Thermal Shadowing Feature


In 1980, Ettershank, et.al(1), found that subterranean termites located food sources using thermal “shadows” produced by surface objects. This Thermal Shadowing has been discussed in many recent articles, by many of the industry’s top entomologists. The HomeGuard™ Termite Monitors were designed to produce exaggerated Thermal Shadows in the surrounding soil. This fact was proven by engineers at the University of Southern Florida.

They tracked the soil temperatures surrounding a competitive termite monitor, and those temperatures surrounding the HomeGuard™ Termite Monitors. The temperature readings for the competitive termite monitor showed higher changes to the temperature of the surrounding soil, which indicates the competitive monitor did not produce a significantly lower Thermal Shadow. The U.S.F. engineers recorded that each day; the soil surrounding the HomeGuard™ Termite Monitors was nearly 5°F cooler than the surrounding soil, causing a significantly lower Thermal Shadow (see chart below). This thermal differential is what leads termites to the monitors.

1. Ettershank, Ettershank & Whitford, 1980. “Location of Food Sources by Subterranean Termites”, Environmental Entomology, 9:645-648.


The success or failure of any termite baiting system depends upon having “hits” on the monitors. Monitors without the significant Thermal Shadowing feature often require many months or even years to produce results because the termites never locate the stations, and those stations cannot attract the number of termites that a station with the proper Thermal Shadowing feature can.

DM Associates, one of the leading consultants for the pest control industry, provided an analysis to show how quickly termites, if present, locate the HomeGuard™ Termite Monitors. The data show that most “hits” occurred during the first two weeks following installation of the monitors. And those hits averaged termites in the thousands.

Summary:

The HomeGuard™ Termite Monitors, create a nearly 5°F thermal differential or Thermal Shadow, and achieves “hits” on monitors more quickly, and attracts more termites, than do competitive systems.
© 2003 Homeguard Distributors, Inc.

info@homeguarddistributors.com