‘Nylanderia fulva’ are commonly known as crazy ants. This species is known worldwide as an invasive species and environmental pest. The ants are obnoxious because they reproduce in large numbers, sometimes outnumbering all other ants 100-to-1. Edward LeBrun, a researcher at the University of Texas at Austin, who has conducted various studies/research, said, “That’s a problem since ecosystems depend on a wide variety of ants to perform different tasks; domination by one species is highly unusual”,

Crazy ants are highly versatile, living in both moist and dry habitats. They generally nest in rotten wood, soil, the cavities of trees and plants, trash and under rocks and buildings. They cannot survive extremely cold climates and may infest houses and buildings when the weather changes. They often invade our homes, buildings, industrial plants, and even our electronic equipment.

These ants are difficult to control because they are ready to abandon their homes and find new ones at a moment’s notice. Like many invasive ants, including some populations of the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta), crazy ant colonies contain multiple queens. This allows them to reproduce faster than single-queen species and makes it hard to kill the entire colony.

Crazy ants are always looking for cavities to nest in — unlike most ants, they don’t excavate their own holes and tunnels, beyond minimal expansion. That is also the reason they move into people’s houses, nesting in any area with protected holes and cavities, such as the insides of walls and in basements and crawlspaces.

Edward LeBrun, a researcher at the University of Texas, explained – Their small size, less than one-eighth of an inch in length, allows them to crawl inside cell phones, computers and appliances, which all are home to protected cavities and are “just great” for these ants. Most commonly, they swarm inside sheds and pumps in rural areas, which has been a problem for industries in Texas and elsewhere along the Gulf Coast. When the crazy ants enter these devices their bodies can create connections between electrical contacts, which can lead the circuits to short out and electrocute the ants. This causes them to release an alarm pheromone, a scent ants use to communicate that they are “under attack,” likely attracting the ants’ kin to come and fight. This creates a vicious cycle that can leave appliances broken and full of dead and angry ants.

Crazy ants have unique body structure. Their jaws are not strong enough to cut through metal wires, but they can chew through the softer insulation around them, exposing the live wires and causing electrical shorts.

Teeming out of electrical outlets and short-circuiting electronics, these tiny reddish-brown crazy ants have been making headlines as their numbers climb in the southeastern U.S. The ants swarm inside the units, causing them to short-circuit and preventing them from turning on. Often the switches inside them need to be replaced, thanks to the ants, said Matthews, who works for the Austin-area pest control business The Bug Master.

‘Crazy ants’ that feast on electronics and are invading the U.S. cannot be killed with normal insecticide

By Mail Online, 10 June 2013, US

According to ABC News, the chemicals that kill the more common red ant aren’t effective on crazy ants, so residents should call pest control if they find an infestation in their home.

The insects, bizarrely, are attracted to electrical wiring and components and in one year alone caused $146.5 million in damages in Texas, ABC reported.

The devastation occurs when one ant discovers the transformer then gets electrocuted when it touches it, and ‘waves its abdomen in the air’ omitting a certain scent.

The scent lures for ants to the scene and they too are electrocuted, again sending the scent into the air to attract their friends.

Eventually, there are so many dead ants that the electric switches get stuck or the insulation fries and the system shut down.

The crazy ants are most commonly found in coastal areas with warmer temperatures. Known scientifically as ‘Nylanderia fulva,’ they are also referred to as ‘rasberry’ after the exterminator Tom Rasberry who discovered them in Houston in 2002.

The ‘crazy’ ants do not have such a painful sting as their insect counterparts, but they are still a nuisance for homeowners.

‘Crazy ants’ that spread disease are invading Britain from Argentina
By Mirror, 18 Aug 2015, UK

The Argentinian variety is particularly vicious, attacking crops and animals.

And the pests, from Pampas, have teeth sharp enough to gnaw through thick wiring, causing short circuits and fires.

Expert David Cross said that the new arrivals are the latest additions to a growing list of fearsome tropical ants that have colonized areas across the country. Mr. Cross said: “Species like these were once contained in their own parts of the world, but they now seem to be on something of a world tour.

“The population of tropical ants in this country is certainly growing all the time and we’re now seeing many more problems with colonies of certain species than we have witnessed in the past.

“Most arrive here via container ships from different parts of the world, either in food or perhaps soft furnishings.”

He added: “Most tropical ants can’t live outside and need warmth to survive so they can thrive in places where heating is on all the time.

Conventional insecticides have proven to be a failed solution to give effective results. These insecticides are toxic in nature. They kill target as well as nontarget species. They are also hazardous to human health. Moreover, species like crazy ants are not at all affected by the toxic effects of these insecticides.

C Tech Corporation can offer a solution to overcome the damage caused by crazy ants. Termirepel™ anti-termite, an anti-insect additive is an ideal solution for the prevention and control of crazy ants. It follows 6 pronged strategy which is extremely effective on crazy ants as well as insects like termites, beetles, grasshopper, bugs etc.

Termirepel™ is thermally stable and does not degrade on exposure to heat and sunlight. It does not kill or harm the insect but repels them. It does not volatilize and does not degrade the soil. It is RoHS, RoHS2, REACH, APVMA, NEA compliant and FIFRA exempted.

Agriculture plays a crucial role in the development of an economy. It is the backbone of our economic system. Agriculture not only provides food and raw material but also employment opportunities to a very large proportion of the population.

However, the damages inflicted by insects to crops lead to huge productivity losses along with crop contamination. About 200 different types of diseases in plants are solely caused due to insects. Although these pests are small in size, the damage they cause is very evident.

A plant disease is usually defined as an abnormal growth and/or dysfunction of a plant.  Plant diseases are generally caused by microscopic organisms such as fungi, bacteria, protozoa, parasitic green algae, etc. Many plant diseases in the field become much more serious and damaging in the presence of insect vectors that spread the pathogen to the new hosts.

Continuous feeding and tunneling of insects into the plant tissue create an entry point for the diseases which are not transmitted by the insects. In some cases, plants themselves carry the causative agents of the disease and spread them from one plant to other. Otherwise, insects carry the pathogens either on the outside or inside of their bodies and inject plants hypodermically as they feed on them.

Insects with chewing mouthparts, for example, grasshoppers, caterpillars, and beetles cause feeding damage such as holes or notches in foliage and other plant parts, leaf skeletonizing, leaf defoliation, cutting plants off at the soil surface, or consumption of roots.

The appearance of spots of various shapes and size on leaves, shoots, stems, fruits etc. is one of the most commonly observed signs of insect damage. As insects feed on plants, they simultaneously secrete toxins into the various parts of the plant namely the shoots, leaves etc. For instance, the toxic saliva secreted by leafhoppers, known as ‘’hopper burn’’, causes yellowing of leaves.

Other harmful effects of insect infestation include stunted growth and deformed leaves and flowers, reduced photosynthesis, weakening of plants, interference with the process of translocation, etc.

Many insects have a tendency of inserting their mouthparts into the plant tissues and sucking out all the necessary nutrients and juices essential for the plant growth and nourishment. This sucking action acts as a hindrance to plants growth.

Insects also secrete honeydews on the leaves which support mold growth on plant surfaces. Although sooty molds don’t infect plants, they can indirectly damage the plant by coating the leaves that inhibit sunlight penetration.  Thus the plant’s ability to carry out photosynthesis is reduced, further resulting in weakening of leaves, premature leaf drop, etc.

Insects can also cause injury to plants when they lay eggs (oviposit) into plant tissue. Heavy oviposition into stems can cause death or dieback of stems or branches on the plant. Dieback of the ends of stems or branches is often called flagging. Oviposition in fruits can result in misshapen or aborted fruits. For instance, cucumber beetles lay orange egg masses on the underside of leaves. They also munch holes in the same leaves.

The use of conventional pesticides to combat the problems caused due to insects is proving to be dangerous to the environment. Apart from polluting the soil as well as the groundwater reserves, these pesticides also affect the beneficial non-target species such as bees, earthworm etc. which are necessary for human survival.

Today we are facing an acute problem of food shortage. About 11.3% of the total population of the world is starving. Thus there is an immediate need to find a solution to avoid the damages caused by insects to our plants.

At C Tech Corporation we have come up with a solution to avoid the damage caused by insects to plants. Our product Termirepel ™ is a non-toxic, non-hazardous insect aversive. Termirepel ™ is available in the form of solid masterbatches, liquid concentrate and in lacquer form. The product is compliant with RoHS, RoHS2, REACH, APVMA, NEA and is FIFRA exempted. This product acts through a series of highly developed intricate mechanism ensuring that insects are kept away from the target application.

The product can also be incorporated into agricultural films, greenhouse films, plastic mulches used on a large scale in the agriculture as well as horticulture sector. The fencing and the tree guard can be coated with Termirepel™ to protect the plants from insect damage. Termirepel ™ does not leach out, thus there is no soil pollution. Groundwater reserves are also not polluted. Also the non-target beneficial species like earthworms, bees etc are not affected.

Termites are the worst fears for a homeowner as these tiny creatures have the power to reduce a building to a heap of sawdust. Where are they found? Are they in the cupboard..? Or under the stairs..? No, they are found everywhere. They may be small but the damage they do to our home or office is huge and sometimes irreplaceable.

Termites are a kind of white ant that differ from other Xylophagous insects because they are organized into a society like bees and ants. In the wild, they feed on barks of the trees or through soil damage our environment. Whereas in our houses or offices they feed on wood as they have mouthparts that chew up wood bit by bit. But the real trick is that these termites carry formic acid that digests the cellulosic fibers making up the wood.

Termites are a terrible pest because they penetrate into houses and wooden structures along mortar joints, through waste pipes, through electric cable ducts, and through inner partitions. They take advantage of any cracks in the structure of a building, entering into the woodwork and beginning their destruction. They always eat away in the opposite direction to the light, thus making them very difficult to detect. The main problem is that termites eat the wood from the inside out, so it is impossible to see the damage until it is too late. They are also likely to go for wood that is close to the ground, so foundations in older buildings are particularly susceptible.

According to the National Pest Management Association (USA), termites cause more than $5 billion in property damage every year, an expense not typically covered under homeowners’ insurance policies. Indeed, damage from termites is five times more likely than damage from fire. To heighten awareness of these pervasive pests, the association designated March 25 to 29 as “Termite Awareness Week.

The different types of Termites found in nature are Drywood termites, Subterranean termites, Formosan termites and Dampwood termites. Amongst these, the subterranean termites are the most commonly found species of termites in Europe.

Let us look at how these termites damage our wooden objects. The Subterranean termites eat wood, along the grain. They prefer to eat the light parts of the wood and leave the dark rings. Their galleries often look long and narrow because they follow the grain of the wood. During the excavation of wood subterranean termites bring soil particles into the galleries. They stick the soil particles and their droppings onto the walls of the galleries which help in keeping the environment humid in the gallery.

Whereas when Drywood termites eat wood, they eat the light parts and the dark rings. They form galleries which are larger in size than the one formed by the subterranean termites. Since dry wood termites do not go into the soil, their galleries are smooth and clean. These termites dispose off their droppings by pushing them out of the galleries.

These termites have caused a huge amount of damages. Let us look at some of these damages:

• 10-year-old hospitalized after termite fumigation at Florida

September 5, 2015, CNN, USA

A young boy has suffered severe brain damage – which will likely affect him for life – after he and his family were apparently cleared to return to their home following botched termite fumigation. Peyton McCaughey, 10, went back inside the house in Palm City, Florida, alongside his mother, Lori, father, Carl, and little sister on August 16 – two days after it had been tented for termites. Although the family had been told by a Terminix subcontractor that it was safe to return to the fumigated property, they all started vomiting that night, a lawyer for the McCaugheys alleges. While Mr and Mrs McCaughey and their daughter recovered the next day, Peyton deteriorated.

• Termites eat away currency worth over $65,000 in China

June 11, 2013 ,China

A chinese woman almost lost her life savings recently when termites invaded a wooden drawer in which she kept a plastic bag containing 400,000 yuan: the equivalent of $65,000 U.S. dollars.”The remains of the cash stick together by termite`s mucus …” she said.

• Termites damage century old section of WA’s Parliament House

September 17 2015, ABC News, Australia

Termites have left a $50,000 damage bill at WA’s Parliament House, with extensive repair works planned for later this year to fix a trail of destruction. The Parliamentary Services’ annual report, tabled this week, revealed the insects had caused substantial damage to the Legislative Assembly chamber.

• Under attack : termites take over forest in Adilabad

February 19, 2016, THE HINDU, India

Forests in Adilabad district, especially the vegetation in the core area of Kawal Tiger reserve (KTR), are currently under attack by termites. The stems of thousands of trees in the jungle are covered with mud layers which is a characteristic of the termites when they go attacking trees.

Apart from the above incidences, there have been many other incidences as well which shows the damage caused due to termites. The threat of termites is increasing rapidly and new species of termites are coming up due to their mating. One such incident was reported in Florida on April 1, 2015. The article says,

Termite “Superswarms” threatens South Florida- Two of the world’s most destructive termite species are swarming South Florida, and the fact that they are mating has scientists sweating. The Asian and Formosan subterranean termite species are producing hundreds of thousands of winged males and females (known as alates), which are in turn creating hybrid colonies, according to University of Florida entomologists. The two species are no joke, and hybrid colonies could prove even more disastrous for homeowners. “They are the two most destructive termite species in the world,” University of Florida Entomology Professor Nan-Yao Su told FoxNews.com.

So what do we do now? Prevent them? But how? 

There is an efficient solution that we at C Tech Corporation, have come up with. We have a unique product known as Termirepel™ which solves all our grievances. So let us look at some of the salient features of Termirepel™ and how it drives these mischievous termites away from our houses, offices, and workplaces.

Termirepel™ is non-toxic and non-hazardous insect/termite aversive. Termirepel™ which is an anti-termite has been designed for polymeric applications as well as for natural materials like wood. It combines the best of chemistry and green practices to give an environmentally safe product which keeps the termites away effectively while at the same time guaranteeing safety to the environment, plants, animals and fragile ecosystems.

Agriculture is the one of the greatest milestones in human history which led to the rise of civilization. It covers the largest sector of livelihood and plays an important role in development and growth of nation’s economy. It is the one of the largest contributors to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

According to the 2^nd Advance Estimates (Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare, Gov. of India) for 2015-16 total foodgrains production in the country has been higher than that in the last year. Total foodgrains production during 2015-16, estimated at 253.16 million tonnes, has been higher by 1.14 million tonnes over the production of 252.02 million tonnes during 2014-15. Although rising production capacity is trying to bridge the gap between ever-increasing demand and a meager supply of food grains, of the total food produced, roughly one third i.e. approximately 1.3 billion tonnes is lost or wasted. Every year, consumers in rich countries waste almost as much food (222 million tonnes) as the entire net food production of sub-Saharan Africa (230 million tonnes).

In the face of ever-increasing demand for food, farmers face many challenges like drought, shortage of water reservoir, etc. One of the major problems is pest infestation. 10-16% of global crop production is lost due to pests.

To meet up the increasing demand for food, farmers have acquired many modern technologies. One of them is the use of plastic mulch films. It is a highly specialized film to enhance the growth of various crops. Mulching is the process or practice of covering the soil/ground to make more favorable conditions for plant growth, development, and efficient crop production. The mulch-technical term means ‘covering of soil’. Commonly used mulch films are LDPE, HDPE, PVC, etc.

When compared to other mulches, plastic mulches are completely impermeable to water; they, therefore, prevent direct evaporation of moisture from the soil and thus limit the water losses and soil erosion over the surface. They control weeds, reduce leaching of fertilizer, prevent root damage to the plants, conserve water and help in soil enrichment ensuring a better quality of the crop.

Mulching is mainly employed for moisture conservation in rainfed areas, reduction of irrigation frequency and water saving in irrigated areas, soil temperature moderation in greenhouse cultivation, soil solarization for control of soil-borne diseases, reduce the rain impact, prevent soil erosion and maintain soil structure, in places where high-value crops can only to be cultivated, etc.

General instructions for selecting the correct plastic mulch are shown in the table given below:

Rainy season	Perforated mulch
Orchard and Plantation	Thicker mulch
Soil Solarisation	Thin transparent film
Weed control through solarisation	Transparent film
Weed control in cropped land	Black film
Sandy soil	Black film
Saline water use	Black film
Summer cropped land	White film

Source: Sustainable Sanitation and Water Management

Plastic mulches have been used commercially for the production of crops since the early 1960’s, and their usage is still increasing throughout the world. The use of plastic mulch in agriculture has increased in the last 10 years throughout the world. According to marketsandmarkets.com the agricultural films market is expected to grow at a decent pace during the coming decade driven by its increasing demand from the Asia-Pacific region. The increased demand for controlled agricultural activities drives the market for agricultural films. The agricultural films market is projected to register a CAGR of 6.5% between 2015 and 2020 to reach $11,743.7 Million, by 2020.

Every solution has advantages as well as some disadvantages. A thick layer of mulch can be effective in suppressing weeds and reducing maintenance, but it often causes additional problems. Deep mulch can lead to excess moisture (root rot, mould fungus); it can create a habitat for rodents, which damage the plant. Slugs and snails can multiply very quickly under a mulch layer. Ants or termites, which may cause damage to the crops, may find ideal conditions for living. When crop residues are used for mulching, in some cases there is an increased risk of sustaining pests and diseases.

C Tech Corporation can offer a solution to overcome this problem. Termirepel™ anti termite and anti-insect polymer additive is an ideal solution to repel insects like termites, ants, grasshopper, beetles, bugs etc. Termirepel™ masterbatch can be incorporated in plastic mulch films.

Termirepel™ follows 6 pronged strategy which is extremely effective on insects. It is thermally stable and does not degrade on exposure to heat and sunlight. It does not kill or harm the insect but repels them. It does not volatilize and does not degrade in the soil. It is RoHS, RoHS2, REACH, APVMA, NEA compliant and FIFRA exempted.

Grasshoppers are insects of the order Orthoptera. They are typically terrestrial insects with powerful hind legs which enable them to escape from threats by leaping vigorously.

The voracious species of grasshoppers are all alike in their cycle of development. Eggs are laid in late summer in elongated masses or pods inserted in the soil. These pass through the winter, and on hatching in the spring, the young seek food in the immediate area. As they increase in size and food becomes scarce, their migration to other places for food begins. The grasshopper usually molts for 5 times, during a period of 40-60 days, becoming more similar to the adult insect at each developmental stage.

Adult grasshoppers are 1-2 inch long. They are brown to reddish yellow or green in color with prominent jaws, fully developed wings, and short antennae. They have enlarged hind legs and can jump great distances. Immature stages, or nymphs, are similar in appearance to adults, but are smaller and have wing buds instead of wings.

Grasshoppers are insatiable feeders, consuming approximately one-half of their body weight per day. They show a great amount of determinacy in damaging the leaves and stems of plants, by continuously chewing on them. Also, severe infestations may decimate entire fields. In fact, in peak years, grasshopper infestations have been known to destroy or consume entire crop fields.

They make holes in the tissue of the plant as well as the leaves. They also leave dark droppings on the plant leaves. The growth in fruits is underdeveloped.

Severe financial losses can occur when infestations of grasshoppers wipe out crops in a field.  Each year they destroy at least 80 million dollars worth of forage crops in USA. Also, it is estimated that grasshoppers consume up to 25 percent of the available forage in the western United States annually. A classic study showed that 6-7 adults per square yard on 10 acres of pasture ate as much as a cow. Damage is most severe when hot, dry weather slows the growth of the forage crop thereby preventing a rapid recovery

Grasshoppers mainly prefer and cause the most damage to small grains, corn, alfalfa, soybeans, cotton, rice, clover, grasses, and tobacco. They may also eat lettuce, carrots, beans, sweet corn, and onions. Grasshoppers are most likely to cause damage in sub-humid, semi-arid areas.

•  Argentina Locust Plague: Armageddon, End of Days or   Climate Change Disaster?

January 26, 2016, New York Times, Argentina

Fumigators in Argentina have continued their efforts to exterminate the locusts as farmers warned their crops may already be too damaged to be salvaged. “It’s the worst explosion in the last 60 years,” Diego Quiroga, the agriculture agency’s chief of vegetative protection, told the New York Times. “It’s impossible to eradicate; the plague has already established itself,” he said, adding, “We’re just acting to make sure it’s the smallest it can be and does the least damage possible.”

• Grasshoppers Continue Damaging Crops and Move into Texoma Cities

July 15 2014, texoma’s.com, USA

Farmers are welcoming the forecast of possibly a lot of rain and cooler temperatures.
However, as Mechell Dixon reports, they and other Texomans are cursing an insect that’s damaging crops and irritating people. As Kenneth McAlister walked through his son’s sesame field in Iowa Park the plants didn’t catch his attention as much as the grasshoppers.
They’ve damaged much young sesame plant leaves here. And he says this isn’t the first crop he’s planted this spring.

“We’ve actually had two fields of sesame that we planted and had to replant cause they totally took it out,” says McAlister. These annoying insects and their voracious appetites are causing farmers headaches and costing them lots of money on chemicals to kill them off in rural parts of Texoma counties.

Today food scarcity is one of the major issues that the world is facing.About 11.3 % of the world population is hungry. Thus we cannot afford this significant amount of crop damage caused by pests like grasshopper. There is an urgent need for a sustainable solution.

Termirepel™ anti-insect additive, a C Tech Corporation product is the best solution for the prevention and control of insect infestations. Termirepel™ masterbatch can be incorporated in agricultural films, mulches, etc. during polymer processing. It can also be incorporated in silage bags and packaging films to protect the crops in post-harvest stage from pest damage.

Termirepel™ lacquer can be added to paints which can then be applied to fencing, garbage cans etc. It follows 6 tiered mechanism, which is extremely effective on insects like ants, beetles, grasshopper, termites etc. Termirepel™ is a non-toxic and non-hazardous anti-insect additive. It is thermally stable and does not degrade on exposure to heat and sunlight. It does not kill or harm the insect but repels them. It does not volatilize and does not degrade the soil. It is RoHS, RoHS2, REACH, NEA, APVMA compliant and FIFRA exempted.

Today the world is facing an acute shortage of food. It is one of the most complex and controversial issues in the world today that concerns human population. The number of people living off the earth’s resources and stressing its ecosystem has more than doubled in just fifty years. In 1960 there were 3 billion of us while today there are 7 billion.

Statistics show that more than 860 million people in the world are suffering from chronic hunger. The vast majority of the world’s hungry people live in developing countries, where 12.9 percent of the population is undernourished.

Emerging superpower like India is home to the largest number of hungry people. The National Family and Health Survey (NFHS), last carried out in 2004-05, had shown that 23% of married men, 52% of married women and 72% of infants were anemic and were caught in a downward spiral of slow starvation. Thus food scarcity is undoubtedly a dire issue to be addressed immediately.

Apart from unpredictable rains, droughts, natural disasters, insects are major contributors in lowering the agricultural yield every year. According to Food and agricultural Organization of United States, herbivorous insects are said to be responsible for destroying one fifth of the world’s total crop production annually.

Insects are the most diverse species of organisms living on earth. They can be found in jungles, swamps, deserts and even in highly harsh environments such as pool of crude petroleum. Insects are undoubtedly the most adaptable form of life as their total numbers far exceed that of any other animal category. Insect pests inflict damage on humans, farm animals and crops. The damages can be categorized into two types

• Pre-harvest damage
• Post-harvest damage

Pre-harvest damage: Due to lack of effective crop protection measures, the crop loss in pre harvest stages is substantial and is affecting the economy adversely. The loss due to insects and diseases is estimated to be around 20 percent. The major pests like stem borer and leaf folder in paddy, boll worm, white fly, red hairy caterpillar, leaf miner and prodenia in groundnut, pod borer in pulses cause several damages in the farm. The extent of crop loss either physical or financial depends on stages of crop growth, pests, and weather conditions.

The worldwide crop loss due to various types of pests was estimated at 37.4 percent in rice, 28.2 percent in wheat, 31.2 percent in maize and 26.3 percent in soybean. In India, crop loss estimate due to insect pests has been provided by Dhaliwal et al. (2010). According to their study, crop loss was estimated at 25 percent in rice and maize, 5 percent in wheat, 15 percent in pulses and 50 percent in cotton in India.

Post-harvest damages: Crop products are eventually stored for varied periods of time depending on market demand, size of production and the farmer’s needs. Storage is the most critical postharvest operation. Deterioration of the grain quality during storage can be due to improper storing conditions, which leads to contamination with fungi or insect infestation.

In addition to direct consumption of the product, insect pests contaminate their feeding media through excretion, dead bodies and their own existence in the product, which is not commercially desirable. There are two major groups of insects that damage the stored products

• Coleoptera (beetles)
• Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies)

Coleoptera: The order Coleoptera is the largest order of insects. They are either primary or secondary pests i.e. they either directly feed on the stored products or act as predators of other insects. Larger grain borer, seed beetles, maize weevil, rice weevil are some of the well-known coleoptera

Lepidoptera: Lepidoptera is the second most important order of insects. Lepidoptera larvae occur frequently in a wide range of habitats and are known for their silk-spinning activities that result in the additional loss of quality of stored products. Some species attack the product in both the field and store. Some common lepidoptera include grain moth, pyralidae and mites.

Major wet season maize post harvest losses in the Middle belt of Ghana

Let us have a look at some incidents where insect pests lead to immense damage partnered with economic losses:

• An attack of whitefly on cotton crops in North India has taken an ugly shape. Yields have dropped sharply, sparking farmer suicides. The state government of Haryana has decided to release an aid of Rs. 500 crore for Haryana cotton farmers as a compensation for the loss.

-March 28th 2015, DNA, India

Also in Vilavancode taluk of Kanyakumari, stem boarer, a common pest, is of huge concern for the farmers as well as the officials of the horticulture department as these areas had once been totally free from the pest. These insects are proving to be a nightmare for banana farmers.

-September 8th 2013, The Hindu, India

• Mediterranean fruit fly infestation has destroyed Gascoyne chilli crop in Australia. This particular infestation was found after nearby medfly traps recorded more than 500 insects per week.

-By Lucie Bell, ABC Rural, 15 Sep 2015, Australia

• Red spider mites are posing a great threat to coffee plantation by clinging to the leaves and gradually turning them reddish. A Columbian farmer named Jairo Morales is extremely worried, as his plantation is dappled with crimson by these tiny spider mites.

-September 6th 2012, Chicago Tribune, Columbia

• Also it has been reported that the Asian stink bugs are causing millions of dollars of losses, mainly to the apple industry. About 18 % of crop in Atlanta is ruined by these insects.

-May 21st 2011, Mail online, USA

All the above mentioned statistics and incidents are enough for us to realize the magnitude of harm that is caused by the insect pests in agricultural sector and understand the urgent need for a sustainable solution.

Termirepel™ anti insect additive, a C Tech Corporation product is the best solution for the prevention and control of insect infestations. Termirepel™ masterbatch can be incorporated in agricultural films, mulches, etc. during polymer processing. It can also be incorporated in silage bags and packaging films to protect the crops in post harvest stage from pest damage.

Termirepel™ lacquer can be added to paints which can then be applied to fencing, garbage cans etc. It follows 6 tiered mechanism, which is extremely effective on insects like ants, beetles, grasshopper, termites etc. Termirepel™ is a non toxic and non hazardous anti insect additive. It is thermally stable and does not degrade on exposure to heat and sunlight. It does not kill or harm the insect but repels them. It does not volatilize and does not degrade the soil. It is RoHS, RoHS2, REACH compliant and FIFRA exempted.

 

 

The most commonly encountered insect at home is ‘Drosophila melanogaster’ commonly known as Fruit Fly. These pesky pests can be found throughout the world, in homes, gardens, warehouse, grocery stores, wineries, restaurants etc. As the name suggests fruit flies commonly feed on fruits and other sugary substances. The fruit fly is most often found hovering around overly ripe fruit, fermenting materials, such as leftover beer or soft drinks, also are a favorite food of fruit flies.

Fruit flies can lay up to 500 eggs at a time near the surface of fermenting (ripening) foods or other organic materials. The entire life cycle from egg to adult takes only about eight to ten days so they proliferate with great rapidity. They also breed in drains, garbage disposals, empty bottles and cans, trash containers, mops and cleaning rags. Hence they also cause various bacterial diseases.

There are several types of fruit flies some of them are:

Mexican fruit flies:
-found most commonly in Central America
-pose a potential threat to agriculture in North America
-attracted to all citrus, particularly mango and grapefruit crops

Citrus fruit flies:
-citrus fruit flies are an agricultural pest
-the Queensland and Mediterranean fruit flies are primary citrus pests
-most attracted to grapefruits and Meyer lemons

Olive fruit flies:
-most commonly present in areas near the Mediterranean basin
-including the Middle East, Southern Europe, the Canary Islands, many parts of Africa, India, Western Asia and Northwestern Pakistan
-olive fruit fly lives exclusively within the olive fruit

Caribbean fruit flies:
-damage tropical and subtropical fruits such as peaches, guava, citrus, papaya, Surinam cherries and loquat
-mostly found in West Indies and US

Mediterranean fruit flies:
-the world’s most harmful fruit pests
-considered a major pest of citrus fruits
-it is a more serious threat to short-lived fruits such as apples, pears and peaches

Western cherry fruit flies:
-prefer domestic and wild cherry trees as their hosts
-found throughout regions of the western United States that grow cherries

Oriental Fruit Flies:
–hosts include guava, mango, papaya, starfruit, passion fruit, citrus, fig, rose apple, tomato, and many more
-commonly found in Asia, Africa, Australia, and islands of the Pacific

Let us look at some evidence how fruit flies affect our life:

Fruit flies are a serious pest causing an estimated $300 million towards control and lost market costs for horticulture across Australia. Queensland fruit fly (QFF) is a significant pest which can infest many varieties of fruit and vegetables.
– Agriculture Victoria, Australia

Moroccan citrus banned over Medfly fears
By Andy Nelson, The Packer, January 27, 2016, US

Live Medfly or Medfly larvae were found in a bulk shipment of fresh Moroccan clementines at the Port of Philadelphia Jan. 13, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

As a result, Moroccan clementines, mandarins, tangerines and sweet oranges will be banned from the U.S. effective Feb. 8.

Pesky fruit flies in Idaho adapt to cold weather
By Shanon Quinn, Daily News staff writer, January 9, 2016, Moscow, Russia

Entomologists find spotted wing drosophila still evident in November

Entomologist Stephen Cook, also a faculty member at the UI, has been trapping the red-eyed insects on a regular basis and was surprised to find mid-November’s cold weather – with temperatures dropping into the teens – didn’t leave his traps empty.

Cook said researchers have recently discovered the pesticide commercial orchardists use on their trees is effective against the damaging flies, but they aren’t sure whether the flies are simply relocating while the spray is in effect and returning to reinfest later.

Asian fruit fly a threat to food security
By The Monitor, 13 January 2016, Africa

With extreme weather patterns due to global warming, threatening not only the health of the nation, but food security, threat of crop disease is the last thing in the farmers’ minds. And the talk of the deadly Asian fruit fly in the last years is the worst nightmare for the fruit and vegetable farmers.

In 2014, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) sponsored a 24-months project to the tune of P1.7 million i.e. USD 150747.84. But, were the funds and the time enough to fight a huge and incurring problem as this? Protecting and securing food for the nation is an expensive and long-term exercise, which needs adequate resources.

Gascoyne chilli crop to be destroyed, due to Mediterranean fruit fly infestation
By Lucie Bell, ABC Rural, 15 Sep 2015, Australia

A chilli crop in Western Australia’s Gascoyne food bowl region is set to be destroyed, after it was found to be riddled with Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly).

Work is underway across the horticultural town of Carnarvon to eradicate Medfly, through use of trapping and baiting, with plans to release millions of sterile male fruit flies next year.

This particular infestation was found after nearby Medfly traps recorded more than 500 insects per week.

Fruit fly infestation hits San Pedro
By Donna Littlejohn, Daily Breeze, 9 October 2015, California,     

The adult oriental fruit fly is somewhat larger than a housefly, about 8 mm in length. The body color is variable but generally bright yellow with a dark “T” shaped marking on the abdomen. The wings are clear. (Photo courtesy California Department of Food and Agriculture)

A fruit fly invasion has landed in San Pedro, but state agriculture authorities are hoping they can stop the insects in the early stages.

Three Oriental fruit flies — which harm fruits, vegetables and plants — have been found since July 22 near the intersection of North Gaffey Street and West Capital Drive, in the 1200 block of North Meyler Street and in the 500 block of MacArthur Avenue.

To prevent and control fruit fly infestation use of pesticides and insecticides is not beneficial because their effect stays only for certain period of time. The toxic chemicals present in them can cause harm to beneficial insects and microorganisms. The evaporated toxic fumes from them are hazardous to human health.

Termirepel™ anti-insect additive a C Tech Corporation product is the best solution for the prevention and control of fruit fly infestation. Termirepel™ masterbatch can be incorporated in agricultural films, mulches, etc during processing. It can also be incorporated in silage bags and packaging films to protect the crops in the post-harvest stage from pest damage.

Termirepel™ lacquer can be added to paints which can then be applied to fencing, garbage cans etc. It follows 6 pronged strategy which is extremely effective on fruit flies as well as insects like ants, beetles, grasshopper, termites etc.

Termirepel™ is a non-toxic and non-hazardous anti-insect additive. It is thermally stable and does not degrade on exposure to heat and sunlight. It does not kill or harm the insect but repels them. It does not volatilize and does not degrade the soil. It is RoHS, RoHS2, REACH, APVMA, NEA compliant and FIFRA exempted.

 

Beetles are the largest group of insects belonging to the order ‘Coleoptera’ which means ‘sheathed wings’. They can be found nearly in all climates and latitudes except in extreme environment as those in the polar region. About 40% of all insect species are beetles while most of them are undiscovered.

The majority of beetles feed on a variety of plants. They may feed on leaves, stems, flowers, fruits, vegetables, and roots. Any part of the plant is food to them. They also feed on stored crops and grains. These pest attack on furniture and items made of wood. Hence they are considered as pests causing damage to our plants in fields, yards, gardens, storage areas etc.

The most destructive species of beetles are:

1. Carpet Beetles: feeds on plant matter with high proteins.
2. Drugstore Beetles: feeds on stored grains, seeds, flour, spices, books, leather, and drugs.
3. Grain Beetles: feeds on grains, cereal, seeds, dried fruit, and food with higher oil content.
4. Ground Beetles: certain ground beetle species feeds on seeds and pollen of plants.
5. Plaster Beetles: sometimes feeds on stored food products.
6. Powder Post Beetles: feeds on starch, sugar, and protein from sapwood, prefers wood with high moisture content.
7. Spider Beetles: feeds on almonds, beans, cereals, chocolate powders, cornmeal, dates, dried fruits, mushrooms, dried soups, flour, ginger, corn, nutmeg, older woods, rye bread, seeds, etc.
8. Warehouse Beetles: feeds on nectars and pollens and also cereals, seeds, cornmeal, dried pet food, spices, pasta noodles, cookies, candy, and milk powder.
9. Wood Infesting Beetles: feeds on wood-containing moisture and sugar.
10. Mountain Pine Beetles: feeds on mature or weakened lodgepole pine.

Let us look at the below evidence that shows how beetles are destroying our plants and trees:

• Beetle spreads worry among Ventura County farmers
  By Claudia Boyd-Barrett, vcstar.com, 15 January 2016, California, US

Known as the polyphagous shot hole borer, the pest is a beetle that targets at least 38 types of trees, including avocados. It carries a fungus that interrupts the transportation of water and nutrients within the trees, leading to branch dieback and ultimately death.

The conservancy manages about 2,300 acres of land that is home to tens of thousands of oak trees.

Rick Bisaccia, stewardship director and lands manager for the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, said “Live oaks are probably the most predominant trees on our land,” he said. “If all of a sudden the oaks were to die and disappear out of there it would be a real, tragic loss.”

• N.Y. Wants Help Fighting Southern Pine Beetle
  By Kevin Lessmiller, 7 January 2016, Courthouse News Service, New York, US

(CN) – New York’s natural resources division said Thursday that it is taking bids for timber harvesters to help combat an invasive species of beetles.

Tree-cutting operations began as part of the response plan, resulting in nearly 2,500 infested trees being chopped down, according to the agency. However, its efforts have not been enough. DEC says there are still forested areas threatened by the southern pine beetle.

“By thinning a portion of this forest, which represents one of DEC’s largest land holdings in the Pine Barrens region, we are potentially saving thousands of trees from this invasive insect,” Seggos said in a statement.

The southern pine beetle is native to southern areas of the United States, but the species has spread north and west. It attacks all types of pine trees, and about 1,000 acres of pine forests in New Jersey have been destroyed by the beetle each year since 2001, according to DEC.

• Tel Aviv fears invasive beetle infestation that causes trees to collapse
  22 December 2015, The Jerusalem Post, Tel Aviv, Israel

Due to heightening fears that the ongoing spread of red palm weevil infestations will lead to spontaneous tree collapses around the city, the Tel Aviv-Yafo municipality is demanding that private homeowners take certain measures to handle infected palms on their property.

The municipality announced that if property owners fail to treat their trees within 14 days, they will be subject to a NIS 730 fine. About 270,940 trees of all types grow in Tel Aviv, of which about 160,940 are found in public spaces, according to city data. Stressing the importance of urban plant growth to residential quality of life, as well as the millions of shekels invested in their preservation, the city urged residents to be proactive and protect the palm trees from the red palm weevil’s clutches.

• Pine bark beetles infest trees on the Palos Verdes Peninsula
  By Priscella Vega, 19 December 2015, Daily Breeze, California, US

Rolling Hills Estates in Peninsula removed more pine trees than any other species compared to past years, according to Andy Clark, community services director. The city held a special Parks and Activities meeting last week to address recent attacks on trees and hear Dudikoff’s concerns of bark beetles spreading to his area.

In Rancho Palos Verdes and Rolling Hills, infected trees haven’t been a major concern. Residents typically remove infected trees to prevent beetles from spreading while Rancho Palos Verdes residents are concerned about dead trees falling over.

• Oro-Medonte battles beetle
  By Frank Matys, 18 December, 2015, Ontario, Canada

Oro-Medonte is tackling an infestation of emerald ash borer, a bug responsible for the devastation of millions of trees in Ontario.

However, targeting an area of the township populated with ash trees will not halt the beetle’s march through the municipality, an official says.

“It certainly will spread,” said Jerry Ball, director of transportation and environmental services.

“Once a tree dies, you stand the risk of it blowing down across a road or taking out hydro lines or falling down on private property, maybe on a house or whatever,” Ball said.

Let us look at the statistics that shows the increasing beetle infestation:

• The U.S. Forest Service and Colorado State Forest Service
  The annual aerial forest health survey in Colorado, 2015

A spruce beetle outbreak was detected on 485,000 acres in 2014, compared to 398,000 acres across the state in 2013. The epidemic expanded to 253,000 new acres, as compared to 216,000 new acres in 2013. The spruce beetle epidemic is expanding most rapidly in southwestern Colorado’s forests, and the total area affected by this beetle since 1996 has increased to almost 1.4 million acres statewide.

Approximately 3.4 million acres in Colorado have been affected by mountain pine beetle since the first signs of the outbreak in 1996.

• The British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Land and Natural Resource Operations
  Sustainable Forest Management, Facts and Statistics 2013

Since 2002, an unprecedented infestation of mountain pine beetle in British Columbia has significantly threatened Alberta’s pine forests. The British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Land and Natural Resource Operations projected that 57% of the province‘s merchantable pine forests could be killed by 2016.

• Below image shows increasing mountain pine beetle infestation in Canada, US region in the year 2013:

 

• Farmers’ knowledge and perceptions of blister beetles, Hycleus spp. (Coleoptera: Meloidae), as pest herbivores of Desmodium legumes in western Kenya
  International Journal of Pest Management, 2012

The highest number of farmers reported blister beetles as pests of desmodium (63%) and beans (58%), followed by sweet potato (51%).

Insecticides and pesticides are designed to kill pests. Because of their mode of action is not specific to one species, they often kill or harm organisms other than pests, including humans. Also the majority beetle species are directly important to the environment. For example, several beetle species are predators on other harmful pests; others are decomposers of organic matter. Here is the evidence that shows adverse effect of pesticides:

• New evidence of damage caused to bees by pesticide use, researchers claim
  By wmnpbowern, January 05, 2016, Western Morning News, England

Scientists at Sussex University claim new research shows the impact on bees of neonicotinoid pesticides is even greater than originally feared.

The researchers, at Sussex University, say they have discovered that bees are exposed to a chemical cocktail when feeding on wildflowers growing next to neonicotinoid-treated crops in UK cropland.

C Tech Corporation can offer a solution to overcome the damage caused by beetles and other insects to our plants, trees, and crops. Termirepel™ is an ideal solution for the prevention of damage caused by insects. Termirepel™ is the non-toxic and non-hazardous anti termite and anti insect additive. Although it is non-hazardous anti termite it is effective on insects like beetles, grasshopper, worms, bedbugs etc. It is cost effective and cost efficient, inert, stable upto 1400 deg C temperature and long lasting.

Termirepel™ is manufactured with a unique set of complex compounds. It is available in the form of polymer masterbatches which can be incorporated in agricultural films, mulches, etc during processing. Termirepel™ can also be incorporated in silage bags and packaging films to protect the crops in post-harvest stage from pest damage.

Yellow crazy ants fit the stereotype of a rapacious marauding invader. The yellow crazy ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes) is a species of ant, introduced accidentally to northern Australia and Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean, which has wreaked ecological damage in both locations. It is colloquially called “crazy” because of its erratic movements when disturbed, with its long legs and antennae making it one of the largest invasive ant species in the world. This is a “tramp ant”, a species that easily becomes established and dominant in a new habitat due to traits such as aggression toward other ant species, little aggression toward members of its own species, efficient recruitment, and large colony size. It is on a list of “One Hundred of the World’s Worst Invasive Alien Species” formulated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It has invaded ecosystems from Hawaii to Seychelles, and formed supercolonies on Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.

The yellow crazy ants are widespread across the tropics, and populations are especially dense in the Pacific region. The yellow crazy ant’s natural habitat is not known, but it has been speculated that the species originated in West Africa. It has been introduced into a wide range of tropical and subtropical environments including Caribbean islands, some Indian Ocean islands and some Pacific islands. The species has been known to occupy agricultural systems such as cinnamon, citrus, coffee and coconut plantations. Because the ant has generalized nesting habits, they are able to disperse via trucks, boats and other forms of human transport.

Yellow crazy ants demonstrate the power of numbers and the benefits of social cooperation. They are able to dominate large areas by forming super-colonies with multiple nests and multiple queens. The largest have up to 300 queens and extend over several hundred hectares. They spread by budding. A mated queen leaves her birth nest with some workers and sets up a new nest nearby. The boundary of a super-colony can advance approximately by 3 meter a day.

Also what is interesting here is that crazy ants have the ability to form multi-queened “super colonies”, where rather than fight each other, the offspring of different queens cooperate to form infestations. There can be several thousand ants per square metre of forest floor in these super colonies, but at any one time there are just as many ants foraging in the treetops.

A survey on Christmas Island one of the worst affected regions yielded an average spreading speed of three meters a day, the equivalent of one kilometer a year.

The species is most infamous for causing the ecological “meltdown” of Christmas Island. On Christmas Island, yellow crazy ants have reached densities of more than 2,000 ants per square metre—the highest density of foraging ants ever recorded. The ants have had a dramatic impact on the ecosystem and are linked to population declines in some species of crab, bird and plant. Yellow crazy ant impacts are varied, depending on their density and on the invaded ecosystem.

They like to think of themselves as literally being the “queens of their castles”. Crazy ants are highly aggressive to other ants. Only two of 40 ants on Christmas Island are able to coexist with yellow crazy ants. In Hawaii, yellow crazy ants aggressively defend flowers from other nectar-eaters. Their large-scale removal of insects deprives other insect-eaters, such as lizards and birds, of food. Monopolization was noted at a site near Cairns.

They cause a huge amount of damage to the biodiversity as well as to the agriculture in the areas they attack. Yellow crazy ant’s farm sap-sucking bugs for their honeydew and protect them from predators. The build-up in bugs and sugar encourages the growth of sooty mould, which can severely compromise tree health and is sometimes fatal.

Yellow crazy ants also cause agricultural damage. They have killed young chickens and pigs. They reduce yields of coffee, coconut and sugarcane crops by nesting at the base of these plants and exposing the roots to disease, and promote sooty mould disease in fruit trees. On one of the Seychelles islands, the abundance of a sap-sucking insect associated with sooty mould on citrus and cinnamon increased up to 100-fold in the presence of yellow crazy ants, and up to 90 percent of leaves were infected.

They are also known to spray formic acid which may cause burning and irritate the skin and eyes of animals and potentially humans.

Let us look at the following news article:

Federal Government gives $2m to fight yellow crazy ants south of Cairns

• Liam Parsons
• The Cairns Post
• November 11, 2013 6:14AM

RURAL MENACE: The Yellow Crazy ant, or Anoplolepsis Gracilipes.

THE war against one of the world’s most invasive pests has been given a boost after the Federal Government announced $2 million to fight yellow crazy ants south of Cairns.

The pests are about the size of green ants and spray a substance that irritates the skin and can cause temporary blindness to humans and animals.

Known for their frantic movements when disturbed, yellow crazy ants are entrenched at properties around Edmonton, south of Cairns.

But there are fears the infestation could spread to the neighboring Wet Tropics rainforests, causing severe damage to the World Heritage-listed region and local wildlife.

Wet Tropics Management Authority executive director Andrew Maclean said the ants would disturb fragile ecosystems while threatening young birds and even cassowaries.

“They’re quite aggressive,” he said.

“We would also be worried about the effect they would have on the invertebrate population, which plays an important part in the ecology.”

Mr. Maclean said recent surveys indicated the ants were confined to Edmonton, allowing the authorities to stamp them out before they spread.

“Once they’re established in a forest, the prospect of getting rid of them is pretty slim,” he said.

“It’s important you jump on these populations. We think it’s not too late to completely eradicate them.”

The money will go towards a five-year eradication program involving baits, research funding and public education and awareness programs.

Kennedy MP Bob Katter welcomed the funding and called for residents to identify and report the ants.

The funding, under the Federal Government’s Caring for Our Country grants program, comes 12 months after the State Government and Biosecurity Queensland stopped its eradication program.

Thus we can see that these pests are causing us a lot of grief and control measures are extremely costly.

In 2007, the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization) claimed it had undertaken the world’s most successful eradication of the exotic invertebrate species, Yellow Crazy Ant, in the Northern Territory of Australia. However, the need for control programs for these ants is a pressing one. We at C-Tech Corporation can provide a solution to this grave problem.

However, the need for control programs for these ants is a pressing one. We at C Tech Corporation can provide a solution to this grave problem. Termirepel™ a product by C Tech Corporation is an effective non-toxic, non-hazardous insect aversive. It works by the mechanism of repellence by which it aims at repelling the target species away from the end application. Termirepel™ can be incorporated in agricultural films during processing which can then be used to protect crops against the onslaught of these vicious ants. Termirepel™ can also be sprayed on the plants to protect them from these crazy ants.

A weevil is any beetle from the Curculionoidea superfamily. They are usually small, less than    6 mm in length and herbivorous. There are over 60,000 species in several families, mostly in the family Curculionidae . There are more species in this family than in any other beetle group. Scientists estimate that there are over 1,000 species of Curculionidae in North America. Weevils are generally divided into two major divisions, the Orthoceri or primitive weevils, and the Gonatoceri or true weevils. Weevil species occur in a wide range of colors and body shapes. Many are slender or oval-shaped insects. Depending on the species, weevils range in size from about 3 mm to over 10 mm in length. They are usually dark-colored—brownish to black. Some have scales or shiny hairs covering part of their bodies. The most distinctive feature of weevils is the shape of their head. An adult weevil has an elongated head that forms a snout. The mouth is at the end of the snout. Some weevils have a snout that is as long as the body.

Most of the weevils are destructive to crops and are categorized as agricultural pests. They feed on crops as larvae as well as adults. Most weevils are found in fields, gardens or orchards. They can be very destructive, and their damage is often very expensive. For many years, one of the most destructive weevils was the cotton boll weevil. The black vine weevil, is found in many parts of the United States. It feeds on a variety of plants, including hemlocks and rhododendrons.

A few weevils attack stored grains and seeds. Weevils are often found in dry foods including nuts and seeds, cereal and grain products, such as pancake mix. In the domestic setting, they are most likely to be observed when a bag of flour is opened. Their presence is often indicated by the granules of the infested item sticking together in strings, as if caught in a cobweb. The most common stored product weevils are the rice weevil, the granary weevil, and the cowpea weevil. Sometimes plant-feeding weevils invade homes for shelter from the weather. Occasionally people accidentally bring seed-feeding weevils into the kitchen.

Banana weevil is the most important pest of banana plantations. The banana weevil (C. sordidus) is known from virtually all banana-growing countries of the world, including the New World, Afrotropics, Oriental and Australasian regions. According to a study conducted by cirad  banana plots are colonized from already infested neighboring plots or from reservoirs, such as semi-natural wild banana stands. Plot organization within an agricultural landscape thus plays an important role in the spread of weevils, as does the position of the various elements within plots – banana plants, harvest residues, cover crops, pheromone traps, etc. It is its larvae that damage banana plants, by boring galleries in the bulb, which prevent the plant from taking up sufficient nutrients and sometimes cause it to fall.

Substantial losses can result if this pest is not controlled. Although it will attack all parts of banana suckers and established plants, it prefers decaying banana corm material. Spent stems (cut or left standing), residual corms left after the stem has been cut, underground stubs of corm tissue left after de-suckering, uprooted suckers or stems, and any corm tissues that are large enough to dry slowly are good targets for banana root borer attack. Dispersal within a banana field occurs when adult weevils walk from plant to plant or when infested plants containing eggs and larvae are moved. Dispersal between distant fields undoubtedly is caused by the transportation of infested planting material. The injury is caused by grubs (larvae), which tunnel through the corms. Tunnels which are circular in cross section become wider as the grub grows and are filled with dark-colored debris. Extensive feeding damage by grubs results in root destruction, slowed plant growth, reduced fruit production, and, sometimes, toppled plants. The tunneling by the grubs makes the corms susceptible to invasion by secondary decay organisms. Reduced production and growth of suckers occur when parent plants are heavily damaged. Affected sucker plants can be recognized by their dull, yellowish-green withered leaves. Relatively little damage is caused by adults feeding on plant tissues.

The damage caused by the banana weevil is demonstrated by this article published recently in The Hindu:

NATIONAL » TAMIL NADU

NAGERCOIL, September 8, 2013

Updated: September 8, 2013 10:24 IST

Stem borer a nightmare for banana farmers

1. KOLAPPAN

 The entry of banana weevil, a common pest, in tribal areas across the Petchiparai dam has become a cause of concern for both farmers and officials of the horticulture department as these areas had once been totally free from the pest.

  ‘Nenthiran’ and red bananas planted in these areas have become its victims. “Commonly known as stem borer, the pest could wreak havoc on banana crop and contribute to drastic decline in banana cultivable area.” said Surendran Joseph, Assistant Director, Horticultural Department in Kanyakumari district, who identified the pests during a field visit.

Mr Joseph said when he received complaints of banana stems bending over and collapsing at Thatchamalai during the flowering stage, he was under the impression it could be due to some fungus attack.

“Even last year there was no incidence of this pest. But now I am surprised to find that it is the handiwork of the stem borer,” he said. Even though the problem was prevalent in Kanyakumari district, particularly in Vilavancode taluk, the borer could not make a foray into tribal areas all these years.

He felt the weevil, which could reach 10-16mm length with a hard-shelled and curved snout, could have invaded the area along with banana suckers brought from outside for planting.

The damage is caused by the grub (larva of the weevil), which makes tunnels as it feeds on the corm and root stock. The tunnels encourage fungal infection, ultimately reducing it into a black mass of rotten tissues. This hinders root initiation and sap flow to the plants.

“The infection will result in yellowing of leaves and withering; particularly, young suckers show symptoms of wilting. In older plants, growth is retarded. In case of severe infection, plants produce small bunches and are easily blown over by wind,” he explained.

Mr Joseph said the pest could be controlled through crop rotation, drip irrigation, selection of healthy planting material and keeping the garden clean from weeds and crop debris. “Uproot the infested plant, chop it into pieces and burn them. Removal of pseudo stem below the ground level,” he said, and advised farmers to avoid planting susceptible varieties such as robusta and red banana

He said if the planting material is suspected of being infested, the suckers should be trimmed on all sides so as to eradicate the presence of eggs and grubs.

The above incident strikes a chord close to home. India being a country majorly dominated by agriculture as a source of livelihood, the crops need to be protected from vicious insects like weevils and bedbugs.

Conventional pesticides used have numerous environmental consequences. The use of toxic pesticides means exposing our pristine soil to the evils of degeneration, degradation of soil quality, groundwater pollution, etc. A better way is to use non-conventional products. Unconventional products like Termirepel™ a product of C Tech Corporation are the best for this job. Termirepel™ can be best described as a non-toxic, non-hazardous termite aversive. It is effective against a multitude of other insects and pests like weevils, beetles, etc. It works on the mechanism of repellence and therefore does not kill the target as well as non-target species. Being non-toxic, it does not harm the soil and environment.

 

 

 

 

Cimex lectularius is commonly known as ‘Bedbug’. Bedbugs feed only on animal’s or human’s blood. They do not cause any disease but their saliva contains biologically and enzymatically active proteins that may cause a progressive, visibly detectable skin reaction to repeated bites. Scratching on the bites may cause secondary skin infection that can lead to swelling or burning. People may experience insomnia worrying that they will be bitten again. Those who are allergic to bedbugs’ bite can suffer difficulty breathing, irregular heartbeat, fever, swollen tongue, etc.

Sometimes it takes a few days to notice bedbug’s bite that is why they go unnoticed for several days in the infested area. Hence one should look for blood stains, dark and rusty spots of bedbug excrement, fecal spots for the bedbug infestation. They can enter your home through your luggage, clothing, and used furniture. Bedbugs generally hide in places where people rest most of their time like mattress, bed frame, pillows, cushions, couch, box spring, bed skirts, headboard, curtains, tiny cracks, crevices, etc. They can be found everywhere despite the cleanliness. Places like hotels, business offices, military barracks, homeless shelter, college dorms, apartments, complexes, theaters, trains, buses, etc. are commonly have bedbugs.

According to The National Pest Management Association and the University of Kentucky, nearly all U.S. pest professionals have treated bed bugs in the past year

Nearly all (99.6 percent) pest professionals have treated bed bugs in the past year, unchanged from 2013, but higher compared to five, 10 and 15 years ago.

The top three places where pest professionals report finding bed bugs are apartments/condominiums (95 percent) and single-family homes (93 percent) and hotels/motels (75 percent). Past surveys have shown these environments to consistently be the top three where bed bugs have been encountered.

However, bed bugs are also found seemingly everywhere else and in higher numbers, such as nursing homes, college dorms, offices, schools and daycare centers, hospitals, public transportation, and others:

Nursing homes – 58 percent (46 percent in 2013)

Office buildings – 45 percent (36 percent in 2013)

Schools and day care centers – 43 percent (41 percent in 2013)

Hospitals – 36 percent (33 percent in 2013)

Doctor’s offices/outpatient facilities – 33 percent (26 percent in 2013)

Transportation (train/bus/taxi) – 29 percent (21 percent in 2013)

Retail stores – 20 percent (15 percent in 2013)

Movie theaters – 16 percent (10 percent in 2013)

In addition to the environments above, pest professionals also report finding bed bugs in some very unusual places, results which illustrate how problematic this pest really is: A prosthetic leg; in a casket with a deceased body; vent above the bathtub; dance club; 911 Call center; and in a tow boat on the Ohio River.

Here are some incidences that show how bedbug infestation is an emerging problem:

• SHA’s Baltimore HQ battles bedbugs — again
  By Rick Massimo, January 1, 2016, Washington’s Top News, Washington

WASHINGTON — The Baltimore headquarters of the Maryland State Highway Administration is battling bedbugs for the second time in the past couple of weeks, and the 10th time since 2014.
SHA spokesman Dave Buck tells The Baltimore Sun that each finding of bedbugs is a separate incident, and that the repeated sightings aren’t a sign of a single invasion that’s been neglected.

• Bed bugs biting Robeson residents
  December 28th, 2015, The Robesonian, Pennsylvania

Emergency Medical Services and Lumberton police have alerted that the issues they have been having with people and clothing infested with bed bugs. In the case of the ambulances, this results in those units being removed from operation until they have been thoroughly cleaned.

• Bed bug infestation causes family to struggle
  By John Bush, December 15th, 2015, Ohio

Last winter, Sarah and her family unknowingly moved into a home infested with bed bugs. It wasn’t long before she and her two daughters began noticing the blood-sucking insects.

With no help from her landlord and not enough money to pay an exterminator, Sarah began purchasing bed bug spray every week to try to rid her home of the pesky insects. “I tried my hardest to get rid of them, but then one day we ended up tearing out a wall and found them all crawling in this one wall in the house,” she said.

To prevent and control bedbug infestation use of pesticides and insecticides is not beneficial because the effect of them stays only for a certain period of time. The toxic chemicals present in them can cause harm to beneficial insects and microorganisms. The evaporated toxic fumes from them are hazardous to human health. They can also degrade the quality of the product they are applied to.

Termirepel™ anti-insect additive a C Tech Corporation product is an ideal solution for the prevention and control of bedbug infestation. The masterbatch of Termirepel™ can be incorporated into wires and cables which are used in domestic wiring. While Termirepel™ lacquer can be added to paints which can then be applied to furniture, walls, ceilings, etc. It follows 6 pronged strategy which is extremely effective on bedbugs as well as insects like ants, beetles, grasshopper, termites, etc.

Termirepel™ is an extremely low toxic and extremely low hazard anti-insect additive. It is thermally stable and does not degrade on exposure to heat and sunlight. It does not kill or harm the insect but repels them. It does not volatilize and does not degrade the soil. It is RoHS, RoHS2, EU BPR, REACH compliant and FIFRA exempted.

Contact us at technical.marketing@ctechcorporation.com to keep the pests away.

Also, visit our websites:

http://www.ctechcorporation.com/
http://www.rodrepel.com/
http://www.termirepel.com/
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Naval Force and Defence sector are the major sectors defining the growth and development of a nation-state. It is needless to describe how important these sectors to a nation’s security, integrity and prosperity. Billions of rupees are allocated every year for the advancement of these sectors.

Global presence and the increased operating tempo of naval forces greatly increase the chances of encountering pests that transmit pathogens, infest food supplies, damage electronic devices or simply present a nuisance to crew members. These pests are prone to inhabit certain areas, making continual monitoring important for the following spaces:

• Food service areas.
• Sculleries.
• Mess Decks.
• Ship’s stores (e.g., soda storage areas).
• Snack areas.
•  Heads and showers.
• Dry provision storage areas.
• Berthing areas.
• Laundry and dry-cleaning shops.
• Cleaning gear locker.
• Garbage collection areas.
• Electrical devices.
• Junction box.

Insects like ants, cockroach, beetles, bedbugs etc. are the most commonly encountered pest aboard Navy ships. They contaminate food and food preparation areas and lower crew morale. The construction characteristic of navy vessels makes pest control very difficult. Abundant standing water, food, warmth, and numerous potential harborages provide the pests with an ideal habitat for growth and survival.

These pests require food, water, and harborage for the growth and survival. Their habits and body structure enable them to potentially transmit pathogens that cause dysentery and diarrhea. Their flattened body enables them to hide in tight places that are warm and dark. Infestations are most likely to be in and around:

• Steam lines.
• Cable bundles
• Berthing
• False bulkheads, overheads, and splash boards.
• Lagging and torn insulation.
• Behind pictures and bulletin boards.
• Around holes for plumbing and electrical lines.
• Behind drawers.
• Around iron supports counters and serving lines.
• In hollow furniture and utility legs (e.g., refrigeration and heavy equipment support).
• Oncoming food stores (e.g., bagged onions, potatoes), soft drink containers, and cardboard containers.
• Ovens and oven hoods.
• Motor housings, esp., in refrigeration units, ice cream machines.

Not only insects but rodents are also a threat to defence forces. There are several incidences that show how defence sector faces problem due to these pests:

• Navy SNAFU: Some Things Don’t Change

April 03, 2009, Sodahead.com, US

A senior official at the weapons station, who asked not to be identified, said the problem began when a squirrel came in contact with an electrical transformer. The rodent was electrocuted and the transformer exploded, knocking out power for a time, and seriously damaging a key component of the base phone system.

• Honduran army goes to war against invading bugs

By Noe Leiva, December 3, 2015, Phys Org, Honduras

A tree-munching bug called Dentroctomus frontalis, more commonly known in North and Central America as the southern pine beetle.

For Honduran soldiers from the First Artillery Battalion confronting the pine tree bugs in Zambrano province just north of the capital with chainsaws, much of that climate chatter is just theory and abstraction.

Commanders of the battalion of 350 men admit feeling impotent against the beetle, and have called in the country’s Forest Conservation Institute (ICF) and the military’s Forest Commando unit to help cut down infected trees, and healthy ones nearby.

“It’s a shame to see this,” one commando officer, Colonel Bernardo Avila, told AFP.

Below is the table that shows characteristics of some pests found aboard ship:

Insect	Length of adult (mm)	Days to devel-op	Presence	Common type of product attacked
Saw-toothed grain beetle	2-3	30-50	Very common	Packaged cereals, crackers, dried fruits, candy, flour, meal, sugar, dried meat, tobacco, wide variety of grain products
Merchant grain beetle	2-3	30-50	Very common (Pacific region)	Oatmeal, rice, flour, cake mixes, macaroni, cookies
Cigarette beetle,	2-3	30-50	Very common	Breakfast cereals, spices (esp., dry cocoa powder), raisins, rice, teas
Confused flour beetle,	3-4	30-120	Very common (health concern, if 3 or more/pound)	Flour, other grain products, beans, peas, dried fruits, shelled nuts, spices, chocolate
Mediterranean flour moth,	10-14	30-40	Rare	Flour, cereals, bran, biscuits, seeds, chocolate, dried fruits
Indian meal moth,	8-10	25-135	Very common (esp., in vending machine areas)	Flour, corn, cornmeal, dried fruits, nuts, powdered milk, crackers, biscuits, chocolate, dried red peppers, dried flowers
Varied carpet beetle,	2-3	1 generation /year	Common (health concern, demisted species, if 1 or more larvae/lot)	Grain products, woolens, silks, feathers, products of animal origin, rodent nests, dead insects
Rice weevil	2-4	30-50	Very common	Pasta, rice, raw grains, nuts, fruits
Spider beetles	2-3	90-300	Rare	Broken grain, seeds, dried fruits and meats, woolens and dried animal products, rat and mouse droppings

SOURCE: US NAVY SBPC MANUAL

Use of pesticides and insecticides is not an effective method to prevent and control these damages as their effect remains only over a certain period of time. These insecticides and pesticides are toxic in nature. The fumes evaporated from them can cause severe brain damage. They kill the target species as well as beneficial non-target species.

C Tech Corporation can offer a solution to overcome the damage caused by insects. Termirepel™ anti termite and an anti-insect additive is an ideal solution for the prevention and control of insects. It follows 6 pronged strategy which is extremely effective on termites as well as insects like cockroach, ants, beetles, grasshopper, bugs etc.

Termirepel™  is non-toxic and non-hazardous anti-insect additive. It is thermally stable and does not degrade on exposure to heat and sunlight. It does not kill or harm the insect but repels them. It does not volatilize and does not degrade in the soil. It is RoHS, RoHS2, REACH, APVMA, NEA compliant and FIFRA exempted.

Termite in Latin means ‘wood worm’. They are commonly called as white ants and are closely related to cockroaches. They have been recently included into the order ‘Blattodea’.

Termites are social insect. They build large colonies in soil, trees, stump, wood pile, dead trees, wooden articles and other source of food. Their colonies are maintained at high humidity, this helps to protect thin skinned worker termites from drying out. They gain most of the water content from soil and wood itself. Each colony includes queen, king, workers, soldiers and immature ones. The queen’s body undergoes extraordinary changes and swells up to to give thousands of eggs. That means thousands of termites are added everyday to the colony. The worker’s job is to build the colony, gather food and nurture immature ones. Soldier’s job is to protect the colony from predators.

Termites can be grouped into three basic categories:

Dampwood: Dampwood termites generally live in damp rotting logs or rot pockets in dead or living trees.

Drywood: Drywood termites obtain water from the wood in which they live and have no contact with the soil, or with any other source of moisture.

Subterranean: Subterranean termites are generally ground-dwelling or require contact with the soil or some constant source of moisture and are the main threat posed to timber in the built environment.

Termites are considered to be the most destructive insect pests in the world. A termite colony can consume 5gm of wood per day. Many buildings and structures are damaged by these pests each year resulting in huge financial losses. They are often called as ‘silent destroyer’ because they may be secretly hiding and thriving in your home or yard without any immediate signs of damage. Cellulose found in plants, is the basic food requirements of all termites and in turn all types of plant or wood material can be damaged by termites.

According to Orkin Pest Control Company-each year, termites and similar pests cause an estimated $30 billion in damage to crops and man-made structures in the U.S. Annual termite damage is calculated to be 5 times more than that caused by fire, flooding and storms combined. A homeowner who discovers termite damage spends an average of $3,000 to repair the damage.

Below table shows annual losses associated with termite activity all over the world:

COUNTRY	COST ASSOCIATED WITH TERMITE ACTIVITY ( US $ 10^6/YEAR)
MALAYSIA	8-10
INDIA	35.12
AUSTRALIA	100
CHINA	300-375
JAPAN	800
USA	1,000

Source-Department of Process Engineering and Applied Sciences, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Here is some news that shows how termites are affecting our lives:

• Elderly woman found trapped under her bedroom ceiling after the termite-ridden wall collapsed while she was sleeping

31 AUGUST 2015, By ANEETA BHOLE for DAILY MAIL, AUSTRALIA

• The Adelaide woman, 82, was trapped from her waist down
• She sustained minor injuries and was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital
• Neighbors are checking their houses for termites after the incident

An elderly woman has been injured after her bedroom ceiling collapsed and trapped her under mounds of debris. The woman woke to her ceiling caving in, dropping broken wood and plaster in her home on Arthur Street in Payneham.

South Australian Police media said that the damage was caused by a severe termite infestation.

Moisture is a key element that draws termites to wood, and despite the elderly woman’s house being a 1950’s double brick house, ‘the pests were likely to nest in the roof timber,’ explained Pest manager and neighbor Mark Wagner.

• Lenders are cracking down on homes with termite infestation

By Jill Chodorov, September 2015, Washington

In a few recent transactions, buyers’ lenders wanted to know whether any structural damage occurred to the house in cases where termites or other wood-destroying insects were discovered during an inspection.

“Lenders are paying more attention to WDI [wood-destroying inspection] reports to protect their investment,” said Jon Okun of Prosperity Home Loans.

Wood-destroying insects cause billions of dollars of structural damage each year and homeowners spend more than $2 billion each year to treat them, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“There are only two kinds of homes-those that have termites and those that will get termites,” said Rusty Markland, operations manager of PestNow, a locally owned pest control and extermination company.

• Aussie camping disaster: ‘Our tent was invaded by flying termites’

NOVEMBER 30, 2015, AUSTRALIA

Many people had camped at Wollondilly numerous times before and never had a problem with insects.

On this occasion it was just a case of bad timing, according to the Australian Museum.

“Termite colonies are formed when the winged reproductive forms leave their original nest and take a colonizing flight. These flights occur during warm humid weather and usually take place during spring and autumn.” it says.

“We’d never spent so much time contemplating termites until this camping expedition. Inside the tent, we found ourselves standing in a cloud of pests so thick we couldn’t breathe without inhaling them. They were there because we hadn’t abided by one of the cardinal rules of camping: do not leave the tent door unzipped at night while there’s a light on inside” said reporter Leah McLennan.

• Hanford battles termites at police station

December 02, 2015, U.S.

Police Chief Parker Sever said he learned about the pests a couple weeks ago. He said building maintenance staff had been sweeping up what looked like sawdust. The material was later determined to be termite droppings.

Maintenance Superintendent Randy Shaw said “Longfield Center, the south Hanford walk-in recreation facility, will need a new roof in the next couple of years due to termite damage. Exterminating the pests will require tenting the building at a cost of about $11,000”. 

Termites play a very important role in the ecosystem. They recycle nutrients, in particular nitrogen which is essential for healthy plant growth. When termite mounds erode, the soil particles rich in nutrients such as calcium, magnesium and potassium are washed into soil from the mounds to become available for plant growth. Their excavations alter the structure of trees and provide spaces which have become a necessary part of the habitat of many vertebrate species including bats, birds, reptiles and arboreal mammals. Many species of termite feed on materials such as grass. Only handfuls are of economic importance to timber-in-service. Use of toxic pesticides and insecticides is not an ideal solution to prevent and control this damage caused by termites.

C Tech Corporation can offer a solution to overcome damage caused by termites. Termirepel™ – anti termite additive is an ideal solution for the prevention and control of termites. It follows 6 pronged strategy which is extremely effective on termites as well as insects like ants, beetles, grasshopper, bugs etc.

Termirepel™ is non toxic and non hazardous anti termite and anti insect additive. It is thermally stable and does not degrade on exposure to heat and sunlight. It does not kill or harm the insect but repels them. It does not volatilize and does not degrade in the soil. It is RoHS, RoHS2, REACH compliant and FIFRA exempted.

Insects are the most diverse species found on earth. They can be found in places like desert, jungles, mines, caves, swamps etc. except the ocean. They are the most adaptable form of life. When these insects cause damage to our crops they become pests. Insect pests inflict damage to humans, farm animals, and crops.

Insect pests inflict their damage mainly by direct feeding on above ground or below ground plant parts. Insects with chewing mouthparts like a grasshopper, beetles cause feeding damage such as holes and cuts in stems, bore, and tunnel in plant tissues. They also cause injury to plants when they lay eggs in plant tissue. Some insect is also associated with transmission of plant diseases. Because of this infestation many plants die, many of them grow to be abnormal and nutrition deficient. Also in the storage area of crops, these insect pests contaminate feeding media through excretion, molting, dead bodies and their own existence in the product, which is not commercially desirable. Damage done by insect pests encourages infection with bacteria.

Provision of food has always been a challenge facing mankind. Most of the country’s economy depends on agriculture. Due to damage was done by insects, grains lose value for marketing, consumption, and plantation. Herbivorous insects are said to be responsible for destroying one-fifth of the world’s total crop production annually. This reflects the major loss to the economy of the agriculture and food industry. Indian agriculture currently suffers an annual loss of about US$ 36 billion.

Here is some news on how insect infestation has damaged the crops:

Insects feast on plants, endangering crops and costing billions

Behind the blossoming flowers and fields of fruit in the U.S. lurks a hungry threat that has crawled and eaten its way through much of the country. Sometimes, the menace infiltrates these places on the backs of unsuspecting hikers and travelers.

As summer approaches, swarms of invasive species—which the National Wildlife Federation refers to as “one of the leading threats to native wildlife”—are on a rampage. These organisms attack not just gardens, but also agriculture and the environment, costing the United States about $120 billion each year in damages, according to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), a division of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

In Hawaii, a rhinoceros-looking black beetle is attacking coconut-bearing palm trees. The beetle was detected less than two years ago, but the Plant Industry Division of the state’s Department of Agriculture is already calling it a “serious invasive pest.” It is forcing officials there to deploy thousands of traps to capture them and even asking residents to check their mulch before discarding it.

Another bug in Hawaii also found in California is the light brown apple moth. It is a particularly hungry critter known to damage scores of crops such as avocados, grapes and raspberries, and thousands of plants and trees that include roses and eucalyptus. “It could expand its preferences as it is exposed to new plants and crops,” the USDA-APHIS warns.

– 9 May 2015, U.S. CNBC

Flea beetles, cutworms top list of insects bugging Manitoba farmers in 2015

“Insects didn’t take a massive bite out of Manitoba crops in 2015, but there were some nibbling problems caused mainly by flea beetles and cutworms,” says Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development entomologist John Gavloski.

Borers were also found in the stalks of some potatoes, edible bean and hemp this year. It’s not unusual to find corn borers in crops other than corn when populations are high or when the corn isn’t at the right stage to attract the borer, Gavloski said in an interview.

-27 November, 2105, Manitoba, Manitoba Co-operator

In Florida, the OJ crop is getting wiped out by an Asian invader

Florida oranges are threatened with destruction if scientists and the government can’t find a way to stop an Asian bug from spreading a tree-killing disease.

The harvest for the state’s signature fruit could plunge to 27 million boxes by 2026, according to an Oct. 21 report by the Florida Department of Citrus. That’s an 82 percent drop from 149.8 million boxes in 2005, the year the bacterium that causes Huanglongbing, better known as citrus greening, was found in southern Florida.

The disease is spread by the Asian citrus psyllid, a tiny winged insect, and there’s currently no known cure. Greening already caused industry-wide losses of $7.8 billion and more than 7,500 jobs in 2006 to 2014, the University of Florida estimates.                                                                                                                     – 24 November, 2105, Florida, Chicago Tribune

Pink bollworm a nightmare for Bt cotton growers

Most of the crop in Raichur district has been destroyed by the pest.

Farmer from Kadagamdoddi village in Raichur taluk, spent Rs. 2 lakh to cultivate Bt cotton on 15 acres that he had taken on lease. Before he could harvest the first round of yield, the entire field was destroyed by pink bollworm.

“I dread visiting my cotton field and seeing this devastation,” he told The Hindu on Friday. He is not the only farmer to face this problem. Another farmer who cultivated Bt cotton on 18 acres of land said the crop was destroyed by the pink bollworm. He incurred a loss of over Rs. 3.5 lakh.

Disheartening stories of Bt cotton farmers are unfolding across Raichur district, which is one of the major cotton growing districts in the State. The extent of loss is yet to be measured as no survey has been conducted. Cotton is cultivated on nearly 60,000 hectares of lands in the district, most of which is Bt cotton. Farmers started switching to the crop in big numbers in 2007-08 and there has been increase in acreage over the years since then.

-5 December 2015, Karnataka, The Hindu

Using toxic insecticides and pesticides to stop damage caused by insects is not an ideal solution. Insecticides and pesticides are designed to kill and because their mode of action is not specific to one species, they often kill or harm organisms other than pests, including humans. Also, the majority of insects are directly important to humans and the environment. For example, several insect species are predators on other harmful pests; others are pollinators, decomposers of organic matter or producers of valuable products such as honey or silk. Some can be used to produce pharmacologically active compounds such as venoms or antibodies.

C Tech Corporation can offer a solution to overcome the damage caused by insects to our crops. Termirepel™ is an ideal solution for the prevention of insects. Termirepel™ is the non-toxic and non-hazardous aversive anti termite and anti-insect. Although it is non-hazardous anti termite it is effective on insects like grasshopper, beetles, worms etc. It is cost effective and cost-efficient, inert, stable up to 1400 deg C temperature, long lasting etc.

Termirepel™ is manufactured with a unique set of complex compounds. It is available in the form of polymer masterbatches which can be incorporated in agricultural films, mulches, etc during processing. Termirepel™ can also be incorporated in silage bags and packaging films to protect the crops in the post-harvest stage from pest damage.

The deadly bugs called brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), or simply the stink bug, is an insect in the family Pentatomidae, and it is native to China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan. It was accidentally introduced into the United States, with the first specimen being collected in September 1998. The brown marmorated stink bug is considered to be an agricultural pest, and by 2010-11 had become a season-long pest in U.S. orchards. The adults are approximately 1.7 centimeters (0.67 in) long and about as wide, forming the shield shape characteristic of other stink bugs. They are various shades of brown on both the top and undersides, with gray, off-white, black, copper, and bluish markings.

The brown marmorated stink bug is an agricultural pest that can cause widespread damage to fruit and vegetable crops. In Japan it is a pest to soybean and fruit crops. In the U.S., the brown marmorated stink bug feeds, beginning in late May or early June, on a wide range of fruits, vegetables, and other host plants including peaches, apples, green beans, soybeans, cherries, raspberries, and pears. It is a sucking insect, a “true bug“, which uses its proboscis to pierce the host plant in order to feed. This feeding results, in part, in the formation of dimpled or necrotic areas on the outer surface of fruits, leaf stippling, seed loss, and possible transmission of plant pathogens.

Let us look at the below news article;

Beat down soybean insect pests before they cause damage to your crop

Jan 17, 2014Patrick R. Shepard, Contributing Writer

When you see soybean loopers blowing out the top of the canopy, you’ve waited too long to take action,” says Gus Lorenz, Extension IPM specialist at Lonoke, Ark. “They start at the bottom of the plant and work their way up, so you can’t windshield scout loopers.” 

Scouting is critical, especially in a late-planted year like 2013.

“For example, we had really spotty bollworm infestations, Lorenz says. “You could walk across the turnrow from one field that was blooming into another field, and one field would have treatment level while the other field would hardly have any worms. That’s why scouting by the grower and/or consultant is critical. 

“There’s no rhyme or reason why bollworms infest one field and not one beside it. I saw some drilled beans that had higher numbers than row beans with open canopy.

“We need to scout every field and don’t assume that just because the middles have lapped that we’re safe. I encourage growers to use newer products like Belt, Prevathon or Besiege for bollworm control.”  

Stink bugs, which have been a perennial problem for South Carolina soybean growers for some time, were very pronounced in 2013.

“We experienced a lot of pressure from stink bugs because of lush plant growth from all of the rain,” says Jeremy Greene, Clemson University entomologist at Blackville. “Stink bugs represent a group of our most damaging insect pests — they infest a large percentage of our fields regularly, particularly late in the season.” 

The corn earworm can also cause problems in the state’s soybeans.

Stink bugs can cause a lot of damage if not brought under control. Traditional methods include the use of pesticides and insecticides on target plants such as corn and tomatoes. But the problem with such a solution is that there is always the danger of these toxic pesticides entering our ecosystem. Also, these harmful pesticides can get leached into the target vegetable or fruit and cause contamination. Many of these pesticides contain potentially harmful and proven carcinogenic compounds like benzene and its derivatives. Thus while using such hazardous products; we are taking a huge risk with the environment as well as human life. That established it is imperative that we find a solution for this problem.

 C Tech Corporation can offer a solution in the form of their non-toxic, non-hazardous product Termirepel™.  Termirepel™ is an eco-friendly insect aversive. It is available in the form of polymer masterbatches which can be incorporated in agricultural films, mulches, etc during processing. Termirepel™ can also be incorporated in silage bags and packaging films to protect the crops in post-harvest stage from pest damage.

 

 

Grasshoppers belong to the insect order Orthoptera (“straight wing”), a group whose major characteristic is long hind legs, adapted for jumping. Another distinguishing feature is the presence of short antennae; this separates the order from a related order, Grylloptera (crickets, katydids, mole crickets and camel crickets), sometimes confusingly referred to as the “long-horned” grasshoppers.

Grasshopper has been on average, the most economically important pest in Canada; although. The first record of an outbreak from the Prairie Provinces was from Saskatchewan in 1800. Certain species of grasshoppers did not become abundant, however, until about 1900 when road-building; drainage and cultivation in southern Manitoba created favorable breeding sites and greatly increased the abundance of suitable food plants.

Grasslands like American Prairie Reserve are homes to a bounty of insects that help the ecosystem grow and flourish. They also include potentially loss-prone insects like grasshoppers. They are mainly grass feeders. Economic damage is primarily to cereals, especially wheat and barley. Native and migratory grasshoppers have together destroyed areas of range grass and hay almost entirely. Grasshopper outbreaks have cost tens of millions of dollars in annual crop damage over the past several years. Grasshoppers and Mormon crickets, today still cause an estimated $1.5 billion in damage to grazing lands in the American West.

Damage to cereal crops is generally concentrated near field margins and is caused when hatchling grasshoppers move out of egg beds into field edges; damage to grasslands tends to be more evenly distributed. Damage to cereals includes leaf notching and stripping but is most costly when stems are severed just below the heads of maturing or mature crops. When grasshopper numbers are extremely high and natural plant hosts in short supply, grasshoppers will consume or attempt to consume any plants or plant products that they come upon during their migrations in search of food. Grasshoppers have a major impact on plants by changing the way nitrogen cycles work in grasslands. The grasshoppers speed up the process of nitrogen recycling by selectively feeding on plants that take longer to decompose, plant production increases. However, if they selectively feed on plants that decompose quickly, nitrogen becomes less available to the soil and plant production decreases.

Grasshoppers are the most difficult insect to control because they are highly mobile. All grasshoppers lay their eggs in the soil. There are over 100 species of grasshoppers in Colorado.

During periods when local outbreaks are developing, control usually involves using sprays or baits

Problems tend to increase beginning in early summer and can persist until hard frosts. Among vegetable crops, certain plants are favored by the grasshoppers such as lettuce, carrots, beans, sweet corn, and onions. Squash, peas, and tomatoes are among the plants that tend to be avoided. Grasshoppers less commonly feed on leaves of trees and shrubs. However, during outbreak years even these may be damaged. Furthermore, grasshoppers may incidentally damage shelterbelt plantings when they rest on twigs and gnaw on bark, sometimes causing small branches to die back.

Grasshoppers defoliate grasses by direct feeding on leaf and stem tissue and by cutting off leaves or stems and heads while feeding. High populations of grasshoppers on rangeland can damage plant crowns so severely that many grass plants will not recover. Grasshopper economic thresholds in a cereal crop are typically eight to 12 per sq. meter, but in lentils two grasshoppers are considered too many. As farm commodity prices rise the cost of damage done by individual insects rises along with them, dropping the threshold numbers that dictate when it starts to pay to take action.

Let us look at the following news article:

 

 

 

Grasshoppers devour and damage area north of Chico

Heather Hacking, Chico Enterprise-Record; POSTED: 06/26/15, 2:49 PM PDT | UPDATED: ON 06/26/2015

Baji Hantelman isn’t expecting any red garden tomatoes this year. She’s also not holding her breath for the first fig or nectarine.

Any hopes of backyard produce were dashed when the ground, the trees, the fence posts were found crawling with grasshoppers. After just a few weeks, her garden is nibbled down to sticks and stems.

How many grasshoppers? So many that the critters line the wires of the fences, climb along the side of the house. The bugs are so thick on the driveway Hantelmen hears a distinct “squish” when she backs up her car.

To quantify her misery, she counted the grasshoppers on one square meter of ground. The total was 70.

In addition to the garden, the critters are at work on the 100-year-old almond orchard nearby.

The trouble seems to be isolated to an approximately two-mile area north of Chico, she said, near Meridian Road and east of Highway 99, from Wookey to Munjar roads, she estimated.

This is where Hantelman and her husband Richard Coon own Wookey Ranch. They produce pasture-grown sheep, turkey and hogs.

Normally, the sheep are carefully rotated through the pastures. However the grasshoppers got there first and they’ll need to buy supplemental feed.

The feed bill for turkeys was low for a couple of weeks because the birds were moved across the land and could feast on grasshoppers.

Native Americans in this area are known to have eaten grasshoppers and other insects for protein.

Hantelman said she tried to catch some to fry in an iron skillet, but found them too difficult to catch.

The problem of grasshoppers has happened before, including in 2003. Another grasshopper year was in the 1990s.

Hantelman looked up the particular pests she has come to know well. They are Melanoplus devastator, which seems like an appropriate name. They certainly devastate the plants, she said.

In a normal year, the population of grasshoppers won’t be that large because a wet spring can drown the eggs or damage the nymphs, she explained.

INSECTS COME AND GO

Agricultural Commissioner Richard Price explained that surges in grasshopper populations occur periodically, with a handful of reports this year. The insects lay eggs in the spring. High moisture at the young stages of their development can control the population due to a fungus that occurs in damp soil, Price explained. In these dry times there has not been moisture nor fungus, he said.

In the past, grasshoppers were a problem on the land that is now paved over by the Chico Mall. The mall opened in 1988. Before that the area was burned every once in a while to control the insects, Price said.

To treat grasshoppers, a bait can be used when the creatures are small, he said. But they’re more difficult to control as they reach maturity.

The life cycle of grasshoppers includes egg pouches deposited in moist soil in the spring.

They emerge as little hoppers, without wings, he continued. They go through seven stages, casting their skin each time, and eventually developing wings to fly and mate.

Typically, they’ll eat everything they can until food runs out or it gets too cold, usually about 3-5 months.

“If you think of it from a grasshopper’s viewpoint, they are on the range, things are drying up and there is nothing to eat,” said Steve Heydon, senior scientist at the Bohart Museum of Entomology at UC Davis.

“There’s this house that has a watered garden that’s green and tasty.

“They wander around and when they hit a spot with food, they stay,” Heydon said.

His guess is that more of the eggs survived and hatched last year due to the mild, dry weather.

If its any consolation for Heydon said, the lack of water might mean very few places for the adult grasshoppers to lay their eggs. Next year could be relatively-bug free.

Now that her garden and backyard orchard are stripped, Hantelman has a very clear view of what grasshoppers don’t eat — California bay, manzanita, deer grass, rosemary, sage, marjoram, and thyme.

We can see that grasshoppers are a definite cause of worry for cultivators and gardeners all over the world. As mentioned before it is very difficult to implement grasshopper control using insecticides or pesticides as they are extremely mobile and thus difficult to contain.

In such a scenario Termirepel™, a product by C Tech Corporation offers a viable solution. Termirepel™ is a non-toxic, non-hazardous, termite and insect aversive available in liquid as well as masterbatch form. It works on the mechanism of repellence whereby it works in keeping target species like grasshoppers, insect, and pests away from the application that needs to be protected. It can be sprayed on the crops and grasses to keep grasshoppers at bay and also foil their attempts at an outbreak!

Ants often invade outdoor electric equipment such as pad-mounted transformers, traffic light control boxes, irrigation control boxes, heating and air conditioning units, and telecommunication equipment. Once inside they can cause equipment to malfunction due to ants chewing through wiring insulation or other equipment components or accumulation of soil and dead ants. Paper wasps, honey bee, and other such insects will also build a nest inside such equipment. These nests can cause shorts and mechanical problem. Not only ants damage equipment, but it is much more difficult to service or repair equipment that’s swarming with ants.

In Texas alone, costs associated with fire ant damages to electrical and communications equipment totaled $146.5 million per year. Vandermeer et al. (2002) suggest that where ants of any species are very numerous they will, through natural foraging activity, randomly get into the switch boxes, or transformers, etc. They are shocked when they come between live contacts, at which time the pheromone attraction is initiated. Carpenter ants have been documented to cause sprinkler irrigation system control boards to malfunction in Florida. On a circuit board, short circuits may be caused when ants conduct electricity between different circuits. Another documented case involved acrobat ants causing an air conditioner unit to malfunction in Austin, Texas, resulting in replacement of the entire switching mechanism at a cost of $196.54. In this instance, once ants were electrocuted, their dried bodies in the switch prevented the switch from closing to conduct electricity.

Let us take a look at the recent incident where these ants were successful in damaging the brake cables in local trains risking the life of commuters.

 

Mumbai: Ants Chew Up Brake Cables in Local Train

Mumbai | mid-day.com | Updated: November 19, 2015 13:20 IST

 Ants chewed up the cables inside an Electro Pneumatic brake. Officials say ants are difficult to manage, but regular pest control is carried out.

 The lifeline of Mumbai, the suburban local trains carry lakhs of people every day, but in this case, a rake was also ferrying thousands of hidden passengers – red ants. To make matters worse, these red ants gnawed through the primary brake cables.

The incident happened inside a Kalyan-Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus local train around 1.30 pm yesterday and the coaches were comparatively less crowded.

“As it crossed Matunga, the motorman saw a flicker on the dashboard, indicating that one of the cables connecting the EP brake was not working efficiently,” said a Central Railway (CR) official on condition of anonymity.

The Electro Pneumatic (EP) brake being the primary one inside the Siemens rake, the motorman then had to shift his attention to the secondary brakes.

Motormen have come to rely on the EP brake, in which the electrics take care of the braking and acceleration with little manual or mechanical intervention. This brake is like a joystick on the right side of the dashboard panel and the entire train, including its speed and braking, can be controlled by using it.

Backup provision

Sources said that after the EP brake failure, the rake was then run as a normal one, without the EP brake, all the way to CST, without it getting hampered by any technical glitch.

During this time the secondary brakes – which comprises an Auto brake – was put into use to take the train all the way till CST. “The train was then taken to Kurla carshed for inspection,” added the official. This is when the officials found thousands of red ants chewing the already damaged cables and insulators of the EP brake.

The official added, “The SKS12 cable insulator and in-coder cable were found damaged. We then had to replace them with a new one out of the stock.”

Meanwhile, the CR officials blame the motormen for not knowing to operate Auto brakes which are as good as the EP ones. Sources said that ever since the new rakes have come in, a single joystick is sufficient for acceleration and deceleration of trains. The Auto brakes and other semi-manual ones are on the left side of the dashboard panel.

“The motormen have more or less forgotten to use the Auto brakes, which was earlier an important part in older trains while manoeuvring them. We will now be training the 800-odd motormen to apply Auto brakes on a regular journey,” said the CR officials. The training will begin on the Kalyan-Karjat/Kasara route in the next couple of days during off-peak time when the motormen will be monitored while applying Auto brakes.

In this case, CR officials claim that the motorman could have easily used the secondary brakes without panicking. These Auto brakes are semi-manual ones where there is little electronic control. When the Auto brakes are pressed, pressure is applied or released through a piston that then controls the braking of the entire rake. This was how the older rakes used to function.

Official speak

“There is no need to panic as the braking system is foolproof. There are three other brakes to ensure that there are no problems in the running of the train. Ants are difficult to control but regular pest control is carried out,” said Narendra Patil, chief PRO, CR.

Combating the ant menace

Every rake undergoes pest control during the periodic overhauling every 18 months. Apart from this, the authorities try to ensure that there are no anthills inside the car shed, where trains are parked in large numbers.

Dealing with emergencies

There is a ‘dead man handle’ – that is like a spring on the joystick – which ensures that the train comes to a halt if the motorman is incapacitated or other brakes don’t function. The guard too has an emergency brake inside his cabin that is completely manual.

The joystick where the EP brake is present also has a regenerative brake in it wherein the train saves power of 33 percent every time the brake is applied. When the EP is pulled backward, the regenerative braking works up to the speed of 5 km/h

 Although ants are frustrating when they get into your home or when you’re having a picnic, ants do help the environment. They, through moving of soil by nest building activity and by collecting food they affect the level of nutrients in the soil. This can indirectly impact the local populations of many animal groups, from decomposers such as Collembola, to species much higher up the food chain. But at the same time, the damage done by these creatures cannot be ignored.  Malfunctions in such equipment are costly to repair and can result in power failures or disrupted service. Although it is important to protect such sensitive equipment from insects and the methods used to prevent or control the insects not be damaging the equipment, it is equally important to not kill or harm these insects. Thus use of traditional toxic pellets, insecticides are not viable.

C Tech Corporation offers a non-toxic and non-hazardous product, Termirepel™ to protect the electrical application and cables from these ravenous insects. It is an environmentally safe product that works by repelling the insects without causing any harm to the target or non-target species. Termirepel™ is available in concentrate and lacquer form. It can also be used as a liquid solution. Termirepel™ can be safely incorporated into the PVC insulation of wires and cables or coated on surfaces to keep crazy ants away from the application. Termirepel™ can also be incorporated in agricultural films and mulches for the protection of trees and bushes against these creatures.

Nasutitermes Corniger, more commonly referred to as the conehead termite, is an invasive species of termite that aggressively eats wood in just about any form. Its nickname stems from the cone shape of its soldier termites’ heads. Soldiers make up an unusually large portion of the total conehead termite colony – anywhere from 20-30% of the colony. Only 1-2 percent of subterranean and drywood colonies are soldiers. Another way to distinguish conehead termites is by the appearance of their tunnels. While subterranean termites also build mud tunnels, coneheads build wider and much more extensive tunnels than subterranean. Still another distinctive characteristic is the appearance of their nest. Visible conehead termite nests are usually built in the open, perhaps in a tree, and look like a large, dark-brown “bumpy” round or oval shaped ball.

Conehead termites are species native to the Caribbean. They were first brought to Florida via wooden Pallets delivered from Caribbean Island in 2001. Residents in Florida referred to them as ‘Tree Termites’ for years but they were renamed conehead termites to alleviate the misconception that this pest is only found in trees. They act like peers infesting any wood it can find to feed, build colonies, and generally wreak havoc.

They grow in hot, humid environment, which is why they prefer tropical and sub tropical region. Unlike most termites, the conehead termite does not rely on underground tunneling to travel. Instead, they forage on the ground like ants, allowing them t  o spread quickly. Conehead termites are an extremely aggressive termite species known for causing widespread property damage in a short period of time.

 Termites are nothing new to South Florida; 20 or so species provide a challenge to homeowners and a steady income to the pest-control industry. What makes this termite different is that it lives above ground, so it doesn’t compete with the more common subterranean termites.“The behavior and biology of conehead termites are entirely different from what the industry is accustomed to,” said Allen Fugler, executive vice president of the Florida Pest Management Association. “It will build a nest in a tree. It looks like a paper wasp nest, and it could be easily overlooked, even by trained professionals.”

In early 2000, The department of agriculture along with Florida Pest Management Association and Certified Pest Control Operators of Florida worked together to devise consistent, reliable control methods the average pest-control operator can use. The department had requested $202,000 from the state Legislature and the National Pest Management Association lobbying Congress for matching funds on a three to one ratio, for a maximum of $606,000 in federal money. The funds were used towards training and subsidizing termite control for property owners, who can’t afford it, said Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for the National Pest Management Association.

Let us have a look at the below article regarding how this coneheads again invaded the colonies in south Florida’s Dania Beach.

Conehead termites invade Dania Beach

Species first discovered in city in 2001

Author: Jenise Fernandez, Reporter, jfernandez@local10.com

Published On: Apr 28 2015 12:49:50 PM EDT   Updated On: Apr 28 2015 12:57:00 PM ED

DANIA BEACH, Fla. –

Broward County is experiencing a major bug problem, as conehead termites are spreading throughout the area just before termite swarming season.

The conehead termites popped up in Dania Beach about 14 years ago. Since then, experts have been able to contain the species. On Tuesday they were out at several properties, destroying nests before swarming season.

Experts said the colonies of conehead termites are nestled in the trees and not visible to the naked eye.

The insect is a ravenous Caribbean termite that’s easily recognizable by its pointy head. The species is also considered dangerous and highly adaptable.

“It can also get into ornamentals, fruit trees. There’s almost nothing that it won’t eat,” science adviser Barbara Thorne said.

The species first popped up in Dania Beach in 2001.

To prevent them for spreading, experts go out once a year to try to destroy the nests in hopes of eradicating the species altogether.

“What you want to do is contain them here and kill them before they swarm to another location,” Andy Rackley, with the Florida Department of Agriculture, said.

A property off of Southwest 45th Street is one of two active nesting grounds for the conehead termites. But despite that, experts believe they’re doing a good job at making sure the species doesn’t spread throughout the county.

Experts said once they spot a nest, they destroy and incinerate it. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of termites are expected to take to the air and find their territories during swarming season.

“This termite is very capable of spreading quickly and probably quite far in South Florida if not beyond,” Thorne said.

The process of killing the termites takes about a day and a half. Once the nests are destroyed, experts will come back out to make sure no more pop up.

These pointy heads are responsible for much of the estimated $40 billion in economic losses attributed to termites annually. Their habitat ranges over in South Florida, already home to a daunting number of invasive plant and animal species thriving where they should not. It is not always possible for an untrained individual to see evidence of termites; however, homeowners can sometimes identify a potential termite problem by being vigilant in and around the home. Thus termination of these termites is need of an hour.

C Tech Corporation, an Indian based company has come up with a novel solution to deal with such problems. Termirepel ™ is an aversive for termites and insects. It has unique qualities which range from being non-toxic and non-hazardous to being “ECO-FRIENDLY”. Aggressive species are further deterred from attacking by advanced mechanisms like aversion, feeding deterrents, mating disruption, reproduction cycle inhibition, growth impairment and chemo sterilization thus modifying their response towards the Termirepel ™ containing products resulting in them staying away from the application. Thus, Termirepel ™ actually helps in modifying insect behavior. It does not harm or kill the insect but just repels them away from the application.