Abstract

The performance of subterranean termite Coptotermes acinaciformis (Froggatt);Coptotermes lacteus (Froggatt) and Mastotermes darwiniensis Froggatt foraging behaviour and biological response on sintered glass screenings as a potential graded physical barrier in laboratory and field test proved as a viable option.There was a marked difference betweenC. acinaciformis and M. darwiniensis foraging behaviour and biological ability to move and tunnel through the sintered glass substrate in the laboratory bioassays. After eight weeks of laboratory bioassay, the results indicated that C. acinaciformis was not able to tunnel through 75 mm (tapped) 80 mm (untapped) of this substrate within the range of 1.7 to 2.4 mm, whereas M. darwiniensis tunnelled through the same depth of substrate within less than 48 h. The laboratory and field results suggest that termite foraging behaviour and biological responses to sintered glass within the range of 1.7 to 2.4 mm was not able to carry the particles or to travel within the void of the particles of the physical barrier system. The graded sintered glass particles may be considered as a possible tool for termite management option against Coptotermes species in Australia, particularly against the most economically important subterranean termite.

Key words: sintered glass screenings, termite graded particle barrier, Coptotermes acinaciformis, Coptotermes lacteus, Mastotermes darwiniensis, laboratory bioassay, field evaluation.