Novel device for the remote detection of subterranean termites (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae)

Subterranean termites, while considered ecologically beneficial organisms, cause billions of dollars of damage annually to man-made wooden structures.  The integrated management of subterranean termites (or ITM) involves the use of non-cellulosic construction materials, landscape modifications, physical barriers, structural repairs (e.g., moisture source reduction), and the judicious application of termiticides (e.g., liquids, baits, foams, insecticide impregnated or mechanical/material barriers).  The keystone tenant of integrated pest management, in general, is the implementation of a pest monitoring program.  However, subterranean termite monitoring is often initiated only as a means of measuring treatment success after an infestation has been identified and remediation rendered.  The costs of monitoring programs associated with termite baiting systems present an economic sustainability challenge and have moved the industry away from monitoring and toward prophylactic bait placements with once per year service intervals.  Remote termite detection, incorporated into the internet of things (IoT), offers the opportunity to reduce the costs associated with termite monitoring, increase monitoring frequency, heighten objective notifications and reduce the reliance on prophylactic treatments or the indiscriminate application of insecticides.   We introduce a proprietary remote termite detection system recently developed by BASF Professional and Specialty Solutions and provide initial field data on its ability to remotely monitor populations of Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae).