This press release is available in Spanish.
This year the Biotek-timber Department of the Basque research centre, CIDEMCO-Tecnalia, has initiated a project on the fight against and the control of urban termites. The project, launched in conjunction with the Genetics Unit at the University of the Basque Country, aims to develop a kit that is portable, user-friendly and low cost and that can determine in less than 48 hours if two captured termites belong to the same colony or not. The technical aim is to identify those genetic markers that characterise a subterranean termite population and that differentiate it from other termite populations of the same genus and species (including from other, secondary colonies). To this end, a methodology for the preparation of samples (kit) and the genetic analysis in the laboratory has to be drawn up.
The kit will optimise the anti-termite bait, an eradication system that began to be implemented more than a decade ago.
Identify colonies the key
Anti-termite bait is based on the idea of eliminating the colony from its base, i.e. exterminating the colony nest. In order to do this, bait carrier points are installed in floors, walls and wood, inserted into which are cartridges of cellulose impregnated with insecticides which inhibit the synthesis of chitin or growth regulators (CSI or GRI). This method, unlike the traditional chemical barriers and treatments, is focused on eliminating the entire colony.
The technique has certain drawbacks, one of which is knowing the number of colonies that we are dealing with and their size. It could be that two or more colonies are involved. This is significantly limiting if all the baits coming into contact with termites belong to just one colony. This becomes more evident if the treatment is programmed in one neighbourhood or whole town where, in all probability, there coexist several colonies at the same time.
The need to know the exact number of existing colonies and their location is, therefore, clearly paramount. There exist more or less reliable methods to carry out this estimate, but they are time-consuming and labour-intensive involving experts in the field of these insects. The reality is that there are hardly any companies today that take into consideration these key factors and, thereby, invest resources in them.
The CIDEMCO-Tecnalia project aims to provide a solution to this. It is due to last two years, at the end of which the goal is to launch onto the market technological product that will act as a tool for wood treatment and termite control companies.