Mississippi State University Launches Formosan Termite Research Site

STARKVILLE, Miss. —Mississippi State University announced the opening of a new Formosan Termite Research Facility Field Site and Laboratory, located in McNeill, Miss.

Under the direction of Dr. Terry Amburgey and Research Associate Michael Sanders, the site is a component of the university’s Southern Climatic Housing Research Program, which is a joint effort in Southern climatic housing research to provide an organized approach to developing, testing and transferring new housing technologies to prevent the premature failure of residential structures. The project received initial funding via a $126,000 grant from the United States Forest Service, the program. It is part of that agency’s Coalition for Advanced Housing and Forest Products Research Laboratory.

McNeil, Miss., was chosen as the Formosan Termite Research Facility Field site because multiple active Formosan subterranean termite colonies were located on the experiment station prior to the establishment of the test site. Alates were captured within the test site in the spring/summer of 2004.

At the site, MSU researchers in the Department of Forest Products are evaluating the resistance of building materials to the Formosan subterranean termite. They are also evaluating the effectiveness of construction techniques in preventing infestation and evaluating the efficacies of biocides and non-biocidal control measures. Tests to be conducted at this facility include but are not limited to field stakes framing, siding, and panel product testing in small-scale houses, and near-ground exposure. All tests are being conducted over established colonies. Each colony site consists of a buried colonized wood source and four trenches filled with aged wood which radiate from the colony center. Tests conducted at the site will provide data required by building product and termiticide manufacturers, code officials, architects, contractors, and entomologists to assure that houses built in Mississippi and other areas colonized by Formosan termites will have a reasonable service life.

Included on the site are housing structures built to hold roughly 16 4x8 foot sheet of wood panels (OSB, plywood, etc.) that are exposed in the (the most severe climate) American Wood Preservers decay zone 5 for termite, decay and general weathering efficiencies. It is the only one of its kind in the world, the university reports.

In addition to Formosan termites, the site will be used for general insect studies and chemical and alternative wood treatment methods will be evaluated.

Click here to view a brochure with photos of the site.