Tunneling and activity of reticulitermes flavipes (isoptera: rhinotermitidae) exposed to low concentrations of nonrepellent termiticides

Abstract

Tunneling and activity bioassays of chlorfenapyr, fipronil, and imidacloprid

treated sand were conducted in the laboratory using Reticulitermes flavipes

(Kollar). Termites tunneled significantly less through sand treated with 1.0

ppm concentrations of fipronil and imidacloprid compared to the control

and chlorfenapyr. Mortality after 7 d was 57, 25, and 29% for fipronil, chlorfenapyr,

and imidacloprid, respectively. In a second experiment, termite

activity was determined from sound events detected in an acoustical event

detection system over a 48 h period after termites were placed on sand treated

with 1.0 or 10.0 ppm concentrations. Activity of termites declined to near

zero within 3 and 9 h when exposed to 1.0 ppm imidacloprid- and fiproniltreated

sand, respectively. Termites in the 1.0 ppm chlorfenapyr treatment

showed a decline in activity to near zero after 7 h, followed by an increase in

activity and another decline at 12 and 13 h only to increase once again and

remain significantly above zero for the remainder of the 48 h period. Mean

termite mortality 7 d after termites were placed on treated sand was 100, 99,

and 76% for fipronil, chlorfenapyr, and imidacloprid, respectively. Termite

activity declined to near zero 2, 8, and 9 h after exposure to 10.0 ppm imidacloprid-,

chlorfenapyr-, and fipronil-treated sand, respectively. Mortality

associated with the 10.0 ppm concentration, recorded after 4 d, was 100% for

fipronil and 92% for chlorfenapyr. Mortality due to imidacloprid exposure

was 100% after 7 d.

Citation

Mulrooney, J.E.; Gerard, P.D. 2009. Tunneling and activity of reticulitermes flavipes (isoptera: rhinotermitidae) exposed to low concentrations of nonrepellent termiticides. Sociobiology, Vol. 53(3): 695-706