Experts find enzyme to control termites

By Joko Sarwono

BOGOR, West Java (JP): Researchers from the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) have discovered a natural nontoxic compound to control termites.

Declining to name the compound on the grounds that it is being patented, they say they hope the substance can be mass produced to replace chemical pesticides that pollute the environment.

Dodi Nandika, chief of the IPB laboratory that conducted the research, says the substance is an enzyme that inhibits the termite's skin.

"The enzyme is environmentally friendly because it is not a toxin," Dodi says.

It was discovered after an intensive study on the life cycle of termites. The animal changes skin five times in the course of its lifetime.

The skin is very strong and rigid. As soon as it leaves its old skin, the termite secretes chitin from its body to make the new skin. The enzyme that the researchers discovered inhibits the chitin secretion. The abnormal new skin growth will leave the termite dead from heavy dehydration.

The termite that eats the enzyme won't die instantly. The compound is stored in its body and takes effect when the insect changes skin.

"The termite will die within two weeks after it ingests the substance," Dodi says.

The substance spells chained deaths in the termite colony because the animal never eats alone. It feeds hungry fellows.

Since the newly found anti-termite enzyme is nontoxic, it does not require trained personnel or special equipment to apply. Tissue is soaked in the liquid and placed near the entrance of the termite colony.

The enzyme has been tested for three years in Cikarawang research forest near Bogor and in housing complexes in Bogor and Surabaya.

"The research has earned four scholars master of science degrees," Dodi says.

Rudy C. Tarumingkeng, a professor of entomology at ITB, says that he is aware of a chitin synthesis that inhibits the growth of a termite's skin that was discovered by American scientists some 20 years ago.

Acknowledging he is yet to learn about Dodi's discovery, Rudy said that about five years ago, American scientists discovered a compound called hexaflumoron, which has the same characteristics as the one that the IPB researchers discovered.

"If Prof. Dodi discovered a different compound, it would be an important progress in termite control in Indonesia," Rudy says.

Termites are a major threat to buildings in Indonesia. According to Dodi, who conducted studies on the damage caused by termites in Greater Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Medan, Batam, Makassar and Biak, termites caused damages worth Rp 100 billion in 1985.

The figure rose to Rp 300 billion in 1990. "It further soared to an estimated Rp 1.6 trillion in 1998," he said.

The extensive damage stems from the rapid conversion of agricultural land to housing without due attention to ecosystem balance. The loss of trees in a plantation, for example, means the loss of decaying wood and fallen leaves that become the termite's staple.

"In the absence of trees, the insect finds only building materials to eat," dodi said.