Formosan subterranean termites

In addition to their mandibles, which are used to bite, pierce, shear, and cut intruders, soldiers of Coptotermes formosanus, a Formosan subterranean termite, are also armed with chemical weaponry. When disturbed, the soldiers secrete a gluelike white fluid from the frontal gland, which often form a drop between the open mandibles. Lignoceric and hexacosanoic acids were the two major components identified in this secretion [183]. 

Meepagala K, Osbrink W, Sturtz G, Lax A, Plant-derived natural products exhibiting activity against Formosan subterranean termites Coptotermes for-mosanus), Pest ManagSci 62 565-570, 2006. 

Zhu BCR, Henderson G, Chen F, Maistrello L, Laine RA, Nootkatone is a repellent for Formosan subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus), J Chem. Eco/27 523-531,2001. 

Rojas MG, Morales-Ramos JA. Bait matrix for delivery of chitin synthesis inhibitors to the formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera Rhinotermitidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 2001, 94, 506-510. 

Zhu, B.C.R., Henderson, G., Yu, Y, Laine, R.A. 2003. Toxicity and repellency of patchouli oil and patchouli alcohol against formosan subterranean termites coptotermes formosanus shiraki (Isoptera Rhinotermitidae). Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 51(16) 4585-4588. 

Since this symposium was held in New Orleans, it was appropriate to describe research aimed at efficient control of the Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus). The Formosan subterranean termite is among the most devastating urban pests in the world wherever it has spread. Its management costs the U.S. alone hundreds of millions of dollars a year. 

Assessment of Natural Products for Control of Formosan Subterranean Termites... 

Numerous plant species have been reported to be resistant to attack from subterranean termites. Many of these plants and extracts derived from them were tested for leads as potential natural product basexl pesticides. Forty plant and tree extracts reported to be active against termites displayed poor activity against the Formosan subterranean termite at rates < 0.5% wt/wt. Most naphthoquinones were active with a non-polar substitution in the 2-position. Anthroquinones generally had little termiticidal activity. None of the plant extracts or natural products tested were sufficiently active to be considered useful for control of the Formosan subterranean termite without structural modification. 

In the middle of the 20th century, the synthetic development of DDT and other chlorinated hydrocarbons (C.H.), increased insecticidal activity well beyond that of most natural products. Problems arose with bioaccumulation of C.H. residues in the food chain, human fat tissue, mother s milk, as well as the development of insecticide resistance. It became obvious there were limitations to synthetic technology as well. The modification of a natural product, for example, from chrysanthemum flowers and their pyrethrum extracts (7) to pyrethroids such as allethrin, resmethrin, permethrin (2), and deltamethrin created a model in which insecticides are created from the skeleton of insecticidally active natural molecules. Thus, the avermectin, abamectin, ivermectin family of pesticides originated from compounds produced by the soil bacterium, Streptomyces avermitilis (5), and the commercially successful chloronicotinyl insecticides, though not derived from nicotine, are chemically related 4). Both pyrethroids and chloronicotinyls are currently used commercially as termiticides. We have previously provided a detailed review of natural products as pesticidal agents for control of the Formosan subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (5). 

The purpose of this research was to determine whether various plants or woods and their extracts had an efrect on Formosan subterranean termites to warrant further evaluation for termite control applications. Based on activity of wood extracts, an extensive series of substituted quinones was evaluated to gain insight into the relationship of substitutions to termiticidal activity for synthesis of more active compounds. 

The Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, is a major urban pest that is found in several areas around the world. They were brought to the continental United States from China shortly after WWII and have since spread to several southern states with the highest concentration centered around New Orleans, Louisiana. 

Effect of the White Rot Fungus, Phanaerochaete chrysosporium, on the Feeding Preferences of the Formosan Subterranean Termite (Isoptera Rhinotermitidae) for Different Wood Species... 

Formosan subterranean termites were collected from field colonies in New Orleans, LA, using underground bucket traps (7) baited widi blocks of spruce wood Picea spp). Termites were kept in the lab in 5.6-L covered plastic boxes containing moist sand and blocks of spruce wood until they were used in experiments. Termites from four colonies (Cl, C6, Cl 1, and C12) were used in these experiments. 

However, decay by P. chrysosporium did not appear to affect the relative feeding preference of Formosan subterranean termites for these four wood species. In contrast, in a previous study, the relative preference of redwood increased when blocks were decayed by M, troyanus (4),... 

Grace, J. K., Laks, P. E. and Yamamoto, R. T., 1992. Laboratory evaluation of chlorothalonil against the Formosan subterranean termite. International Research Group on Wood Preservation. IRG/1W92-1559. 

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