Preventing decay in termite monitoring stations

Abstract

In-ground monitoring stations and termite baits are widely used in the southern United States with the intent of detecting and eradicating subterranean termite activity near buildings. These stations comprise a wood (or other cellulose material) substrate (monitor) and perhaps a termiticidal toxicant (bait) held m a plastic cage that allows for both, easy examination and access by termites. The usual practice is to inspect the station monitors for termite aetiv1ty every few months. If termites are detected, a bait is added to ar replaces the untreated monitor. However, in addition to termite attack, the monitors are subject to fungal decay, and rapid decay in high hazard areas is interfering with the usefulness of this baiting approach. This paper reports on an evaluation of the relative decay susceptibility of termite baiting systems used in commercial monitoring stations. Some monitors are very susceptible to wetting and fungal decay. corroborating anecdotal evidence from the field. It was eonc1uded that decay in high hazard areas is likely to interfere with the usefulness of some of these systems. To be used successfully, possible approaches to overcome the decay issue are: careful selection of the system used; placement on or above ground rather than in the ground; recognition that monitors and/or baits need to be changed every few months; avoiding remote sensing systems that do not allow a visual check of the monitor; developing durable m0nitors and baits, e.g., with the addition of a non-termite-repellent fungicide.