A new technology that targets termites may be able to lend a hand to pest control organizations or facilities dealing with pest-management problems.
The technology works by targeting certain genes in the termites that make them susceptible to a particular type of fungus, according to Michael Scharf, an associate professor in Purdue University’s Department of Entomology. The fungus has the ability to work as an insecticide to eliminate the termites.
“If you try insecticide or fungus by itself, in really low doses, nothing happens,” Scharf said. “Through testing we found that once you combine the two together, all the termites were eliminated.”
A press release from West Lafayette, IN –based Purdue University said the school is looking to partner with a company to further test the technology. Click here for more information.
