Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Dissemination of outputs on the project has been accomplished through approximately 60 publications, 40 presentations to research groups, multiple presentations and workshops to residents of Louisiana and over 1,000 media outlets describing the importance of this work to the public. These outputs have helped in describing the termite caste system controls, wood treatment discoveries to protect wood, vetiver grass and its potential in erosion clontrol along levees, termite potential damage to levees and their possible role in the 2005 hurricane in New Orleans, attractants useful in bait systems to control termites and newly discovered toxicants. Five US patents were issued related to this work and many more international patents and provisonal patents are in the works. Most newsworthy was a publication that described the infestation of termites in the levees and the possible effects that their gallery making and consumption of cellulose in the levee played in the collapse of the floodwall system. This research in itself contributed to over 800 of the media outlets recorded at the end of this project period. Similarly, the research on use of vetiver grass along levees made front page news in the Wall Street Journal on August 22, 2007. PARTICIPANTS: Participants that made significant contributions included BASF, DuPont, Dr. Roger Laine in the Dept of Biological Sciences, the Board of Regents and a grant from the Louisiana Dept. of Agriculture and Forestry TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences included residents of Lousiana and government agencies that may have a concern of termites attacking structures or tunneling through soils and disturbing the integrity of levees. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The work on termites in the levees has generated numerous interests in developing equipment for use to investigate non-destructively termite risks and hazards in levees. A recent attempt to use ground penetrating radar was successful but costly and time consuming. Companies are approaching our laboratory as potential collaborators as they develop devices that may be more user friendly then ground penetrating radar. The Corps of Engineers is now apparently serious about not inviting termites toward the levee and are replacing termite food items used in spacers with other non-food spacers. Wood treatments using m-tyrosine provide a natural and safe treatment to reduce food abundance for termites near levees or in homes. Other natural products, in particular 2 acetonapthtone and the nootkatones, have recieved considerable attention for use as repellents and baits againts termites. Both compounds are now patented by LSU AgCenter for that use. Our work on Juvenile Hormone has been provided with an equipment grant from the Board of Supervisors to purchase an LC/MS for this work, which is now allowing us to evaluate JH in a single worker termite. This refinement of equipment and techniques will now allow us to consider individual variability as JH changes and prior to soldier molts. Our work on the flights of termites over the last 20 years showed that a cyclical change in numbers is associated most closely with climatic changes in the environment, particuarly related to drought and flooding. These data also showed the success of the LSU/USDA-ARS Operation FullStop effort to reduce termite numbers in the French Quarter. While flight counts are quite high outside the French Quarter, inside the French Quarter they are negligible.
Publications
- Henderson, G., 2008. Bioactive compounds to prevent insect degradation of wood pp. 241-255, In: Development of Commercial Wood Preservatives (T.P. Schultz, H. Militz, M.H. Freeman, B. Goodell and D. D. Nicholas, eds). ACS Symposium Series 982. American Chemical Society, Washington DC, Oxford University Press.
- Henderson, G., 2008. The termite menace in New Orleans: Did they cause the floodwalls to tumble. American Entomologist, Vol. 54 156-162.
- Gautam, B.K. and G. Henderson. 2008. Effects of m-tyrosine on feeding and survival of Formosan subterranean termties (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 101: 1088-1093.
- Sauer, A.M., W.E. Crowe, G. Henderson and R.A. Laine. In 2008. Hydrogenation selectivity of the bicyclo [4.4.0] decane ring systme of valencanes Tetrahedron Lett.
- Dong, S.-L. and G. Henderson. 2008. Density effect on alate wing-drop of Coptotermes formosanus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Sociobiology 51: 381-391.
- Henderson, G., 2008. The importance of controlling subterranean termites in trees. Forest Products Socieity, Proceedings No. 7220. Durability of wood-framed housing: Lessons learned from Natural disasters. Biloxi, Mississippi, Nov. 13-15 2007.
- Henderson et al. 2008. Are you smarter than a termite researcher p. 36-43 PCT Magazine. February issue
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Results of the urban entomology laboratories research on Formosan subterranean termite biology, behavior and methods of control in 2007 have been diseminated through: newspaper articles (Wall Street Journal, Times Picayune, Advocate, Associated Press articles); News stations (WAFB Channel 9);LSU AgCenter website articles, bulletins and video displays made for marketing to local TV stations; oral presentations to Planter's Club, several local Kiwanis Clubs, Louisiana Pest Management Association meetings, USDA/ARS techinical committee meeting reports, Entomological Society of America National Meeting presentations; and written presentations in 9 refereed journal articles and 3 non-refereed articles. One patent disclosure resulted in a provisional application (60/922,886)
PARTICIPANTS: Two new participants to report: Abemarle Corp where we are helping them to develop novel non-leachable borates for wood treatment and DuPont where we are helping them to develop new soil termiticides.
TARGET AUDIENCES: A new audience for 2007 are people interested in gardening and people interested in protecting levees using plants.
PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: One major change was the use of ground penetrating radar on the soil levees in New Orleans as a means of assessing risk of termites to the levees and to the nearby residents.
Impacts
Resources provided through grants and contracts and state funds have been adequate in aiding: the generation of significant funds from patents related to detecting termites to the LSU AgCenter through royalty payments; new patent disclosures on development of wood preservatives against termites; new knowledge on plant extracts and use of plants to help control termites and stabilize soil levees; the development of novel borate wood treatments that resist leaching in the field; the development of new soil termiticides being co-developed by Dupont; discoveries of novel associations between Formosan subterranean termites and fungi; and new research on the mechanisms controlling caste composition in termites, including the role of juvenile hormone and colony density.
Publications
- Ring, D.R., G. Henderson and C. R. McCown. 2007. A successful Louisiana program for managing Formosan subterranean termites. Louisiana Agriculture 50: 12-13
- Jayasimha, P., and G. Henderson. 2007. Effect of Aspergillus flavus and Trichoderma harzianum on survival of Coptotermes formosanus (Ispotera: Rhinotermitidae). Sociobiology 49: 135-141.
- Forschler, B. T., S. C. Jones, B. Kard, G. J. Baumann, G. Henderson, D. Suiter, P. Baker, H, Howell, R. Gold and D. Jackson. 2007 (March). Subterranean termite management: Still an ongoing process. Pest Control 88-95.
- Henderson, G., L. Mao and R.A. Laine 2007. Natural Plant Extracts in Formosan subterranean termite control. Louisiana Agriculture 50: 15.
- Ohta, Masaya, Fumito Matsuura, Gregg Henderson, and Roger A. Laine, 2007, Novel free ceramides as components of the soldier defense gland of the Formosan subterranean termite(Coptotermes.formosanus J.Lipid Res.48:656-664.
- Sauer, AM, Crowe, WE, Henderson, G, Laine, RA, 2007 Conformational Control of Selectivity in the Dienone-Phenol Rearrangement, Tetrahedron Lett. 48: 7
- Habibpour, B., M. S. Mossadegh, G. Henderson, S. Moharramipour. 2007. Laboratory evaluation of two insect growth regulators (IGRs) on Microcerotermes diversus (Silvestri) (Isoptera: Termitidae) in southwest Iran. Sociobiology 50: 1199-1209.
- Mao, L., and G. Henderson. A case for a free-running rhythm in soldier developmental time in the Formosan subterranean termite. 2007. Insectes Sociaux 54: 388-392
- Jayasimha, P. and G. Henderson. 2007. Fungi isolated from integument and guts of Coptotermes formosanus and their antagonistic effect on Gleophyllum trabeum. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 100: 703-710..
- Jayasimha, P. and G. Henderson. 2007. Suppression of growth of a brown rot fungus, Gloeophyllum trabeum by Formosan subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 100: 506-511.
- Chen. Y., L. Sun, I. Negulescu, Q. Wu and G. Henderson. 2007. Comparative study of hemp fiber for nonwoven composites. J. Indust. Hemp, 12: 27-45.
- Mao. L., and G. Henderson. 2007, Antifeedent activity and acute and residual toxicity of alkaloids from Sophora flavecens (Leguminosae) against Formosan subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 100: 866-870.
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
Much of the work performed in 2006 was tailored toward understanding the role that Formosan termites had on the levee and floodwall breaches after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. A corollary objective was to develop an IPM strategy for controlling termites infesting the levees in New Orleans. We also researched the impact the floods had on Formosan subterranean termite alate numbers through our yearly alate trap catches (now in its 18th year) and first hand observations of colony demise near floodwall breaches. Literature review of termite effects on levees in China, along with data collected near collapsed walls and levees at the London Ave, 17th St. and Orleans Ave canals indicate that termite presence was greatest near the canals that failed. Both the London Ave and 17th St. canals showed large numbers of termites present prior to the storm. This activity was highly correlated with the proximity of food sources for Formosan termites to the floodwall. Infested
trees and infested structures were numerically higher and closer to the walls at canals that failed compared to the canal (Orleans Ave) that did not fail. Termites cause failure of levees through their excavations into the soil and penetration of tree roots causing piping of water that adds to further erosion. Termite numbers via alate trap catches plummeted in 2006 by 72% over 2005 counts. Floods probably contributed to this drop, though drought in 2005 leading into the 2006 season probably also contributed to this drop. In the French Quarter, where there was no flooding, drought does not play as large a role for colonies in this urban landscape, and a major project led by LSU AgCenter and USDA/ARS is underway. Termite numbers remained low and relatively stable. IPM strategies that are being evaluated include novel research into dynamic control of termite caste via juvenile hormone, natural repellents and toxicants that may reduce our level of synthetic pesticide use and the
targeting of termites with fungi found intimately tied to termite foraging and nest areas and by using attractants that can lure termites into a targeted toxic zone. A labral gland that may play a role in caste regulation that previously was merely suspected as existing in some termites was verified through our research. Using a LSU AgCenter patented attractant, 2-phenoxyethanol, we were able to show that toxicants could be used with the attractant and pull more termites into a targeted toxic zone than would be otherwise found in that area. Work with Ku Shen, vetiver grass and other plant compounds (specifics under patent considerations) are also underway. Finally, a new study is underway at the Coastal Area Research Station in Port Sulfur to show the potential of a fixed-borate for outside treatment of wood which may allow for wooden structures near levees that do not also serve as termite food.
Impacts
My work on understanding the impact that termites have on levees in New Orleans started getting press almost immediately in 2006 with two front page articles in the Times Picayune and Advocate on termites in the floodwall. Science Talk Friday and the Discovery Channel soon aired interviews and data collection information from my work. Scientific presentations were made at the 2006 Urban Entomology Conference, the Georgia Pest Control Association and the National Pest Management Association Conference and LA Pest Management Assoc. Winter Conference. A proceedings publication was produced from the Urban Conference and an invitation to publish an article on termites in levees was extended by the editor of American Entomologist. In January of 2007 a presentation was made to the Kiwanis Club of Baton Rouge and was filmed and aired on channel 19 for a full week immediately afterwards. Funding for an IPM program on termites in levees came in the amount of $139,000 from the
USDA/ARS-New Orleans in 2006. Little was known about termites in US levees prior to my work. Literature from China revealed a fairly complete and well-documented understanding of termites in levees. Our basic research is to target termites with specific attractants from natural products and to make wood inedible with fixed borates. A new patent was issued in 2006 on a synthetic pathway to producing nootkatone, tetrahydronootkatone and 1-10 dihydronootkatone.
Publications
- Fei, H. and G. Henderson, 2006. Repellency of Formosan subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) to dead termites and attraction to 2-phenoxyethanol with and without nonrepellent insecticides. J. Agric. Urban Entomol. 22: 159-172.
- Mao, L and G. Henderson, 2006. Ultrastructure of the head and mouthparts of Coptotermes fomosanus presoldier and soldier. 2006. Sociobiology 48: 649-659.
- Mao, L., G. Henderson, W.J. Bourgeois, J. A. Vaughn and R.A. Laine. 2006. Vetiver oil and nootkatone effects on the growth of pea and citrus. Industrial Crops and Products, 23: 327-332.
- Habibpour, B., M.S. Mossadegh, G. Henderson and S. Moharramipour, 2006. Effects of two insect growth regulators (IGRs) on Microcerotermes diversus (Silvestri) (Isoptera: Termitidae) in southwest, Iran. The International Research Group on Wood Protection, 37th Annual Meeting, Tromso, Norway. IRG/WP 06-10601, 12pp.
- Henderson, G., H. Fei and A. Morgan. 2006. Formosan subterranean termite attack on the floodwalls and soil levees in New Orleans Louisiana. Proceedings of the 2006 National Conference on Urban Entomology, May 21-24, Embassy Suites Hotel, Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, p.100.
- Henderson, G., 2006. Darwinian theory and the role of the soldier in colony caste regulation. Proceedings of the 2006 National Conference on Urban Entomology, May 21-24, Embassy Suites Hotel, Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, p. 146-147.
- Morgan, A., D. Ring and G. Henderson. 2006. Formosan subterranean termite control and prevention after hurricanes and flooding. LSU Agricultural Center Pub. 2953 6/06
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
Developments in use of 2-phenoxyethanol previously isolated from pen ink is proceeding toward the potential licensing by industry for use in a non-repellent termiticide. Research to date shows a significant increase in tunneling will occur with 2-pe added to sand. This increased tunneling is evident even with a toxicant added to the treatment. Choice tests with baits indicate that 2-pe will shorten time to discovery, increase termite numbers, and consumption of the food source. Increasing the likelihood of attack of a bait or travel to a toxic treatment can reduce time to kill, reduce volume of treatment necessary, and increase the toxicant load to the targeted colony. Novel natural products have been tested from a plant (Ku Shen) collected from China by our group and evaluated against Formosan subterranean termites. A patent disclosure was made on our discoveries that indicate a significant toxicity to termites that feed on the treated substrate. In a similar
research vein, Vetiver grass roots continue to be evaluated, and it appears that the roots may be used as a mulch that will deter Formosan subterranean termites. It was discovered that a negative feedback loop in termite caste regulation is controlled by juvenile hormone levels that are impacted by soldier numbers. Temperature and food quality also impact on soldier production and juvenile hormone titers in workers. Possibly our biggest discovery of the year was the find that Formosan termites carry mold fungi on their bodies and that these fungi attack and kill brown rot fungi. The fact that mold fungi are spread by termites may be of concern to people that have allergies to mold. We are now investigating the process for propogation of mold fungi to new locations by termites and how we might take advantage of this knowledge toward controlling this invasive pest.
Impacts
Control tactics used to kill Formosan subterranean termites will require less volume of insecticide and be more efficacious. Caste system control knowledge will be key to developing colony specific measures. Termites in the floodwall were discovered and represent a refuge for Formosan termites throughout the levee systems in LA.
Publications
- Fei, H., G. Henderson, A. Fugler and R.A.Laine. 2005. Increased search tunnel formation by Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Isoptera Rhinotermitidae) in 2-phenoxyethanol treated sand. J. Entomol. Sci. 40: 327-336.
- Fei, H., G. Henderson and R.A. Laine. 2005. Trail-following behavior of Coptotermes formosanus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) on concentration gradients of 2-phenoxyethanol. Sociobiology 45: 483-494.
- Ibrahim, S. A., G. Henderson, H. Fei and R. A. Laine. 2005. 2-Phenoxyethanol is a double-edged sword against the Formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Biopestic. Int. 1: 25-37.
- Liu, Y., G. Henderson, L. Mao and R.A. Laine. 2005. Seasonal variation of juvenile hormone titers of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus (Rhinotermitidae). Environ. Entomol. 34: 557-562.
- Liu, Y., G. Henderson, L. Mao and R.A. Laine. 2005. Effects of temperature and nutrition on juvenile hormone titers of Coptotermes formosanus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 98: 732-737.
- Mao, L., G. Henderson and R.A. Laine. 2005. Formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) frontal gland secretion and their fatty acid constituent activity on red imported fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology 46: 141-154.
- Mao, L., G. Henderson, Y. Liu and R. A. Laine. 2005. Formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) soldiers regulate juvenile hormone levels and caste differentiation in workers. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 98: 340-345.
- Zhu, B.C.R., G. Hendreson and R. A. Laine. 2005. Screening method for inhibitors against Formosan subterranean termite beta-gluocosidases in vivo. J. Econ. Entomol. 98: 41-46.
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
Research on Formosan subterranean termites has progressed towards developing a way to manipulate termite behavior and increase search by the colony and redirect the colony as need be. Using 2-phenoxyethanol as an attractant allows us to increase movement of termites into a toxic zone and away from competing food sources. Progress has also been made in understanding the colony control of caste. Soldiers influence worker development into alates and we have shown that this influence is due to control of Juvenile hormone titers in worker termites. Soldiers reduce JH in workers and thus push the molt toward the reproductive. Since soldiers are the only sterile adults in a colony this process allows for the inclusive fitness necessary to maintain caste dynamics. On yet another front we have discovered several natural products from plants that include alkaloids and terpenoids that have long term repellency and toxicity to termites and may be useful as a replacement for heavy
metal wood treatments. Finally, a developed detection system called the pop-up detector has been licensed for use by the professional market. This detection system increases the chances of finding termites at an early stage of invasion and is a supplement to other IPM strategies for termites.
Impacts
We have developed better products that are safer to the environment. We have increased the ability for early detection of termites using pop-ups and we have developed wood treatments that are not offensive to the environment. Reduced termiticide volume is now possible due to the behavioral synergist action of 2-phenoxyethanol.
Publications
- Liu, Y., L. Mao, and G. Henderson. 2004. Seasonal variation of juvenile hormone titers of Formosan termite Coptotermes formosanus (Rhinotermitidae). Proceedings of the National Conference on Urban Entomology, Phoenix, AZ, 20-22 May, p. 64-68.
- Nix, K., H. Fei, and G. Henderson. 2004. Examination of extrinsic factors affecting flight periodicity of Formosan subterranean termite. Proceedings of the National Conference on Urban Entomology, Phoenix, AZ, 20-22 May, p. 43.
- Mao, L., G. Henderson and R. A. Laine. 2004. Germination of various weed species in response to vetiver oil and nootkatone. Weed Technology 18: 263-267.
- Ibrahim, S. A., G. Henderson, B.C. R. Zhu, H. Fei, and R. A. Laine. 2004. Toxicity and behavioral effects of nootkatone, 1,10-dihydronootkatone, and tetrahydronootkatone to the Formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 97, 102-111.
- Ibrahim, S.A., G. Henderson, H. Fei and R. A. Laine. 2004. Toxic and repellent effects of 2'acetonaphthone on Coptotermes formosanus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Sociobiology 43:429-443.
- Ibrahim, S.A., G. Henderson, H. Fei and R.A. Laine. 2004. Survivorship, tunneling and feeding behaviors of Coptotermes formosanus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in response to 2'acetonaphthone-treated sand. Pest Management Science 60: 746-754.
- Fei, H., and G. Henderson 2004. Effects of temperature, directional aspects, light conditions and termite species on subterranean termite activity (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Environ. Entomol. 33: 242-246.
- Smith, W.R., T.L. Amburgey, G. Henderson and D.R. Ring. 2004. Facility for conducting field tests on Coptotermes formosanus at Louisiana State University Agricultural Center. 2004. Forest Products Journal 54: 26-29.
- Henderson, G., 2004. The paybacks and trade-offs of teaching urban entomology. Proceedings of the National Conference on Urban Entomology, Phoenix, AZ, 20-22 May, p. 100.
- Ibrahim, S., S. Kambham, G. Henderson and P. Jayasimha. 2004. Toxicity and repellency of sesame oil on Formosan subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in treated sand. Proceedings of the National Conference on Urban Entomology, Phoenix, AZ, 20-22 May, p. 61-63.
- Gao, Y., B.C.R. Zhu, G. Henderson, L Mao and R. A. Laine. 2004. Progress of research on the novel proteins from the frontal gland of Formosan termites-from discovery to gene cloning and expression. Proceedings of the National Conference on Urban Entomology, Phoenix, AZ, 20-22 May, p. 121-123.
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