The toxicity and repellence of organic chemicals toward termites, and their use in
      termite-proofing food packages

Chamberlain, W; Hoskins, W

The toxicity and repellence of organic chemicals toward termites, and their use in termite-proofing food packages

Authors

W. F. Chamberlain
W. M. Hoskins

Authors Affiliations

W. F. Chamberlain was Research Assistant in Division of Entomology and Parasitology; W. M. Hoskins was Professor of Entomology and Chemist in the Agricultural Experiment Station.

Publication Information

Hilgardia 19(9):285-307. DOI:10.3733/hilg.v19n09p285. November 1949.

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Abstract

Abstract does not appear. First page follows.

Introduction

Interest in the prevention of damage by insects to packaged foods has increased markedly in the last few years. The scarcity of metal containers during the war intensified the search for substitutes which would exclude insects. Work already has been reported on the use of chemicals incorporated into or applied to packaging material to prevent the entrance of pests. Essig et al. (1934),4 found that, among several species tested, the cadelle larva, Tenebrioides mauritanicus, was the most effective penetrator of food packages. Their results indicated that penetration by the cadelle larva can be prevented for a period of more than 50 days by 3,5-dinitro-o-cresol and for somewhat shorter periods by other chemicals.

Termites are among the most destructive of insects. In addition to their damage to wood, paper, and other wood substitutes, they also penetrate wooden or paper packages and contaminate the food contained therein. The odor, taste, or color of the ordinary termite-proofing chemicals, such as creosote, usually prohibit their use.

The present work involved the standardization of a method for comparing the resistance to termite penetration of various package materials and the effect of treating them with toxic or repellent chemicals. These chemicals represent several classes of compounds. The results add to the scanty information hitherto available regarding the chemosensory behavior of the Isoptera.

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