Efficacy Study of Pestman Termite Bait in Controlling Subterranean Termites (Reticulitermes)

Tangong Villa, located in Shanghai, is an old residential area covering more than 47,384.6 square meters. Constructed between 2004 and 2005, this upscale villa complex features low-rise residences and row villas, with paved concrete surfaces providing natural barriers that reduce the risk of termite propagation. Due to these conditions, no significant termite issues were reported in the years following its construction.

However, in June 2024, a homeowner in Villa No. 23 reported termite swarms within their property. Upon inspection, the termites were identified as Coptotermes formosanus (Formosan subterranean termite). The house had been vacant for some time, which allowed the termite colony to grow undisturbed, resulting in extensive activity. Key findings included visible mud tubes and wood damage in specific locations.

Termites cause extensive damage to buildings each year, often requiring costly repairs. However, finding evidence of termites is not an immediate cause for alarm. It typically takes several years of termite feeding for a building to become structurally weakened. In this article, we will share with you various professional termite treatment methods.

The in-ground termite bait station is a device designed specifically to monitor and control subterranean termites. These bait stations are installed below ground around buildings or other structures that require protection. By attracting termites into the station to feed on bait laced with slow-acting toxins, the poison is carried back to the colony, eventually eliminating or controlling the entire termite population.

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the Pestman in-ground bait station in controlling Coptotermes formosanus. The results showed that the monitoring wood pieces of the Pestman in-ground bait station had good termite-attracting ability when the average daily temperature was above 19 °C. The underground plastic bait stations were designed to ensure continuous feeding by the termites. Hexaflumuron, the insecticide in the bait stations, exhibited strong killing activity against C. formosanus. The colony in the artificial fir and camphor mixed forest at Taolin Hotel in Changde City was successfully eliminated with a total consumption of 150 g of hexaflumuron.