Fishing – trapping – and vermin destroying – Vermin destroying
Reexamination Certificate
2002-04-30
2004-02-17
Poon, Peter M. (Department: 3643)
Fishing, trapping, and vermin destroying
Vermin destroying
C424S084000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06691453
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to use of naphthalenic compounds as effective bait toxicants for their use in the control of termites.
Damage in the United States attributable to subterranean termites is now estimated to be in excess of one billion dollars a year. All wooden or wood-containing structures are potentially affected, including homes, outbuildings, fences, utility poles, railway sleepers, boats, bridges, retaining walls and even living trees. Since their introduction to the United States within the last half-century, Formosan subterranean termites (FST),
Coptotermes formosanus
(Shiraki), have become one of the most destructive pests in the contiguous United States. Reasons for this include their massive colonies which can contain tens of millions of individuals, their ability to attack several species of living trees, and their high level of reproduction.
The most successful existing methods for control of subterranean termites are preventive rather than remedial. These include barrier treatments to structures and the preemptive treatment of wood materials with chemicals to prevent termite attack. These methods, however, have drawbacks. Physical barriers are not compatible for retrofitting on many existing constructions and may not be completely effective, and chemical treatments are only partially effective and last only about five years.
Low toxicity baits utilizing growth regulators have shown success in reducing damage caused by subterranean termites, with diflubenzuron and hexaflumuron having been particularly effective in suppressing colonies of
C. formosanus
and Reticulitermes spp. Bait matrices utilized for the baits have consisted of cardboard, filter paper, pine wood, pure cellulose, and recently the use of a nutritionally based matrix. Depending on the species of termite, these matrices have shown to be effective toxicant carriers. Chen et al. (Naphthalene in Formosan Termite Carton Nests; Journal Agricultural Food Chemistry, Vol. 46, No. 6, 1998) disclose the presence of naphthalene in termite carton nests and postulated that it might constitute a unique chemical defense strategy for Formosan termites. Grace et al. (Evaluation of the Termite Resistance of Wood Pressure Treated with Copper Naphthenate; Forest Products Journal, Vol. 43, No. 11/12, November/December 1993) teaches that copper naphthenate is not only toxic to termites but is also highly repellent to them.
While various methodologies and compositions exist for the monitoring and control of termites, there remains a need for the creation of improved tools in this area.
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide alternative compounds as bait active ingredients effective as toxicants for termites.
Yet another object is to provide compositions and methods for the effective control of termite populations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
We have discovered that termites may be more effectively controlled through use of naphthalenic compounds in matrices at fairly low concentrations. These compounds work as an attractant for chemical systems which are toxic to termites. A termite matrix containing nutritionally requisite components enhances its usefulness as a bait and an aggregant for termites. The invention is premised on Applicants' discovery that termites aggregate and feed on food sources that contain naphthalenic compounds.
Termites for which the naphthalene and naphthalene derivatives of this invention are useful include all termite species belonging to the families Rhinotermitidae and Kalotermitidae, preferably
Coptotermes formosanus, Reticulitermes flavipes
(Kollar) and
Reticulitermes virginicus.
The nutritionally based matrix may also be used as a highly effective carrier for enhancing the delivery of these termite toxicants for the purpose of destroying substantial numbers of termites and thus inhibiting termite damage to cellulosic structures such as buildings and trees.
Methods of making termite-preferred matrices of this invention are also provided comprising mixing the various components to form a toxicant containing food.
Methods of killing termites are also provided comprising placing a toxin-containing matrix in a termite habitat upon which the termites will preferentially feed in place of other environmentally-available food sources. The methods preferably also include placing hydrated, water-retaining materials, also referred to herein as water-retention agents, within the termite bait matrix or in the area immediately surrounding the termite matrix to provide a degree of humidity to the immediate area which can be detected by termites to serve as a second means of attracting them.
A termite aggregant comprising a hydrated water-retention agent contained within a termite-accessible container is also provided. The termite-accessible container refers to a container or coating which retains moisture inside but which termites can enter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Naphthalenic compounds incorporated into cellulose-based matrices for the control of termites have been developed. Low concentrations of these chemicals are sufficient to kill native and Formosan termites colonies in field conditions. Naphthalenic compounds are considered to be any of those that possess a base structure of naphthalene. These chemicals can be used in baiting systems as a novel approach to reduce the amount of toxins required to kill termites. The matrix composition comprises cellulose, water, and naphthalene derivatives and termite-preferred nutrients.
The cellulose may be supplied by means of any cellulose-containing material, preferably having at least 50% to greater than 95% cellulose, so long as it does not include chemicals which are repellant to termites. Such usable materials include commercially available cellulose, wood, paper, and cardboard, and are preferably in particulate form for ease of mixing with the other ingredients of the matrix. Sawdust may be used from any plant source but is preferably from woods preferred by termites such as aspen, sitka spruce, maple, birch, sweet gum and related woods or any such species possessing a low content of feeding deterrent chemicals as determinable by means well known in the art. Alternate sources of sawdust, while usable, may contain chemicals in amounts that reduce the utility of such sawdust materials due to either repellant or toxic effects.
The degree to which the presence of a particular component causes termites to prefer a food over other foods not containing the component, or containing greater or lesser amounts thereof, may readily be assessed using methods known in the art.
The matrix further comprises naphthalenic compounds present in amounts ranging from about 10 ppm to about 500 ppm. Usable compounds are seen to include N-hydroxynaphthalimide (NHA), 1,8-napthalimide and sodium, magnesium, potassium and calcium salts thereof and copper naphthenate and zinc naphthenate.
Subterranean termites prefer moist foods. To be more attractive than other available foods in the environment, the formulation of this invention should be preferably moist. Enough water should be used to allow mixing of the matrix material, and/or completely hydrate the particulate or solid cellulose materials and to provide excess water to maintain a humid environment. In general about three-fourths by weight of the matrix should be water, but this may vary with the water content ranging from about 20% to about 90% by weight of the composition.
A water-retention agent capable of absorbing water and releasing it slowly to the environment can be used to ensure an acceptable moisture level in the matrix material as well as to serve as another means for termite aggregation. Examples of such materials include agar and polyacrylamide, but may include any substance not otherwise possessing a repellant effect. Examples of preferred usable materials include the polyacrylamide graft copolymer such as Terrawet® T-400 Aquawet (Terrawet Company, San Diego, Calif.), which can absorb and retain up to a thousand times their own weight in water. These materials s
Green, III Frederick
Morales-Ramos Juan A.
Rojas Maria Guadalupe
Fado John D.
Griles Bethany L
Lipovsky Joseph A.
Poon Peter M.
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
LandOfFree
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