Semiochemical reservoir to attract subterranean termites tunneling in soil
AssigneeUniversity of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorNan-Yao Su
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to polymer devices impregnated with semiochemical attractants for termites. The materials for delivering the semiochemicals are preferably cellulose-free. Devices of the subject invention are placed in soil and provide a slow-release and permeation of the semiochemicals into the adjacent soil so that termites tunneling in the vicinity are directed toward the chemical sources. Because the semiochemicals are impregnated in the polymer, the device also protects the semiochemicals so that they do not degrade rapidly under field conditions. In a preferred embodiment, the subject invention comprises a durable station housing, preferably with a removable bait, wherein the body of the station housing itself is impregnated with a semiochemical attractant.
Claims13
A method of attracting termites to a bait station, said method comprising the steps of:
- placing a bait station in soil or on the ground in a location that is accessible to termites, and
- placing at least one polymeric piece in soil,
- wherein the bait station holds a cellulose source,
- wherein the at least one polymeric piece is made of a non-cellulose polymer that holds a termite-attracting semiochemical that is gradually released into soil to form a semiochemical gradient in the soil when said polymeric piece is deployed in soil, and
- wherein said polymeric piece is external to said bait station so that said semiochemical gradient leads termites foraging in the area to said bait station.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.