Termites calling

Cellulose is the single most abundant polymer in the biosphere. Like amylose, it is a polymer. Unlike amylose, however, the linkages between glucose units in cellulose are (l->4) bonds instead of ot(l->4) bonds. Thus, enzymes called cellulases are needed to cleave the / (l->4) bonds in cellulose. It turns out, however, that only ruminants, such as cows, termites, and certain fungi, such as mushrooms, possess the necessary cellulases to digest cellulose. Ruminants and termites have the required enzymes only because their respective digestive tracts contain symbiotic bacteria that produce cellulases. 

Chemicals that carry signals from one organism to another are known as semiochemicals. These can be grouped into two main classes. If the signal is between two members of the same species, the messenger is called a pheromone. Pheromones carry different types of information. Not all species use pheromones. In those which do, some may use only one or two pheromones while others, in particular the social insects such as bees, ants and termites, use an array of chemical signals to organise most aspects of their lives. 

Hexaflumuron, originally developed by Dow as an insecticide for control of Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Homoptera, and dipera pests on cotton, top fruit and potatoes, was first introduced into Latin America in 1987. It was later registered in the USA in 1995 as the first reduced risk pesticide for use as part of a termite bait matrix system called Sentricon [59, 61-65]. Hexaflumuron has since been replaced with another benzoylphenyl urea, noviflumuron, which is more potent... 

Squirting which involves ejection by the soldiers of a viscous, sticky secretion from a specialized elongated rostrum called the nasus Nasutitermes, Trinervitermes) and thus avoids physical contact between termite and enemy. 

Due to their slow acting effects and their lack of efficacy by contact, benzoylureas are useful for bait stations. Flufenoxuron and Diflubenzuron are active ingredients used in different recently introduced termite bait systems, whereas Triflumuron is applied directly to termite nests. Another completely different termite bait systems was developed based on a new stomach poison with delayed action called sulfluramid (Figure 22). 

Mice are far from the only pests that like your house more than the outside world (especially in fall and winter). Additional visitors may also include cockroaches, ants, fleas, or other insects exotic and familiar (if you have termites, DIY time is over—call an exterminator). The first rule remains the same for them all Make whatever it is they want inaccessible. Discover their food source and remove it. Beyond that there are species-specific traps. And beyond that, fumigation. So start with an aggressive campaign of prevention. 

What is called chemical parsimony (stinginess) is applied among termite pheromones. One compound serves as pheromone for a number of species. Moreover, dodecadienol, produced by females at higher concentration, acts as sex pheromone for males (about 0.1 pg cm for trails and about 1 ng as sex pheromone). This dual use also applies to (Z,Z,E)-3,6, 8-dodecatrien-l-ol, which in some Rhinotermitidae acts as trail pheromone, at low concentration, and sex pheromone at higher concentration. 

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