While not previously discussed, it should be understood that system 10 may be
established near tree 12 or other woody plants to control pest infestation of tree 12 regardless
of whether pests are actively present around or infesting tree 12. For example, composite
member 18 could be positioned relative to tree 12 in order to proactively prevent and control 20 infestation of tree 12. As an alternative, composite member 18 could be positioned relative to
tree 12 in response to detecting or determining the presence of pests around or infesting tree
12. In these instances where the presence of pests is first detected or determined, it should be understood that composite member 18 could be responsively positioned relative to tree 12 in the manner illustrated in รูป 1, although other variations are possible.
25 System 30 of รูป 2, where like numerals refer to like features previously described,
illustrates one variation for positioning composite member 18 relative to tree 12 in response to detecting or determining the presence of pests such as foraging termites around or infesting tree 12. In system 30, a pathway 32 such as a mud trail or mud tunnel that facilitates access
of foraging termites 20 between colony 22 and root system 14 and/or other portions of tree 12 30 is located and interrupted. For example, in the illustrated form, soil is removed from over
pathway 32 and then at least a portion of pathway 32 is interrupted or disturbed to facilitate
positioning of composite member 18 such that it at least partially obstructs pathway 32. In
this arrangement, foraging termites 20 are guided into contact with composite member 18 as
they move to and from root system 14 and/or other portions of tree 12. Once composite
member 18 has been suitably positioned, soil or other วัสดุถม may be replaced over it and the
interrupted portion of pathway 32. In the illustrated form, pathway 32 and the portion thereof
interrupted for placement of composite member 18 lie below ground level 16. However, it
should be understood that forms are also possible in which a pathway 32 positioned at or
5 above ground level 16 is interrupted or disturbed to facilitate placement of a composite
member 18 in a manner that is the same or similar to that illustrated in รูป 2. It is also
contemplated that a plurality of composite members 18 could be positioned at a single
interrupted location of pathway 32 or at separate, discrete interrupted locations of pathway
32. Further, in the event multiple pathways 32 exist between tree 12 and colony 22 or other 10 colonies, it should be appreciated that each of the multiple pathways 32 can be interrupted
and one or more composite members 18 placed in the interrupted areas. System 30 may also
include one or more composite members 18 positioned near tree 12 in addition to those
positioned relative to pathway 32.
รูป 3 illustrates another system 40 for controlling infestation of tree 12 by one or 15 more species of pests. In system 40, tree 12 is transplanted from another location (not
shown) to location 46 where a hole 44 is formed to receive root ball 42 of tree 12. Root ball
42 may include the root system of tree 12 contained in a bag, sack or other type of cover.
Forms in which root ball 42 is omitted from tree 12 being transplanted are also possible. In
these forms, the root system of tree 12 may freely hang therefrom and be arranged to fit in 20 hole 44. A composite member 18 is positioned between soil 48 surrounding hole 44 and root
ball 42. In one form, composite member 18 is positioned in hole 44 before tree 12. In other
forms, composite member 18 may be positioned in hole 44 simultaneously with or after tree
12. In the illustrated form, composite member 18 is generally positioned in the bottom of
hole 44. Forms in which composite member 18 is positioned on the sides of hole 44 are also 25 possible, as well as those in which a plurality of composite members 18 are placed in hole 44
along the sides and/or bottom. Once composite member(s) 18 and tree 12 have been suitably
positioned, soil or other วัสดุถม may be used to backวัสดุถม hole 44.
Other variations to system 40 are contemplated. For example, in one non-illustrated
form, rather than forming hole 44 configured to receive root ball 42, root ball 42 can be
30 positioned directly on the surface of ground level 16 and soil or other วัสดุถม may be brought in
around root ball 42 and/or other portions of tree 12. In this form, one or more composite
members 18 may be placed on the surface of ground level 16 below tree 12 and/or in the soil
or วัสดุถม being positioned around root ball 42 and/or other portions of tree 12. System 40 may
also include one or more composite members 18 positioned relative to tree 12 similar to the
arrangement illustrated and described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2. Further, while not previously mentioned, it should be understood that system 40 may be implemented in
connection with trees and/or other woody plants being transplanted regardless of whether any indications of pest presence or infestation exit at the locations where transplanting activities
5 occur.
รูป 4 illustrates another system 60 for controlling infestation of tree 12 by one or more species of pests. In รูป 4, like numerals refer to like features previously described. . In system 60, a composite member 18 that รวมถึง a bait material and a pesticide is
positioned on or near an outer layer, such as bark, of trunk system 15 of tree 12. In the
10 illustrated form, composite member 18 is positioned above ground level 16, although it
should be understood that alternative positioning of composite member 18 is possible as will be discussed in greater detail below.
In the arrangement of system 60, pests such as foraging termites 20 from subterranean
colony 22 may encounter composite member 18 when moving over the outer layer of the
15 trunk system 15 or through the trunk system 15 to the outer layer. Upon encountering
composite member 18, attraction of the foraging termites 20 to the bait material of composite
member 18 is expected, and subsequent consumption or displacement of composite member
18 is also expected. As a result, a pesticidal effect on the foraging termites and other termites
of colony 22 may be achieved as discussed above in connection with system 10 illustrated in 20 รูป 1. In forms where composite member 18 degrades following its positioning near trunk
system 15 and before being encountered by the foraging termites 20 or other pests, the
desired pesticidal effect may be achieved when the foraging termites 20 or other pests come
into contact with residual pesticide on or in the outer layer of truck system 15 or in the soil or
ground surrounding the original location of composite member 18.
25 As indicated above, in the illustrated form composite member 18 is positioned on or
near the outer layer of trunk system 15 and above ground level 16. It should be understood
however that other variations for the positioning of composite member 18 relative to the
branches 17 and the ground level 16 are possible. For example, in addition to or in lieu of the
illustrated position of composite member 18, forms in which composite member 18 is
30 positioned at ground level 16 and/or above its illustrated position relative to ground level 16
are possible. Forms in which system 60 also รวมถึง a plurality of composite members 18
positioned at different locations around and/or at different levels relative to trunk system 15,
branches 17 and ground level 16 are also possible. For example, in one form composite
members 18 may be arranged to provide an exterior perimeter that extends around the trunk
system 15. Forms of system 60 in which one or more composite members 18 are positioned on or near one or more of the branches 17 are also contemplated.
It should be appreciated that composite member(s) 18 employed in systems 10, 30, 40
and 60 may be freestanding; i.e., each does not include nor is it positioned in any housing, 5 station, enclosure, or other type of structure. Similarly, the soil, วัสดุถม, earth, tree material or
other medium in or on which each composite member 18 is positioned is in direct contact
with their external surface. However, forms in which one or more of composite members 18
are positioned in a housing or station are also possible. Further, in one or more forms, a
cover may be positioned over all or part of one or more of composite members 18. For
10 example, a tape material or plastic bag may cover all or part of a composite member 18,
provided however that any such covering will still facilitate access to composite member 18 through openings in the covering or by degradation, destruction or the like of the covering by targeted pests or environmental factors.
In addition, the number of composite members 18 and the arrangements thereof
15 illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 are exemplary only, and other variations are contemplated and
expected. More particularly, as would be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the number
of composite members 18 used at a certain location may be dependent on, amongst other
things, the number, size and type of trees or other woody plants at the location, the size and
shape of composite member 18, the concentration of pesticide in composite member 18, and 20 the type of soil or surface in or on which composite member 18 is being positioned. It should
be further understood that systems 10, 30, 40, 60 may implemented in connection with a
single tree or woody plant or a plurality of trees or woody plants. For example, in one form
systems 10, 30, 40, 60 are established in a grove or orchard of trees or woody plants where
one or more composite members 18 are positioned relative to one or more of the trees or
25 woody plants. The trees