Section of P. radiata test specimen, showing complete mortality
of C. primus after the Electro-Gun® treatment
The Electro-Gun® is a patented device which emits high frequency
electricity (60,000 Hz), high voltage (100,000+ volts) at a very low current
(below 0.5 amp). The Electro-Gun has been developed through extensive research
and field testing over the last 17 years. It is now in its fourth and most
effective generation of production. The Electro-Gun has been used in commercial
service in the United States of America (USA) for over 15 years. Etex Ltd
manufactures the Electro-Gun and leases it to licensed pest control operators.
The pest control operators are trained, assessed and certified to use and sell
the Electro-Gun control method to the public. Etex Ltd is registered with the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA USA), carrying the EPA Establishment number
055850-NV-001. The Electro-Gun control method is a non-chemical alternative to
fumigation and chemical spot treatments which are currently used to eradicate
drywood termites in the USA.
The Electro-Gun was first tested in 1983
by Dr W. Ebeling, Professor Emeritus, UCLA who demonstrated its ability to kill
drywood termites (Ebeling pers. comm.). Whilst undergoing further
development, the Electro-Gun demonstrated an improved ability to kill drywood
termites in independent trials undertaken by the University of California,
Berkeley and the USDA Forest Service (Lewis and Haverty 1996 a, b; Anon.
undated). As a a stand alone device, the Electro-Gun can be used effectively on
exposed timber members. However, when used in conjunction with other methods of
treatment (eg microwaves, fumigation, excessive heat, borates etc), its utility
can be greatly expanded. Etex Ltd do not recommend the Electro-Gun be used as a
"whole-house" treatment method due to time and inaccessibility
restraints. Rather, it is intended to be used for localised in-situ remedial
treatments for drywood termites.
Etex Ltd now wish to consider
Australia as a potential market for the Electro-Gun. However, to register and
market the Electro-Gun in Australia, the National Registration Authority (NRA)
require data to confirm the effectiveness of the device from an impartial
research organisation such as CSIRO. This report outlines the results of a
laboratory investigation on the effectiveness of the Electro-Gun to eradicate
adults of the indigenous Australian drywood termite Cryptotermes primus
(Hill) contained with sapwood specimens of Pinus radiata D. Don.
The
investigation was carried out at our Clayton laboratories and initiated at the
request of Mr Phil Holt of Etex Ltd, Las Vegas, NV. 89102, USA. Mr Phil Holt
travelled to Australia and operated the Electro-Gun throughout this study.
| 1) | Test specimens. Seven specimens of P. radiata
sapwood (150 mm long x 100 mm wide x 40 mm thick), which were infested with C.
primus in July 1993, were selected from laboratory cultures maintained in an
insectary at 27°C and 80% relative humidity. Only specimens that revealed
an advanced stage of infestation were selected for this study. Several workers
and soldiers of C. primus were seen foraging on the surfaces of
specimens prior to the Electro-Gun treatment. |
| 2) | Termites. C. primus is an indigenous species
of drywood termite which extends from northern Queensland to southern New South
Wales. It is of economic importance and is frequently found damaging building
and construction timbers, including power poles (Gay and Calaby 1970). C.
primus can also attack forest, fruit and ornamental trees (Gay and Calaby
1970). |
| 3) | The Electro-Gun. The Electro-Gun used in this study
was a standard one manufactured for use in the USA. Consequently, the
Electro-Gun was set up to be operated on 120 volts at 60 Hz electrical power.
Since the power supply in Australia is 240 volts at 50 Hz, an auto transformer
was used to reduce the voltage down to 120 volts. There was no attempt to
adjust the 50 Hz up to 60 Hz. The difference between 50 Hz and 60 Hz meant that
the Electro-Gun emitted 50 pulses of power per second rather than 60 pulses (ie
the Electro-Gun lost 10 extra pulses per second using Australian power compared
to USA power). The standard Electro-Gun has a key switch providing the option
of either 100,000+ volts or 140,000+ volts of output. The Electro-Gun, when
switched to the high setting (140 Kv), draws about 60 watts of power from the
electrical outlet. |
| 4) | Treatment of test specimens. In December 1996, five
of the seven test specimens were removed from the insectary and treated with the
Electro-Gun. Four of the specimens were treated thoroughly with the attraction
(100 Kv) and scan (100 Kv) methods for a total duration of 7-8 min (key on the
Electro-Gun switched to the normal setting). The fifth test specimen was
treated by the attraction (100 Kv) and scan (100 Kv) methods as well as the
drill and pin (140 Kv, key switched to the high setting) method for a total
duration of 8 min. After treatment with the Electro-Gun, all test specimens
were returned to the insectary. The remaining two test specimens were
designated as untreated controls. |
| 5) | Assessment of test specimens. Two months after treatment with the Electro-Gun, the five treated specimens were sectioned longitudinally, using a sharp blade held in a drill-press, in order to detect any activity of C. primus. The two untreated controls were also sectioned to record the approximate number of termites present in the culture specimens. |
·After sectioning, an examination showed that the Electro-Gun treatment
had caused complete mortality of all C. primus in each of the five
treated test specimens. There were numerous carcasses of C. primus
present within the galleries of each specimen. In many instances, the carcasses
had adhered to the inside surfaces of the galleries suggesting that the
Electro-Gun treatment had caused an exudation of secretion from the body of each
termite during death (Figures 1 and 2).
Upon desiccation, this secretion caused the bodies of termites to "bond"
to the wood. Death appeared instantaneous.
Counts of the carcasses
revealed that there had been populations of approximately 50 to 150 workers,
soldiers, reproductives and juvenile forms of C. primus present within
each of the P. radiata specimens prior to electrocution using the
Electro-Gun. Sectioning of the two untreated controls revealed that
approximately 100 and 120 live termites were present in each specimen,
respectively.
In a laboratory investigation, the Electro-Gun (using attraction, scan and drill and pin methods in combination) was successful in causing complete mortality of breeding populations of the indigenous drywood termite C. primus contained in P. radiata test specimens.
Anonymous. (undated). Electro-Gun: Instructor's training manual. Etex Ltd.,
Las Vegas, NV.
Gay, F.J. and Calaby, J.H. (1970). Termites in the
Australian Region. In Krishna, K. and Weesner, F.M. (Eds).
Biology of Termites, Vol. II. 643 pp. New York and London, Academic Press, pp.
393-448.
Lewis, V.R. and Haverty, M.I. (1996a). Evaluation of six
techniques for control of the Western Drywood Termite (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae)
in structures. J. Econ. Entomol. 89 (4), 992-934.
Lewis, V.R. and
Haverty, M.I. (1996b). Long-awaited nonchemical alternatives to drywood termit
control study completed. PCOC (J. Pest Control Operators of Calif.), Summer
1996 edition, 20-29.
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