Recent research from Purdue University indicates that using small quantities of nicotinoid pesticide can significantly weaken termites' ability to defend against fungal diseases, which may help scientists develop more-efficient pest-control methods.
In addition, the study shows that nicotinoid, the pesticide most commonly used to protect soybean and corn seeds against pests, also impacts the social instincts of termites, which may also help scientists create better pest controls.
Termites live in damp underground environments and in small areas, densely packed among thousands of other termites, but they rarely contract illnesses. They have more than the usual disease-defense genes found in all insects. Termites also have non-genetic methods for protecting themselves.
Using a sub-lethal dose of imiadcloprid weakened the crucial microbes located in the gut of termites and repressed the termites’ social hygiene habits, which help colonies stay healthy. These changes resulted in weakened defenses, and soon the termites grew vulnerable, even becoming susceptible to a fungal virus that typically does not impact them. The laboratory colonies used in the experiments were completely eliminated in just seven days.
"A termite colony can tolerate this dose of imidacloprid and fungal pathogen independently, but put them together, and they really have deleterious effects," Michael Scharf, the O.W. Rollins/Orkin Chair and a professor of entomology who led the Purdue research team, said. "Understanding how to cripple termite defenses could lead us to new, safer control technologies."
More Stories
- CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD & AGRICULTURE: CDFA Announces one Vacancy on the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Committee
- AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION: Support Ag Literacy Through the AFB Foundation for Agriculture’s Online Silent Auction
- AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION: Farm Bureau: Members Accept Leadership Roles on National Committees
- CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD & AGRICULTURE: CDFA Office of the Farm to Fork Invites Application for 2021 Farm to School Grants
- CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD & AGRICULTURE: CDFA Awards Funding to Support Agricultural Education and Leadership Opportunities as part of the Calag Plate Program
- AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION: AFBF Welcomes Nomination of Katherine Tai for U.S. Trade Representative
- CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD & AGRICULTURE: CDFA Announces Vacancies on Feed Inspection Advisory Board Technical Advisory Subcomittee
- AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION: AFBF Stands-Up for Farmers in Predatory Shakedown
- CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD & AGRICULTURE: CFDA Issues Stop Use Notice and Statewide Quarantine on Organic Fertilizer AGRO Gold WS
- AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION: Registration Open for American Farm Bureau Virtual Convention, Featuring Mike Rowe, Rorke Denver and Beth Ford