Insecticides which are used for controlling termites
By Alan Soffan
Insecticide is an option to control termite, we can divide the termiticide by its application
1. Termiticide for barrier treatment of homes
a. Bifenthrin
Bifenthrin is a synthetic pyrethroid pesticide, the application is for both pre-construction
barrier treatments in new buildings and for perimeter barrier treatments around existing
buildings.
Trade name: Talstar one
b. Chlorpyrifos
Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphorus insecticide, its application is for both preconstruction barrier treatments in new buildings and for perimeter barrier treatments
around existing buildings. Generally, chlorpyrifos will provide up to 5 years protection.
Trade name: Dursban, Lorsban
c. Imidacloprid
Imidacloprid is for termite barrier treatments to existing buildings only. It may provide
up to 3 years protection.
Trade name: Premise 75 Wp, Premise Gel
d. Fipronil
Fipronil belongs to the phenylpyrazole family. It is used to create a barrier around
existing buildings only.
Trade name : Termidor 80 WG, Termidor SC
2. Termiticide for Spot treatment
a. Arsenic trioxide
Arsenic trioxide is very high toxicity to humans. After application, the site should be
adequately sealed to prevent any persons from coming into contact with the product.
b. Triflumuron
Triflumuron dust is an insect growth regulator which interrupts the life-cycle of termites
preventing immature termites from developing into adult termites.
3. Termiticides for other treatment
a. Permethrin
Permethrin is used to control active termites in trees and tree stumps only, for the
purpose of nest destruction.
Trade name: Dragnet FT, Permethrin Pro, Ectiban, Ambush etc,
b. Hexaflumuron
Hexaflumuron is an insect growth regulator, it is applied as bait matrix system. It is not
applied directly to active termites. It interrupts the life cycle of the termites by
preventing the development of immature termites into adult termites.
Trade name: Hex-Pro
c. Chlorfluazuron
Chlorfluazuron is an insect development inhibitor, it is used in bait matrix systems. It is
generally applied to bait stations and to active termite galleries where termites are
encouraged to feed on cellulose material impregnated wit Chlorfluazuron.
4. Bio termiticide
a. Metarhizium anisopliae
Trade name: Bio blast
b. Nemattode Steinernema carpocapses
c. Bacterium Heterorbabitis bactgeriophora
References
Anonim.2006.Approved Pesticides for termite treatments.Department of Health, Western Australia.
Anonim. 2007. Subterranean termite control products for Alabamians. Alabama A&M and Auburn
Universities.
Ware, George.1983. Pesticides, Theory and applications.W.H. Freeman and Company. San
Frasisco.308p.
By Arya Widyawan
Insecticide is used to control population of insect pest under injury level, so that it will not cause a
damage. The population of termite may be controlled by using a some insecticides. At least there are 6
class of insecticides that may be use to control termite(Table1)
Table 1. Insecticide used to control termite
Class
Termiticide
Organochlorine
Cyclodiens
Nicotinoids
Imidacloprid (systemic insecticide)
Spinosyn
SpinosAD
Fiproles
Fipronil
Fumigants
Methyl Bromide
Inorganic
Sodium borate
(Ware and Whitacre, 2004)
Organochlorine
One of insecticide that may be used to control termite from the Organochlorine class is cyclodiens.
Cyclodiens is stable insecticide and relatively stable to ultraviolet. It is stay longer in soil. Beacause of
that it is used greatest quantity as soil insecticide to control termite. Some example of cyclodiens is
Chlordane, Heptachlor, Aldrin, and Dieldrin (Ware and Whitacre, 2004)
Nicotinoids
Nicotinoids is a new class of insecticide with a new mode of action. It is a systemic insecticide and
used as soil treatment in vegetable, fruit and cereal farm. The mode of action of this insecticide is act
on the central nervous system of insects, causing irreversible blockage of postsynaptic nicotinergic
acetylcholine receptors (Ware and Whitacre, 2004)
Spinosyn
Spinosyn is a result of a fermentation metabolite of the actinomycete Saccharopolyspora spinosa, a
soil-inhabiting microorganism. The has both contact and stomach activity against termites (Ware and
Whitacre, 2004).
Fiproles
Fiproles is a systemic insecticide with contact and stomach activity. as means to control termites,
fiproles is used as seed treatment and formulated as a baits (Ware and Whitacre, 2004).
Effectiveness in insecticide application to control termite depend on the dosage of the pesticide. It s
suggested to use a dosage exactly in order to achieve the success in control. Besides that using a exact
dosage may reduce the effect of the insecticide to the environment. Such pesticide such as methyl
bromide may harmful the environment. Below are some dosage of insecticide which is used to termite
(Table 2).
Table 2. Dosage of Insecticide
Pesticide
Dieldrin
Aldrin
Heptachlor
Pentachlorophenol
Dosage
0.5%
0.5%
0.5%
5%
Objective
Soil treatment
18 to 40 grams a.i / acre
5% in fuel oil at 2-4 litres /1
sq. meter
5% in fuel oil at 2-4 litres /1
sq. meter
Or emulsion in water at 2-4
litres /1 sq. meter
2.5% in water at 6-10 liters/1
sq. meter
10% in water at 6-10 liters/1
sq. meter
0.8% in fuel oil or emulsion
in water at 6-10 liters/1 sq.
meter
1% in fuel soil at 6-10
liters/1 sq. meter
0.3% as emulsion in water at
5 litres/1 sq. meter
Seed treatment
Chemical barrier to
protect a structure or
foundation of building
Methyl bromide
1 kilo/30m3
Bifenthrin (synthetic pyrethroid
pesticide)
0.1%; 0.05% and 0.25%
Protect the furniture from
dry wood termites
(Kalotermes;
Kalotermitidae) by
fumigation for 15 – 20
hours at temperature 21o
C or over
barrier treatments to
existing buildings only
SpinosAD
Copper naphthenate
Pentachlorophenol
Sodium pentachlorophenate
Sodium arsenite
Benzene hexachloride
Chlordane
Dieldrin
Imidacloprid
0.25%
Arsenic trioxide (carcinogenic)
1 up to 2 grams for each spot
(Source: Harris 1971, Environmental Health Directorate 2006 )
Spot treatment
References
Environmental Health Directorate, 2006. Approved pesticide for termite treatments environmental
health guide. Perth. On line source at
http://www.public.health.wa.gov.au/cproot/1791/2/Approved_Pesticides_for_Termite_Treatments.pdf
Harris, W.V. 1971. Termites: their recognition and control. 2nd ed. Longman, London.
Ware, G.W. and D.M. Withacre. 2004. An introduction to insecticide. 4th ed. MeisterPro Information
Resources, Ohio
By Boy Valenza Damiri
Cyclodiene is persistent insecticide group which is stable in soil and is relatively stable to the
ultraviolet action of sunlight. This pesticide group has been used in greatest quantity as soil
insecticides, especially chlordane, heptaclor, aldrin, and dieldrin (Ware, 1978; Plapp, 1978; Bateman,
1979 ; Ware, 1983). Also, an approved insecticide such as Dursban (chlorpyrifos) or permethrin can
also be used for controlling termites, either by spraying or injecting (Bateman, 1979). The other
pesticide such as DDT (Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane), Copper-chrome-arsenic, creosote,
naphtenates, and sulfuryl fluoride were also widely used for controlling termite colonies in this world
(Harris, 1971).
Chlorinated solvent, which contain an ultra low concentration of chlorinated cyclodiene and
dieldrin insecticide, is used as impregnating materials for covering and protecting the woody things
from termite infestations (Ware, 1978). Pentachlorophenol is the chlorinated phenols which belong to
phenol derivatives that is also used for termite protection and wood treatment for fungal rots (Ware,
1983).
Methyl bromide and sulfuryl fluoride are fumigants for controlling termites above ground area
or buildings (Harris, 1971 ; Ware, 1983). Sulfuryl fluoride is more expensive than methyl bromide, but
it is more effective than methyl bromide and it only need low concentration to kill termites (Harris,
1971).
References:
Bateman, P. L. G. 1979. Household Pests. Blandford Press. Poole. □
Burgess, N. R. H. 1990. Public Health Pests. A Guide to Identification, Biology and Control. Chapman
and Hall. London. □
Harris, W. V. 1971. Termites. Their Recognation and Control. Longman. □
Plapp, F. W. 1978. Insecticides in the Urban Environment. Academic Press. □
Ware, G. W. 1978. The Pesticide Book. W. H. Freeman and Company. San Fransisco.□
Ware, G. W. 1983. Pesticides. Theory and Application. W. H. Freeman and Company. San Fransisco. □
By Haris Setyaningrum
Termites some time in house building as pest that very damaged especially to wood good. So need to
control, while in the forest termites is usefully. Some the pesticide usually used for controlling termites,
usually bait are used for it. this list of the pesticide for controlling termites:
5. Diflubenzuron (an insect growth regulator).
6. Hexaflumuron (an insect growth regulator)
7. Hydramethylnon ( a slow acting stomach toxicant)
8. Noviflumuron (chemically similar to hexaflumuron)
9. Aldrin
10. Dieldrin
11. Chlordane
12. Hepatachlor
13. Boric acid
14. Borates
15. Bifenthrin
16. Chlorphyrifos
17. Imidacloprid
18. Fipronil
19. Arsenic trioxide
20. Permethrin
(Caroline, 2004; Anderson, 2002; Harte, 1991; Anon, 2006)
References :
Cox, Caroline. 2004. Boric acid and Borates.Journal of pesticide reform. Summer 2004. Vol. 24 no. 2.
Anderson, L.O. 2002. Wood - Frame House Construction. The Minerva group inc. publ.
Harte, John. 1991. Toxics A to Z: A Guide to Everyday Pollution Hazards. University of California
Press. California.
Anon, 2006. Approved pesticide for treatments termites environmental health guide. Environmental
health directorate, department of health, Western Australia.