UC Riverside scientists have developed a new, effective, and environmentally friendly method to lure and kill western drywood termites using pinene, a chemical released by forest trees that attracts the insects to insecticide injected into wood. The combination of insecticide and pinene resulted in a mortality rate of over 95%, compared to 70% with insecticide alone. Termites are important recyclers of dead wood above ground, but they pose a significant threat to homes as they cannot distinguish between dead trees and building materials.
The pest control industry commonly uses fumigation to control drywood termite infestations, but this method has drawbacks, including toxicity to humans, environmental concerns, and the need for repeated treatments every three to five years. Localized injection, which involves drilling holes into infested wood to target termite galleries with poison, is a less toxic and more cost-effective alternative. By using pinene as an attractant, technicians can eliminate the need to search for hidden termite colonies and ensure the insects come into contact with the insecticide.
Choe’s research focused on improving pest management strategies by understanding insect behavior and developing more efficient control methods. The use of pinene to attract western drywood termites to fipronil insecticide not only increases the effectiveness of the treatment but also reduces the amount of chemicals needed to achieve control. While fipronil can be harmful to aquatic insects and pollinators if released into the environment, injecting the insecticide directly into wood minimizes the risk of off-target effects.
The study highlights the potential of using natural compounds like pinene to enhance pest management practices and reduce reliance on synthetic chemicals that can have negative impacts on the environment. By leveraging the insects’ natural attraction to food scents, researchers were able to develop a targeted approach that increases the efficiency of termite control while minimizing the risks associated with traditional fumigation methods. This research contributes to a growing body of knowledge on insect behavior and chemical communication systems that can be harnessed to develop innovative pest control solutions.
Choe’s laboratory continues to investigate the chemical communication systems of urban insect pests, leveraging this knowledge to develop sustainable pest management strategies that are effective and environmentally responsible. By understanding how insects respond to certain compounds and exploiting their natural behaviors, researchers can develop novel approaches to pest control that reduce the use of traditional, toxic chemicals. In this case, the use of pinene as an attractant for western drywood termites demonstrates the potential of using natural compounds to improve pest management practices and protect homes from termite infestations in a safe and cost-effective manner.