Synergy of Diflubenzuron Baiting and NHA Dusting on Mortality of Reticulitermes flavipes

Abstract

The ability of N’N-naphthaloylhydroxylamine (NHA) to cause mortality in Reticulitermes flavipes workers pretreated with the chitin synthesis inhibitor diflubenzuron was tested by adding two NHA dusted workers to 100 (2:100) pretreated workers fed either pure microcrystalline alpha-cellulose or diflubenzuron (0.25%) treated microcrystalline cellulose for 30 days prior to adding the two dusted termites. By day 5 post addition, there was a 50% mortality in the diflubenzuron treated termites only. By day 17, the mean survival of cellulose treated termites was 91 +/-2.8% and in the diflubenzuron fed termites was 1 +/- 1.5%. It has previously been demonstrated that chitin is present in the termite skeleton and in the walls of some internal organs including the digestive track and malpighian tubules. Previous publications showed that an internal chitinous structure known as the peritrophic matrix was adversely affected by the diflubenzuron with these membranes damaged or absent. We propose that the peritrophic membrane is likely to be further damaged by the calcium precipitating agent N,N” naphthaloylhydroxylamine causing 100% mortality in the diflubenzuron treated termites in 3 weeks.

Citation

Green, F. III; Arango, R.A.; Esenther, G.R.; Rojas, M.G.; Morales-Ramos, J. 2013. Synergy of Diflubenzuron Baiting and NHA Dusting on Mortality of Reticulitermes flavipes. In: Proceedings of 109th AMERICAN WOOD PROTECTION ASSOCIATION, April 28-May 1, 2013; pp. 156-160.