Strength in Numbers

Termites may not have many friends, but they do have a symbiotic relationship with protozoa and bacteria that gives them the means to digest wood. This bond makes them the scourge of homeowners around the world – and one of the planet's most successful species. Termite fossils predate those of dinosaurs. And, while many species succumb to the pressures of development, termites thrive.

Symbiosis is also at the heart of Borax's partnership with the University of Hawaii's Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences. The Department's Termite Lab is a font of groundbreaking research on termites and safe technologies to control them. Under the direction of Department Chair Dr. Kenneth Grace, scientists from around the world come to study termites on the micro level and apply their research on the macro level.

The University's Agriculture Substation in Waimanalo, Oahu, is also a font of the formidable Formosan subterranean termite – Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki – widely considered the most costly termite species in the world. Formosans attack a broader range of material at a faster rate than their relatives, racking up more than $100 million in costs every year to repair or prevent damage in the Hawaiian islands alone. The national price tag is estimated to be more than $3 billion.

“ In Hawaii, we have 12 months a year of perfect termite weather. We accelerated our field research further by building our test site on top of an existing colony of about five million termites – in essence, creating an ‘all you can eat’ buffet. We have never been out here when we haven’t seen some termite activity.” says Dr. Grace.

Hawaii is also unique in that it is the only state requiring all structural lumber used in new building construction to be pressure treated with a wood preservative. That's where Borax comes in. The company introduced Tim-bor® Industrial wood preservatives to the islands in 1992. Treated wood is sold under the trade name Hi-bor®, now one of the most widely used materials for residential construction.

Borates have a low environmental impact compared to other preservatives – a prerequisite for the University's research mission. Now entering their ninth year, field tests of borates’ efficacy constitute the longest-running trials of their kind. Situating these tests in an environment where annual precipitation rates reach 70 inches – a prerequisite for happy Formosans – makes them particularly effective.

“ Laboratory and field tests of borate-treated wood and composites have demonstrated that borates are effective against termite attack,” says Dr. Mark Manning, Borax's Preservation Technology Manager. “We rely on the research being conducted by the University of Hawaii as a critical factor in determining optimal borate concentrations and establishing long-term efficacy.”

The test site consists of 10 termite condos – blocks of wood sitting on cement foundations and covered with plywood boxes to emulate how houses are built and borate treated wood is used. Each holds a range of wood species treated at varying borate levels. The condos also contain untreated wood ‘feeder stakes’ that lure termites in. Dr. Grace and student technician Rob Oshiro conduct visual inspections annually. Full results will

not be ready until 2007, when exhaustive assays will quantify weight loss associated with termite attack, and confirm optimal borate levels.

Margaret Gentz, a Connecticut College graduate with a degree in Biology and a double minor in Chemistry and Women's Studies, recently joined the University of Hawaii team to advance the cause. Gentz will investigate the biochemical mechanism by which borates work – or what they’re doing to termites at the cellular level.

“ Termites are cool,” says Gentz. “They’re everywhere and they’re a model species in terms of their behavior and their biology.” Gentz is particularly interested in applying her research on borates to address social concerns associated with termite infestation.

“ Pesticides are an important issue for developing countries where losing houses to termites can change lives permanently, and where issues of groundwater contamination and children's exposure to chemicals are pronounced,” said Gentz.

In a similar vein, Dr. Grace puts his students and their research findings to work through structured education programs that reach more than 50 teachers and 1,500 students at more than 20 primary and secondary schools in Hawaii.

“ Our program is geared toward educating future homeowners about the termite problem we all face in Hawaii, and the least toxic treatments available. Students also act as our ambassadors to the community, helping disseminate what we know about controlling termites even further.”

In a perfect world, science and industry play a symbiotic role to benefit society. The University's research program does just that. Or, as Dr. Grace puts it, “It hits home.”