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The Discovery FilesTermite Terminator
A new Purdue University-developed technology concept could provide pest control companies with a more effective way to control termites and prevent associated damage. The technology works by targeting the termite's resistance genes that help the insect fight off a known fungus that can effectively eliminate termites. Michael Scharf, an associate professor and the O.W. Rollins/Orkin Chair in Purdue's Department of Entomology, said non-specific chemical insecticides are sometimes ineffective, or not preferred by some homeowners, and a method to target the termite's genes to dismantle their defense mechanisms against fungus is needed.
Credit: National Science Foundation/Karson Productions
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