Systems and methods for controlling pest infestation of a woody plant

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling and/or preventing infestation of a woody plant by one or more species of pests are provided. In one particular but non-limiting form, a composite member is positioned at a locus near a woody plant that is susceptible to damage by one or more wood-destroying pest species such as termites. The composite member includes a pesticide and a bait material palatable to the one or more wood-destroying pest species. In one aspect, the composite member includes an extruded mixture of the pesticide and bait material. Further embodiments, forms, features, and aspects shall become apparent from the description and drawings.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising identifying a locus near a growing site of a woody plant susceptible to damage from one or more species of termites and positioning a composite member below ground level at the locus, wherein the composite member includes a pesticide and a bait material palatable to the one or more species of termites. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the locus includes detecting a mud trail providing termite access to the woody plant and forming an interrupted area in the mud trail. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , which includes positioning the composite member in the interrupted area. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , which further includes at least one of applying a cover to at least a portion of the composite member and covering the composite member with fill. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the interrupted area is situated adjacent to a root of the woody plant. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the woody plant is an oil palm tree or a rubber tree. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , which further includes forming a hole configured to receive the woody plant being transplanted from a second location, wherein the locus is in the hole and positioning the composite member at the locus includes placing the composite member in the hole. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , which further includes placing the woody plant in the hole over the composite member. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the composite member is disk-shaped. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the woody plant is an immature oil palm tree. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composite member includes an extruded mixture of the pesticide and bait material. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pesticide is selected from the group consisting of noviflumuron, hexaflumuron, lufenuron, flufenoxuron, diflubenzuron, bistrifluron, sulfuramid, novaluron and hydramethylnon. 
     
     
         13 . A system, comprising a composite member positioned at a location below ground level near a growing site of a woody plant susceptible to damage from one or more species of termites, wherein the composite member includes a pesticide and a bait material palatable to the one or more species of termites. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the pesticide is selected from the group consisting of noviflumuron, hexaflumuron, lufenuron, flufenoxuron, diflubenzuron, bistrifluron, sulfuramid, novaluron and hydramethylnon. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the bait material comprises alpha cellulose. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the composite member weighs at least about 30 grams. 
     
     
         17 . A method, comprising:
 identifying a woody plant actively infested by one or more species of insects;   forming an interrupted area in a pathway below ground level providing insect access to the woody plant; and   positioning a pesticidal bait member in the interrupted area.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the pathway is a termite mud trail. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the pesticidal bait member includes an extruded mixture of a pesticide and a bait material palatable to the one or more species of insects. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the pesticide is selected from the group consisting of noviflumuron, hexaflumuron, lufenuron, flufenoxuron, diflubenzuron, bistrifluron, sulfuramid, novaluron and hydramethylnon. 
     
     
         21 . A method, comprising:
 identifying a locus near a growing site of a woody plant susceptible to damage from one or more species of termites;   forming a hole at the locus;   positioning a composite member in the hole; and   covering the composite member with fill;   wherein the composite member includes a pesticide and a bait material palatable to the one or more species of termites.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein positioning the composite member includes placing an external surface of the composite member in direct contact with the material in which the hole is formed.