
Affiliation:
CSIRO Entomology, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
P.V. Gleeson
Affiliation:
CSIRO Entomology, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
*
*Fax: +61 2 6246 4000 E-mail: Theo.Evans@csiro.au
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Abstract

The efficacy of baiting as a pest control method relies on the bait appealing to the pest species. In the case of wood-eating termites, bait stations should be designed to encourage termite presence and to maximize their consumption of bait matrix in order to expedite control in minimal time. A field experiment examined the effect of bait size (one large bait or four small baits of equivalent total size, with commensurate inspection and replacement schedules), compaction (tightly rolled or loosely folded) and composition (paper only or paper plus wood) on termite presence and on untreated bait paper removal rates over four months. All three factors were significant, with bait size the most important factor, followed by compaction and then composition. The least effective baits were small, compacted (rolled) paper-only baits with monthly inspections; these had the highest abandonment rate (70%) and had the least paper removed (mean of 24 g). The most effective baits were large, folded paper-plus-wood baits with inspections at two months; these had the lowest abandonment rate (20%) and had the highest paper removal (mean of 112 g). The more than four-fold difference between these baits types demonstrates that bait efficacy can be altered considerably merely by changing bait design without adding new ingredients to the bait matrix.

Keywords

termitesbait sizebait compactionbait compositioncontrol
Type
Review Article
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 96 , Issue 1 , February 2006 , pp. 85 - 90
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2006

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