Abstract Colonies of western drywood termites, Incisitermes minor (Hagen) (Blattodea: Kalotermitidae), are difficult to detect and treat due to their cryptic nature. The use of heated air to create lethal temperatures within infested wood serves as a nonchemical treatment option targeting whole structure or large portions of the structure. However, the presence of hard-to-heat areas and potential risk of damage for heat-sensitive items are recognized as important challenges. Here, we tested if a localized injection of volatile essential oil could be utilized to address the heat sink issue, potentially increasing the overall efficiency of heat treatments against drywood termites. Artificially infested wooden blocks were placed in several locations of the test building, and heat treatments were conducted. For the treatment group, a small amount of essential oil (methyl salicylate) was added in the blocks prior to the heat treatment. All blocks placed in uninsulated wall voids had 92–100% termite mortality by day 7. However, the presence of a large concrete wall in the subarea hindered heating of blocks therein, resulting 36–44% mortality by day 7 when there was no essential oil treatment. Incorporation of the essential oil substantially increased the control efficacy for the subarea, resulting in more than 90% mortality.This approach might also be helpful in reducing the risk of potential heat damage during heat treatment without compromising its control efficacy.

中文翻译：

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挥发性精油可用于提高针对西部干木白蚁的热处理效果：来自模拟全屋热处理试验的证据

摘要 西部干木白蚁的群体 Incisitermes minor (Hagen) (Blattodea: Kalotermitidae) 由于其隐秘性而难以检测和治疗。使用加热空气在受感染的木材中产生致命温度，作为针对整个结构或大部分结构的非化学处理选项。然而，难以加热区域的存在和热敏感物品的潜在损坏风险被认为是重要的挑战。在这里，我们测试了是否可以利用局部注射挥发性精油来解决散热问题，从而有可能提高热处理对干木白蚁的整体效率。将人工感染的木块放置在测试建筑的几个位置，并进行热处理。对于治疗组，在热处理之前，在块中加入少量精油（水杨酸甲酯）。到第 7 天，放置在未隔热墙体空隙中的所有砌块的白蚁死亡率为 92-100%。然而，该分区中大混凝土墙的存在阻碍了其中砌块的加热，导致到第 7 天没有必要的白蚁死亡率为 36-44%油处理。加入精油显着提高了对局部区域的控制效果，导致超过 90% 的死亡率。这种方法还可能有助于降低热处理过程中潜在热损伤的风险，而不会影响其控制效果。该分区中存在大混凝土墙阻碍了其中块的加热，导致在没有精油处理的第 7 天死亡率为 36-44%。加入精油显着提高了对局部区域的控制效果，导致超过 90% 的死亡率。这种方法还可能有助于降低热处理过程中潜在热损伤的风险，而不会影响其控制效果。该分区中存在大混凝土墙阻碍了其中块的加热，导致在没有精油处理的第 7 天死亡率为 36-44%。加入精油显着提高了对局部区域的控制效果，导致超过 90% 的死亡率。这种方法还可能有助于降低热处理过程中潜在热损伤的风险，而不会影响其控制效果。