About 30,000 houses in Uzbekistan are infected with termites

Scientists of the Institute of the gene pool of flora and fauna of the Uzbekistan Science Academy carried out research works in this area. Among them is a research on development and use of effective methods of termite control.

Director of the Republic Center on fighting termite under the Institute of the gene pool of flora and fauna of the Uzbekistan Science Academy Professor Oloviddin Hamroev said that there are about 3,000 types of termites. These insects live in regions with hot climate and eat plants and other waste, play important role in ensuring stability of ecologic system. In the result, termites started to live near people and historic monuments and began to cause damage. They are damaging dams,

This also increased damage to dams, airplanes and equipment, which results in huge economic losses. So, fight against termites is one of key problems of the science.

Fight against termites is also important for Uzbekistan. According to the specialists, about 40 historic monuments in Khiva and about 30,000 houses in other regions of Uzbekistan are infected with termites.

Fight against termites started in Uzbekistan in 1950s, but use of chemical means damaged environment. Termites are resistant to external factors and fertile. In Uzbekistan, there are two types of these insects. They live in colonies and their life expectancy is 10-15 years. Queen termite can lay 30 eggs in a minute and up to 43,000 eggs a day.

During the independence years, Uzbekistan works on fighting termites. Uzbekistan created Republican center for fighting termites. Scientific labs of the Institute of the gene pool of flora and fauna were equipped with advanced technologies.

Local scientists studied about 40 types of plants, which serve as main feed for termites. In the result, biologic trap was developed. Test of the trap in Khorezm and Jizzakh regions gave good results. The technology was named as the best innovative product in 2009.

The enterprise was created to produce this product. Its capacities make up 3,000 capsules a day. Currently, the scientists are working on improving the product.

The product attracted interest of foreign scientists. The US specialists visited Uzbekistan to study the product and they said that it is unique product.