Bayer: Science For A Better Life - research

Genetic fingerprinting helps keep track of insects

The secret life of termites

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Appetite for wood: termites can form colonies of up to three million insects and feed primarily on wood. Subterranean termites ...

The favorite food of termites is wood, and they even attack piles of paper and books. Termites of the genus Reticulitermes are particularly feared by the owners of wooden houses in the United States, Japan and parts of Southern Europe. As these voracious termites live underground, little research has been conducted into their behavior to date and there are no effective defenses.

Looking for forensic clues
Scientists at Bayer CropScience in the United States have now examined these insect pests more closely using tools from forensic science such as DNA fingerprinting. The results should allow the active ingredient imidacloprid from Bayer to be used more effectively. The following article explains more about the social behavior of these wood-eating insects and how Bayer scientists plan to reduce the worries of homeowners.