Iowa's termite population couldn't have chosen a worthier opponent. Or a more affable one. We spoke with Prabhakaran about the leading role that The University of Iowa has taken in the development of termite control systems. It takes only a minute of conversation to discover that if there's one thing he enjoys, it's talking about bugs. He can rhapsodize about the life cycle of the termite in a lilting Indian accent peppered with genial chuckling.
Insects are just like that.
Iowa's termite program may not have discovered any new stars in the pestilential firmament, but it has served as a living laboratory for the development of new ways to control termites. Prabhakaran developed and implemented an innovative system that introduces only minute quantities of chemicals into the environment, yet exterminates whole termite colonies far more effectively than conventional pesticide treatments. This entailed drilling one hole per linear foot into a cement foundation and pumping four gallons of insecticide down every ten holes. It was eating up all the door frames and window frames. Termites are very discreet.