Remote monitoring system for detecting termites

Abstract

The subject invention pertains to materials and methods useful for management of certain pests. The invention is particularly well suited for the control of social insect pests and, particularly, termites. The invention concerns unique toxicant-containing matrices as well as apparatuses for monitoring pest activity and presenting a toxicant. The invention is useful as part of an Integrated Pest Management Program and can greatly reduce the introduction of harmful chemicals into the environment.

1 . A delivery system for controlling termites wherein said delivery system comprises a toxicant-free monitoring device, a toxicant-containing matrix, and a durable non-termite-edible delivery housing for simultaneously holding the toxicant-free monitoring device and the toxicant-containing matrix, wherein the delivery housing has a plurality of openings permitting termite access to the toxicant-free monitoring device and the toxicant-containing matrix, and the matrix of the toxicant-containing matrix comprises a cellulose-containing material.  
   
   
       2 . The delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the delivery housing is made of plastic, aluminum, or stainless steel.  
   
   
       3 . The delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the toxicant-containing matrix is present after termites are detected.  
   
   
       4 . The delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the toxicant-containing matrix is enclosed in a casing permitting termite access to the toxicant-containing matrix.  
   
   
       5 . The delivery system of  claim 4  wherein the casing is made of a polymeric material having openings through which termites can pass.  
   
   
       6 . The delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the monitoring device comprises a cellulose-containing material.  
   
   
       7 . The delivery system of  claim 1  further comprising a cover for the delivery housing.  
   
   
       8 . The delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the toxicant of the toxicant-containing matrix is a slow-acting termiticide.  
   
   
       9 . The delivery system of  claim 8  wherein the slow-acting termiticide is an acyl urea.  
   
   
       10 . The delivery system of  claim 9  wherein the acyl urea is hexaflumuron.  
   
   
       11 . A method for controlling termites wherein said method comprises positioning a durable non-termite-edible delivery housing at a location accessible to termites, placing a toxicant-free monitoring device so that said toxicant-free monitoring device is held by said delivery housing, and adding a toxicant-containing matrix within said delivery housing, wherein the delivery housing has a plurality of openings permitting termite access to the toxicant-free monitoring device and toxicant-containing matrix.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the delivery housing is made of plastic, aluminum, or stainless steel.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the toxicant-containing matrix is added after termites are detected.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the toxicant-containing matrix is enclosed in a casing permitting termite access to the toxicant-containing matrix.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the casing is made of a polymeric material having openings through which termites can pass.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the toxicant of the toxicant-containing matrix is a slow-acting acyl urea.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said delivery housing further comprising a cover.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the delivery housing is positioned in a cavity in the ground.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the monitoring device is placed before said delivery housing is positioned.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the monitoring device is placed after said delivery housing is positioned.