Design and evaluation of Polymer Carriers for extracted pheromone traps targeting termites (Microcerotermes diversus Silvestri)

The termite Microserotermus diversis Silvestri is one of the destructive pests that invade fruit tree trunks, including date palms, in central and southern Iraq. This necessitates the development of environmentally safe control methods. This study aimed to assess behavioral control methods against the termites infesting date palms. An alcohol extraction process isolated components from the female glands for chemical analysis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The effectiveness of these extracts in attracting male alates was evaluated in the laboratory to identify the optimal concentration for attracting males for mating. The most effective concentration (150 microliters) was loaded onto two types of polymer-carriers: cellulose fibers and paraffin wax. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis confirmed no chemical reactions between the polymers and pheromones, indicating physical mixing only. Field trials were conducted in a termite-infested palm orchard (1 hectare) in Amara, southern Iraq, from late March to early April 2024. Traps containing cellulose-based pheromone carriers demonstrated the highest attraction for winged male termites, with an average of 8.667 males per trap after seven days. This study highlights the potential of pheromones as a targeted and sustainable approach for termite control.