ABSTRACT
Termites attack cellulose and woods, damaging furniture, floors, roofs and other structures. Chemical treatment of the soil is the most common control for subterranean termites which forms a barrier above and around infested structures. When conventional controls are applied colony sizes and satellite nests are not known. The objective of this test was to determine the foraging area and estimate the population of Heterotermes tenuis colony by the Triple Mark and Release Method (TMR) with the posterior estimation of hexaflumuron bait efficiency. The results showed that the estimated foraging population of the H. tenuis colony was 802,193 ± 41,098 workers. The average insect weights were: workers - 0.004238 g ± 0.000348; pre-alates - 0.004926 g ± 0.000476; and soldiers - 0.004823 g ± 0.000809. In the first collection the rate of different castes were 97.00% workers, 2.78% soldiers and 0.22% pre-alates. After the estimation of the population and foraging area, the control was initiated on 1/4/99 with 2 hexaflumuron baits, 20 g each one, (Recruit* - 0.5% p/p). After 64 and 84 days there was verified a reduction of 28.57 and 54.14%, respectively, in the termite activities. At 105 days there were no activities in 85.7% of the monitoring stations. At 119 days after baiting there were no activities in the treated area. The treated area was monitored after the end of termite activities by wood stakes during 6 months and no re-infestation was recorded.
KEY WORDS:
Heterotermes tenuis; foraging area; population estimate; control; bait; hexaflumuron.
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