Methods and systems for detecting and controlling subterranean termites
AssigneeUniversity of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorNan-Yao Su
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The subject invention pertains to materials and methods useful for management of certain pests. The invention is particularly well suited for the control of social insect pests and, particularly, termites. The invention concerns unique toxicant-containing matrices as well as apparatuses for monitoring pest activity and presenting a toxicant. The invention is useful as part of an Integrated Pest Management Program and can greatly reduce the introduction of harmful chemicals into the environment.
Claims21
A method for controlling subterranean termites comprising the following steps:
- a) providing a casing defining a cavity in the ground, the casing providing termite access to the cavity, and
- b) placing a toxin delivery housing in the cavity, the toxin delivery housing being made from a material that resists decay or corrosion when placed in the cavity and that is not edible by termites, the toxin delivery housing comprising one or more sidewalls, the one or more sidewalls including a plurality of openings that define termite entry points, the one or more sidewalls enclosing an edible termite toxin material,
- such that the plurality of openings in the one or more sidewalls provide access for the subterranean termites to the enclosed edible termite toxin material.
A toxin delivery system for controlling subterranean termites, the toxin delivery system comprising a casing and a toxin delivery housing, the casing having an interior capable of defining a cavity in the ground, the casing providing termite access to the interior, the toxin delivery housing being positioned in the cavity and comprising one or more sidewalls, the one or more sidewalls comprising a plurality of openings that define termite entry points, the one or more sidewalls enclosing an edible termite toxin material, the toxin delivery housing being made from a material that resists decay or corrosion when placed in a cavity in the ground and that is not edible by termites.
A method for controlling subterranean termites comprising the following steps:
- a) capturing alive a subterranean termite present in a cavity in the ground,
- b) providing a toxin delivery housing in the cavity, the toxin delivery housing enclosing a termite toxin material, the toxin delivery housing including one or more termite exit points, the termite toxin material blocking the one or more termite exit points,
- c) placing the captured, live termite in the toxin delivery housing such that the termite must tunnel through the termite toxin material in order to gain access to the cavity via the one or more termite exit points.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.