New Termiticide Tips
Several recent articles have been released regarding termiticides and home condition. BASF relea
sed information regarding flooding and termite treatments and UF/IFAS released study results that addressed plumbing failure caused by termiticide solvents. Both have relevance with recent weather conditions and the future rebuilding efforts.
Termidor, which contains fipronil as the active ingredient, has become a very highly adopted termiticide treatment. Homeowners are assured that as long as soil remains proximal to the house, this treatment will resist migration, and that control for over ten years has been seen in structures that have experienced flooding. However, when soil is disturbed, possibly due to new construction, a new treatment barrier should be applied.
UF/IFAS researchers in the Department of Entomology and Nematology have found that solvents in certain termiticides can react with plastic plumbing pipe (CPVC) that is bent, exposed to high temperatures, and/or glued with CPVC glue. When using these solvent containing termiticides, it is important to allow solvents to evaporate, and not place them in sealed voids. Testing revealed products that caused breakage [Cyper® TC, Demon® TC, Dragnet® SFR, Dursban® TC, Permethrin Pro®, Prelude®, Speckoz (permethrin), Prevail® TC] and those that did not [Premise 2®, Speckoz (bifenthrin), Talstar One®, and Termidor® SC]. Powder and water soluble products do not contain solvents. (BASF Beyond Basic Newsletter, UF/IFAS Press Release, October, 2005).
