Effect of nitenpyram on the control of Reticulitermes flaviceps

Abstract

It is important to pursue more effective and environmentally friendly methods of termite control. Nitenpyram has achieved good control effect in some insects. Herein, we evaluated the effect of nitenpyram (10, 20, 40, 80 and 160 ppm) in conjunction with two kinds of the block (clay and sand) on the survival, body water content, food consumption, tunneling behavior, microbial infectivity and three behavior patterns (corpse-burying behavior, cannibalism behavior, and particle transport behavior) of the termite Reticulitermes flaviceps. We found that the 10–160 ppm concentration nitenpyram significantly inhibited the survival, food consumption, particle transport behavior, corpse-burying behavior, cannibalism behavior, and tunneling behavior of the termites. The survival of R. flaviceps decreased with the increase of the concentration of nitenpyram, and the survival was the lowest at 160 ppm. Still, there was no significant difference in the conditions with concentrations of 80 and 160 ppm. Therefore, the 80 ppm concentration of nitenpyram in combination with pathogenic microorganisms may have great potential values in termite control.