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Introducing the EntomoBiotic™ Termite Interceptor, Annunciator, & Inoculator (TIAI) Max E. Badgley Memorial Edition by Jerry Cates ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Summary: Thanks to help from many sources, R&D on our latest Termite Interceptor, Annunciator, & Inoculator is nearing a major milestone. During 2007 this device was used, throughout Texas, to nullify the ability of termite colonies to infest and damage manufactured structures and living botanicals like trees and shrubs. It works by intercepting termite colonies and inoculating their workers with biological agents, such as entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN), without resorting to the use of toxic chemical termiticides. Scroll down to read full text of article. Next... ------------------------------------------------------------------------- We are now using termite interceptors & inoculators to treat termite colonies at homes and businesses throughout Texas, without resorting to the use of toxic chemical termiticides. The device we use is one we developed over many years of experimentation and field testing, the EntomoBiotic™ Termite Interceptor, Annunciator, & Inoculator (TIAI). It intercepts the termites where they forage in the soil, annunciates their presence, and lets a user inoculate intercepted colonies with biological agents. As such, it works as a crucial part of the IRIM™ i3 program. This program acts to nullify a termite colony's ability to infest and damage manufactured structures and living botanicals such as trees and shrubs.
Fig. 1: EntomoBiotic™ Termite Interceptor, Annunciator, & Inoculator (TIAI). This device, shown above, is inserted into the soil around homes and businesses where subterranean termites forage for food. When termites come into contact with it, they chew through the BugWall™ barrier sealing the ingress ports in its sides and begin eating the device interior. Soon after entering, the termites change the appearance of the top signal ports, informing an observer of their presence. The observer then pours the first solution of nematodes mixed with water through the screen ports in the top, followed by additional inoculations of nematodes as appropriate. The nematodes infect the termites, who carry the infection back to the rest of the colony. Each device is individually signed and numbered. More EntomoBiotic™ TIAI images and information. The EntomoBiotic™ Termite Interceptor, Annunciator, & Inoculator (TIAI) honors Max E. Badgley, an insect photographer who dedicated his life to furthering rational, biologically-based insect control methods. In so doing, it also honors all who seek to employ non-toxic and least-toxic methods of pest management, particularly for the management of subterranean termites. The EntomoBiotic™ TIAI is optimized individually to perform in the climate, and with the species of termites, indigenous to a planned installation site. Each device is hand-crafted, according to exacting standards, using select materials that have been analyzed and tested in our laboratory. The composition and architecture of the device interior is recorded in our computerized data base. This lets us analyze used devices to gauge their effectiveness. Every device is serialized and individually signed as proof of its authenticity. Historical Perspective: Breaking New Ground The concept of inoculating biological agents into termite colonies, using termite interceptors as inoculation windows, represents a new twist to termite baiting. Until the early 1990's, the common method prescribed for treating subterranean termites was an indirect approach that used large amounts of toxic liquid termiticides to inundate the soil next to homes and other structures. This created "termite-proof" barriers intended to deny termites access to the protected structures, but also laced the soil with toxicants. With the advent of termite baits in 1994 it became possible to attack termite colonies directly. This direct method involved planting feeding stations in the soil that contained a toxicant bait that either suppressed or eliminated termite colonies. In most cases, the toxicants used in these termite baits belong to relatively new classes of chemicals. Their safety profiles, therefore, are not well established. Even the safest of these new classes of toxicants pose dangers to humans and other mammals and must be dispensed in tamper-resistant enclosures to prevent their exposure to pets and children. EPA-mandated testing of these toxicants cannot use actual humans, so the effects observed with experimental laboratory animals, such as rats and rabbits, must be extrapolated to the human body. Such toxicant studies employ an imperfect science that cannot tell us precisely how humans are effected, either in the long or short term, but especially in the long term. That, alone, justifies the search for non-toxic and least-toxic alternatives. Besides the possible risks of human exposure, the requirement that toxicant baits be placed in child and pet resistant bait station also has economic and practical consequences. The tedious, time-consuming processes of inspecting and servicing such stations make them unusually expensive to use. By comparison, EPN and other biological and organic agents used for termite control in the EntomoBiotic™ TIAI are natural, insect-specific antagonists whose safety to mammals is unquestioned. Because there are few or no restrictions on exposure, such agents can be inoculated into easily inspected and serviced detector/bait stations with little or no risks to children or pets. Used properly, these agents work to nullify the ability of termite colonies to infest and damage manufactured structures and living botanicals such as trees and shrubs, without the use of toxicant termiticidal chemicals. Commercial Partnering At some point in the future, the EntomoBiotic™ TIAI will be made available to professional pest management firms who wish to use them. Professionals who emphasize chemical-free pest control will appreciate the ability of this device to give them crucial windows into the termite colonies present at their customer sites. Such windows, needed to allow effective treatments to occur, are provided by the EntomoBiotic™ TIAI in such a way that they allow the user to inoculate biological agents through them in a measured, rational process that, over time, eliminates the risk of termite damage at that site. Eventually this same device will also be available in retail outlets, for sale to the Do-It-Yourself consumer. Retailers who cater to homeowners and business owners who prefer using natural, chemical-free, least- toxic and toxicant-free pest management methods will find a ready market for this device once they start placing it on their shelves. Ease of installation, inspection, and servicing, using nematodes and other biological agents, many of which such retailers already supply to their customers, make the EntomoBiotic™ TIAI a perfect companion to existing stocks. Presently, sales of this device are limited to direct orders from our office. For specifics, please call Jerry Cates, (512) 331-1111. Our Thanks Many have labored with us, and invested time and other resources to move this project along. Others, principally research scientists in academia and industry, have provided--through their published works, correspondence, and other communications--the intellectual foundation necessary for this work to proceed. It goes without saying that we are very grateful. More Details on the EntomoBiotic™ TIAI More on Termite Detection & Interception -------------------------------------------------------------- Links to Important Articles related to Termite Biology: Barbara Thorne et al. discuss recent discoveries in termite biology: http://www.lfsc-courses.umd.edu/cv/docs/entm_cv/bthorne/04PCT_May03_reprint.pdf Dr. Thorne is a recognized authority in termite biology, and holds several patents on termite detection devices. She, in collaboration with Dr. James Traniello, the co-author of this article, developed the first convertible termite detector/bait station, defining the essential elements of the art. Her research led to a revolution in the field of subterranean termite detection and management. Gunther Becker, on termites and wood: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rarv/v28n2/20993.pdf Regina Célia Gonçalves PeraltaI et al discusses wood consumption rates of forest species by subterranean termites: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S0100-67622004000200015&script=sci_arttext Thomas Fuchs et al. on desert termites: http://insects.tamu.edu/extension/bulletins/uc/uc-016.html Barbara Thorne et al. on searching for and destroying subterranean termites: http://www.lfsc-courses.umd.edu/cv/docs/entm_cv/bthorne/01PCT_February04.pdf Mary Duryea on termites in mulch: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FR075 Jody Green et al. on effects of moisture on termite food consumption: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/Green_et_al_2005.pdf Please send suggested additions to the above list, or corrections to any of the captions provided, to jcates@austin.rr.com. -------------------------------------------------------------- Questions: Telephone: 512-331-1111 E-Mail: jcates@austin.rr.com Our Privacy Policy |
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