System and method of detecting, concentrating and suppressing subterranean termites

Abstract

A system for subterranean termite detection, concentration and suppression is provided by deploying quasi-subterranean food masses configured in three functional forms tailored to each phase of a comprehensive program to detect, concentrate and suppress subterranean termite colonies. The detectors have subterranean ingress/egress ports leading into lateral passageways connected to one or more vertical cavities joined to a signal port in the dorsal surface of the detector. Subterranean termites seal the signal port with soil detritus, producing a distinctive visual change in the dorsal surface of the detector. This alerts a human observer to the presence of the termites. Concentrators, installed near sealed detectors, have substantially greater food mass and are capable of aggregating large quantities of termites, signaling the presence of termites in them via a dorsal signal array. Alternate embodiments of the concentrators have a central cavity to receive a removable feeder. The concentrator/feeder combination has a signal array in its dorsal surface that indicates when the non-toxic feeder should replaced with one containing a toxicant and when the toxicant should be replenished. The toxicant-containing feeder is replenished, as needed, until the termite colony has been successfully suppressed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.