Good vibrations rule the termite's world

Termites use the vibrations produced when they chew into wood to decide which bits to eat, researchers have discovered.

They also seem to use the acoustic vibration signals to detect the presence of other species of termite on the same piece of wood, and to help control the development of immature workers into sexually-active breeders. These findings might be exploited to protect homes without using pesticides, say the Australian team.

Termites have a reputation as voracious, indiscriminate eaters. But this is not so, says Theodore Evans of CSIRO Entomology in Canberra, Australia. Species that share the same habitat will often each go for only particular sizes of wood, with some eating twigs, and others fallen trees - presumably to avoid competition.

Beberapa fakta tentang sejarah Pepijat

• Pepijat dikatakan berasal daripada Timur Tengah di dalam gua yang didiami oleh manusia atau kelawar.
• Pepijat mula diperkatakan pada zaman Yunani Purba pada 400 tahun sebelum masehi dan kemudiannya Aristotle mula menyentuh mengenainya.
• Pada tahun 77 masehi di Rom, terdapat dakwaan bahawa pepijat mempunyai unsur merawat terhadap beberapa masalah seperti bisa gigitan ular dan juga masalah jangkitan telinga dan kepercayaan terhadap kuasa merawat itu berlanjutan sehingga ke abad yang ke-18.

Pest-proofing your homes can be as easy as ABC

Termite Queen

Homes can be likened to a human body. People spend so much time, money and effort to keep it healthy, sound and well-conditioned. And yet, no matter how hard you try to protect it, a body still gets fatigued and worn down by diseases and illnesses.

Similarly, a house still gets beaten down as well with “unwanted guests” such as termites, rats and other pests, which are, in a tropical country like teh Phipippines, pretty common. Add to these, the poor waste management and disposal system in the country also contributes to the deterioration of houses in the metro.

Global Biopesticides Market to Reach US$3.4 Billion by 2017

As next generation of pest control products, biopesticides is gaining in popularity. With food supplies in most countries testing positive for violative pesticide residues, the business case for biopesticides is strengthening by the day.

Demand is also growing supported by tightening regulations on pesticide residues, especially in developed regions, such as in Europe and North America. Today, US EPA approves more number of biopesticides annually as compared to conventional chemicals. The number of active ingredients and products registered with EPA is now substantially higher than in the year 2001.