FIELD-EVALUATION OF A HEXAFLUMORON BAIT FOR POPULATION SUPPRESSION OFSUBTERRANEAN TERMITES (ISOPTERA, RHINOTERMITIDAE)

A baiting procedure that incorporated a matrix containing a chitin syn thesis inhibitor, hexaflumuron, was evaluated against field colonies o f the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), and the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki. Wooden stakes were first driven into the soil to detect the presence of termites. Bait tubes were placed in soil where termites were detect ed. A self-recruiting procedure, in which termites collected from wood en stakes were forced to tunnel through the matrix in the bait tubes, significantly increased bait intake by termites. Approximately 4-1,500 mg of hexaflumuron was needed for 90-100% reduction of field populati ons containing 0.17-2.8 million foragers per colony.