The Scent of Victory: A New Approach to Drywood Termite Control

Termites, particularly the drywood variety, are a homeowner’s nightmare. These pests can cause significant damage to your property, and while most structural pest control companies offer contracts to prevent subterranean termites, drywood termites often go unnoticed until it’s too late.

But there’s hope on the horizon. Scientists at UC Riverside have discovered a highly effective, nontoxic, and less expensive way to lure these hungry termites to their doom. The method, detailed in the Journal of Economic Entomology, uses a pleasant-smelling chemical released by forest trees called pinene. This scent reminds western drywood termites of their food, leading them to a spot of insecticide injected into wood.

The results were significant. “Without pinene, we got about 70% mortality. When we added it in, it was over 95%,” said UCR entomologist Dong-Hwan Choe, who led the discovery.

This breakthrough could revolutionize the way we deal with these pests.

Western drywood termites, native to North America, are environmentally important as they consume dead wood above ground with the help of microorganisms in their guts. However, they pose a significant problem for homeowners as they cannot distinguish between dead trees and the wood used to build homes.

Fumigation, one of the most common drywood termite control techniques, is under scrutiny due to its environmental impact and potential toxicity to humans. Moreover, it does not provide lasting protection against termites. Localized injection, an alternative strategy, involves drilling holes into the infested wood and injecting poison. The challenge with this method is figuring out exactly where the bugs are hiding.

The use of an attractant like pinene eliminates the need to hunt for the termites. “Even at low concentrations, pinene is good at attracting termites from a distance,” Choe said. This approach could lead to more effective pest management with fewer chemicals.

Unfortunately, because most termite prevention companies do not offer termite prevention contracts for drywood termites, if you get drywood termites, there is not likely anything we can do to help.

On the other hand, if you have subterranean termite infestation, a termite damage claim, or if believe you may have been cheated by your termite prevention company, don’t hesitate to contact a lawyer at Cochran Bowers PC. We'd be happy to address any question you might have. In fact, we strongly recommend that you learn your legal rights before you contact your termite prevention company to report a possible infestation or make a damage claim. We are licensed to practice law in Alabama and have extensive experience in handling cases related to termite damage and the various forms of wrongful conduct often committed by termite prevention companies.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Each legal problem is unique; therefore, you should contact a lawyer for answers to your specific legal issues. Cochran Bowers PC is licensed to practice law in Alabama.

Reference: Poulos NA, Lee CY, Rust MK, Choe DH. Potential use of pinenes to improve localized insecticide injections targeting the western drywood termite (Blattodea: Kalotermitidae). J Econom Entomol. 2024:toae101. doi: 10.1093/jee/toae101