United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary of Agriculture

Maureen S Wright

Mark A Jackson

William J Connick, Jr

Ashok K Raina

Christopher A Dunlap

Alan R Lax

The combination of keratin hydrolysate with viable cells or infectious propagules of a fungal biological control agent such asspecies,species,species, and/orspecies, provides effective control of soil-dwelling or subterranean insects, including termites, and particularly those belonging to the family Rhinotermitidae, such as the Formosan subterranean termite and native North American subterranean termites. In use, a foam-forming composition comprising the keratin hydrolysate and an insecticidally effective amount of the fungus are applied to the insects, the locus of the insects, to material susceptible to infestation by said insects, or to the locus of material susceptible to infestation by said insects.

Compositions of keratin hydrolysate and microbes for pest control applications

Alates of the Formosan subterranean termite (FST),Shiraki, collected after swarming in 2002 died within 48 hrs, and the cadavers were visibly infected with a fungus. Fungi were picked from the cadavers, transferred to media and ultimately isolated to purity. A single fungal isolate, C4-B, taxonomically identified as(Metschnikoff), was found to cause rapid mortality of FST alates. This is the first report of a biological control agent for termite alates. Strain C4-B was more lethal to both alates and workers when compared tostrain ESC1, marketed as the termite biocontrol agent BioBlast&#xae;. 100% of FST alates exposed to C4-B spores (10spores/&#x3bc;l) were killed in 3 days. Field studies where C4-B spores were dispersed on grassy lawns resulted in 100% mortality of alates by day 5.

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The entomopathogenic fungusand certain related species, such asare useful for controlling infestations by subterranean termites, particularly those belonging to the family Rhinotermitidae. The family Rhinotermitidae includes two species of subterranean termites having extremely high economic importance in the United States; namely the Formosan subterranean termite (Shiraki), and the native (North American) subterranean termite (). Large numbers of infectious propagules of the fungus, such as blastospores and conidia can be readily cultured on media that are easily and inexpensively prepared and incorporated into formulations for controlling termites. These fungi are useful for protecting living trees, plants, wood, wood structures, and other cellulosic materials susceptible to termite infestation and damage.

The entomopathogenic fungus and certain related species, such as are useful for controlling infestations by subterranean termites, particularly those belonging to the family Rhinotermitidae. The family Rhinotermitidae includes two species of subterranean termites having extremely high economic importance in the United States; namely the Formosan subterranean termite ( Shiraki), and the native (North American) subterranean termite ( ). Large numbers of infectious propagules of the fungus, such as blastospores and conidia can be readily cultured on media that are easily and inexpensively prepared and incorporated into formulations for controlling termites. These fungi are useful for protecting living trees, plants, wood, wood structures, and other cellulosic materials susceptible to termite infestation and damage.

Growing community of inventors

New Orleans, LA, United States of America

Maureen S Wright