Termites continue to be a huge problem for homeowners. Every year more than 600,000 homes are damaged by termites causing over $1.5 billion in damage.
Professor Gregg Henderson and graduate student Jay Paxson, researchers at the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, invented an early-warning device called the “Pop-up Termite Indicator” in 1999–2000. Research was funded by Louisiana State University Agricultural Center.
The invention allows for the detection of termites by placing a termite feedstock in the ground.
When termites eat through the feedstock an indicator flag pops up, indicating the presence of termites and also the need to treat the premises to eradicate the termite problem.
This simple and cost-effective method allows homeowners to monitor their property for the presence of termites. Most pest control companies use a ground treatment to prevent termites from gaining access to the structure. However if the chemical treatment fails, a homeowner never knows until the termites have already done the damage. The “Pop-Up Termite Indicator” allows homeowners to monitor for termite presence as part of their overall termite prevention strategy.
This story was originally published in 2007.
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