# Laboratory and Field Soil Tunneling/Tubing by Subterranean Termites in Response to 2-Phenoxyethanol

## TL;DR

This study shows that 2-phenoxyethanol (2-PE) can guide subterranean termites to specific locations, making it a useful tool for pest management.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates that 2-PE is more effective than similar glycol ethers in directing termite tunneling and behavior.

## Key findings

- Significantly more shelter tubes were built over 2-PE treatment lines compared to water controls.
- Eastern subterranean termites preferred food sources with 2-PE-treated soil over controls.
- 2-PE-treated soil lines resulted in longer and straighter termite tunneling in sand.

## Abstract

The glycol, 2-phenoxyethanol (2-PE), a solvent in some pen inks, eye drops, and cosmetics, is an artificial trail pheromone that termites follow and has been used to direct termite movement. Both Formosan and Eastern subterranean termites were shown to follow 2-PE treatments applied to paper, semiporous hard surfaces, and soil. Treatments of 2-PE to soil surfaces directed subterranean termites to detection stations.

The chemical 2-phenoxyethanol (2-PE) has been found to elicit trail following responses in subterranean termites and could have potential use as an enhancement to termite treatments. In this paper, similar glycol ethers to 2-phenoxyethanol were found to elicit significant trail following compared to the control, but they were not as effective as 2-phenoxyethanol. Significantly more shelter tubes were built over 2-phenoxyethanol treatment lines applied to vinyl tile compared to water controls. Eastern subterranean termites chose a food source with 2-PE applied to the surrounding soil over water controls in a choice test. The termites also tunneled along a soil treatment line significantly further, and with less deviation than the water controls, in sand. During field trials, there was termite activity only at 2-PE-treated detection stations beginning at 4 months after initial installation. 2-phenoxyethanol is relatively inexpensive, considered safe for the environment, and easy to mix in large batches. 2-PE is a simple and efficient way to guide termites to specific locations in the field for collection and other purposes. These factors should facilitate adoption in future pest management practices.