Mortality of Eastern Subterranean Termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) Exposed to Four Soils Treated with Termiticides

Abstract

Termite survivorship was affected by soil type and termiticide tested in constant-exposure bioassay. Four soil types were tested at the same percentage soil moisture (15% wt:wt). Soil pH values were between 5.4 and 5.5 with organic matter contents ranging from <0.07 to 3.75%. Soils tested included a sand, sandy loam, sandy clay loam, and sandy clay. Six termiticide formulations were tested including chlorpyrifos (Dursban TC), fenvalerate (Tribute), cypermethrin (Prevail FT, Demon 2 EC), and permethrin (Dragnet FT, Torpedo). Estimated lethal concentrations for all termiticides were at least 7 times lower in sand compared with sandy loam or sandy clay loam soils. However, soil type alone could not be used to predict termite mortality with the termiticides tested.