Subterranean Formosan termites are actually the major pest of any human structures throughout the globe. Contrary to what most people believe, not all termite species are capable of destroying households. There are those termite species that only dwell in rainforests and never anywhere near residential households. The only termite species that are known to destroy houses are the subterranean Formosan termites. They alone are the ones capable of destroying a house within a matter of one week in its strongest assault. Believe it or not, the destruction brought about these species of termites is so considerable that if monetarily converted would amount to as much as billions of dollars of damages per year worldwide. In the endeavors to control these termite species from destroying more human properties, certain control methods were employed, like massive chemical treatments to ensure the elimination of an entire colony infesting a house. Throughout the years, these kinds of treatments are known to be quite effective in dealing with problems, incurring only negligible setbacks, this method of termite control is indeed the most efficient one. However, reports regarding severe side-effects to human health were growing over the years in employing chemical-oriented treatments that it lead to the banning of certain products. It is of no surprise that many of the chemical treatments that were popularly used before are no long in circulation as of today. Still, there are others that smuggle the products and continue to do so in marketing and using them even with prior precedence of chemical intoxication detriments.
Because of this fact, the dawn of a new scientific challenge is at hand. The challenge now is to find more environmentally friendly treatments that are sure not to harm any human beings in any level and in any way, as well as the environment safe from any harmful after effects while still being able to treat and control infestations that take place in the house. But that in itself entails a greater challenge to the scientists as the quest doesn't only begin with synthesizing the new formula in itself, but it will also entail the considerable amount of research in an effort to understand first the natural habitation of the termites. It is imperative that there should be a full comprehension first about the termites, sense of living, natural habitats, common environments when in transition, reproduction, methods in dividing labor, foraging, social interactions, and of course, the environmental influences of the creatures. When there is full comprehension of this matter, the possibilities of developing a highly efficient and effective, environmentally friendly termite control methods will be just within reach. It will also open the opportunity of tripartite discussions regarding the pros and cons of certain approaches as well a full value assessment of efficacy. It will also serve as a way to highlight certain grey areas of the study and identifying certain aspects that are still in need of further research and or development. This article aims to enlighten not only specific readers but all.
Introduction
According to recent statistical findings, there is an estimated amount of 3 billion dollars of damages being incurred every year in wooden structures all over the United States with 80% of the total damage can be attributed to the subterranean termites. In Hawaii alone, a cost of 60 million dollars of property damage can be attributed to the Formosan termites. These figures only depict how economically significant termites are in the human economy. The previous application of the termite control methods were mostly failures because of the obvious lack of considerations to certain pertinent factors that crucially defines an effective means of dealing with the termites. Considerations like natural behaviors and habitation of these insects should be paid attention to in order to further improve the approaches in dealing with them. In the following years later, the trend has dramatically changed because of the reported side-effects of chemical treatments to human beings. This alone has been a crucial determinant for scientists to evolve their developing approaches of dealing with termite infestations in the US. Subsequently, the direction of the following researches is leading towards the development of biologically friendly and non toxic chemical treatment for termite control. The newer methods would include barriers variations, extreme temperature exposures, asphyxiant gases, other variations of biological control methods. All of the said fields are still in need of further development and research in their own respects. Another point of consideration for further researches is the consideration of the feasibility of colonial eradication in contrast to mere control methods alone, in context of the assumption that there will be much more considerable output if the approach is hinged solely on eradication alone rather than just controlling termites in entering human territories. However, it has been found out that the method of eradicating population is quite unfeasible under the context of using biological and non-toxic treatments in dealing with termites. Thus, further developments in counteracting termite infestations were unearthed, and more formulas, methods, techniques and strategies are being used to fully relinquish the destruction brought about the by the subterranean Formosan termites.
Under the subterranean Formosan termites is another genera of the species that still provide economical significance to humans. This genera is the Coptotermes and Reticulitermes. These species of termites are even considered economical equivalents to the general genera of termites. This species somehow originated in the Orient areas and were transported across the globe through infested wooden hulls and crates in ships. Now the rest of the world serves home to one of the most economically destructive creatures on earth. United States is also being infested by the same species and has economically suffered as well from the destruction they bring about. Statistically speaking, the catastrophe damage brought about by Formosan termites to human property, if accumulated would exceed the damage costs of any hurricane, earthquake, and fire damages combined. This is how damaging these species of termites can be and thus, the urgency of discovering newer and more effective methods are absolutely imperative.
