MONTVALE, NJ – Bayer Environmental Science announced today that a new label has been approved for Termidor® termiticide/insecticide that extended the product's use to both ants and drywood termites.  Termidor is now the most effective, low-dose insecticide for outdoor ant control on the market today. 

“Ants are the most difficult insects to control and a major nuisance for
homeowners,” says Karl Kisner, Hold Separate Manager, Fipronil Environmental Science.  “PMPs and homeowners can now trust Termidor to deliver the same unmatched ant control results they've experienced with termite control.”
 

Ant Control

Just like termite applications, Termidor works as a non-repellent, infecting ants by either contact or ingestion.  And because it's a non-repellent, Termidor won't trap ants within structures or prevent them from moving through the treated zone.

Just one application of Termidor provides long residual control of certain ant species, including Carpenter, Argentine, Big Headed, Odorous House and Pavement ants.  Like its use for termite control, Termidor uses the same low-dose formula that creates a 0.06 percent finished spray.  As little as one gallon of finished product per structure will achieve maximum ant control.

Field studies conducted by leading ant experts in the U.S. have repeatedly shown that a single Termidor application reduces ant foraging within a few days.  No other single application of any product on the market provides such control.

Drywood Termite Control

Termidor is also now labeled for wood injection control of drywood termites.  Tenting a house was the traditional control method for drywood termites, until Termidor.  Now homeowners can fight drywoods more conveniently and safely than ever before. 

Using Termidor will require a PMP to identify the location of the drywood termites and galleries so the Termidor finished spray solution (or foam) can be directly injected into these active galleries.  For drywood termites, Termidor begins to take affect within a day after treatment, however 95% control can be achieved in 3-6 days after treatment.  Preliminary testing with Termidor has shown 100 percent control of drywood termites 49 days after a single application.  Additional tests of longer periods are underway.

Drywood termites are mostly found in the southeast and southwest regions of the United States where they establish colonies in dry, sound wood that may have as little as 3 percent moisture content. 

About Termidor

Termidor remains the leading liquid termiticide by providing 100 percent control of subterranean termites in three months or less.  With the EPA approval of this new  label amendment in August, 2002, Termidor now can be used to control ants and drywood termites.  Termidor has been used on more than 600,000 homes nationwide with unprecedented results controlling subterranean termites.  Through eight years of trials by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service,Termidor has been proven to provide 100 percent control of subterranean termites in all tests at all rates at all locations.  Only PMPs who have been trained by Bayer Environmental Science have authorization to use and purchase Termidor.

Fact Sheet on Termites and Termidor Termiticide/Insecticide
Signs Your House May Have Termites
See also: Termites/Termidor FAQ

FACT SHEET ON TERMITES AND TERMIDOR® TERMITICIDE/INSECTICIDE

Termites have been found across 70 percent of the world and have survived environmental changes for more than 250 million years. Termites can adjust to most any climate.

• In North America alone, termites cause $2.5 billion in damage every year.
• Termites invade the homes of more than 2 million Americans every year.
• The two types of termites in North America are subterranean and drywood.  Subterranean, the most prevalent termite in the U.S., have four main species, Eastern Subterranean (Reticulitermes flavipes), Western Subterranean (Reticulitermes Hesperus), Desert Subterranean (Heterotermes aureus) and Formosan (Coptotermus formosanus).  Formosan subterranean are by far the most destructive.  Combined, they account for more than 80 percent of the economic loss in North America every year.  Formosan termites, sometimes referred to as “supertermites,” aggressively forage for food and have been discovered 100 yards from the main nest.  Formosan termite colonies can reach population sizes of more than 10 million individual termites.
• Formosan termite colonies can be up to 10 times larger than those of the subterranean species.
• Subterranean termite damage has been cited in every state except Alaska.
• Subterranean termites can average 13 to 14 colonies per acre, with as many as one million termites per colony.
• The top 20 termite infestation markets in the U.S. are:  Miami, FL; Los Angeles, CA; Tampa, FL; San Francisco, CA; Orlando, FL; Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX; Atlanta, GA; New Orleans, LA; Norfolk, VA; Washington, DC; Raleigh, NC; Charlotte, NC; Charleston, WV; Phoenix, AZ; Nashville, TN; Jacksonville, FL; Houston, TX; Richmond, VA; Greenville, NC; and West Palm Beach, FL.
• A termite needs only a space 1/64-inch wide to enter a home.  That's the thickness of a piece of paper.
• Termidor remains the leading liquid termiticide by providing 100 percent control of subterranean termites within three months or less.
• Termidor has been used on more than 600,000 homes nationwide with unprecedented success.
• Termidor’s distinctive mode of action, called the “Transfer Effect™,” kills termites through a combination of ingestion and contact.  Termidor is a non-repellent termiticide that is undetectable to termites when they forage in soil around and underneath a structure.
• Termidor is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency.
• Termidor can be applied only by a licensed pest management professional (PMP) who has been trained in correct application methods.
• Termidor has demonstrated 100 percent control of termites in ground-board testing across the United States.
• Through eight years of trials by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, Termidor has been proven to provide 100 percent control in all tests at all locations.
• More than 120 structures were treated in 1997 with Termidor under an Experimental Use Permit (EUP).  All achieved 100 percent control of termites within three months and are still termite free.
• Since 1997, Termidor has been used in France to treat more than 23,000 structures.  To date, not one Termidor-treated home has required a re-treatment.
• Structures treated in Japan to control the Formosan termite have been 100 percent free of termites for seven years.
• Fipronil, the active ingredient in Termidor, was discovered by researchers in 1987, and was first commercialized in 1993.  It is the first of an entirely new proprietary class of chemicals.
• Since it was first synthesized in 1987, fipronil has been field tested on more than 480 insect and mite species in more than 20,000 trials worldwide.
• Fipronil is currently registered for use in 100 countries.
• Fipronil is the active ingredient in many animal, crop, and environmental science pest control products.  Fipronil is widely recommended by veterinarians for flea and tick control on pets and is also used to control insect pests throughout the world on such crops as rice, lettuce, and corn.

SIGNS YOUR HOUSE MAY HAVE TERMITES

According to the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), the following signs may mean you have termites in your home:

Swarms of flying termites (called “swarmers” or “alates”) can occur both inside and outside of the house, usually in the spring. These termites usually shed their wings after swarming and leave behind small, papery piles of wings on windowsills, countertops or floors.

Small piles of wood residue or shavings often indicate termite activity.  Tiny holes in wood, crumbling drywall and sagging doors are other symptoms of wood damage from termites. Beware of bubbled paint or visible, pencil-sized mud tubes running across concrete or connecting soil to wood.  Termites often make underground tunnels or above-ground “shelter tubes” of mud, feces or debris while searching for new food sources and connecting their underground nests to the food.  These mud tubes are the tunnels that termites use to gain access into your home.

Unfortunately, these signs usually mean that structural damage from termites has already taken place.  A thorough inspection by a certified pest management professional (PMP) is the first and most important step in protecting your property.  Experienced professionals can locate the specific areas in your home or business where a termite attack is likely to occur.  However, homeowners can discourage termite infestation by taking the following precautions:

Keep the house and foundation dry, making sure to caulk around windows and doors.  Poor insulation causes moisture, and termites thrive in moist environments.

Keep gutters clean of leaves and debris.  Termites use these materials to build shelter tubes connecting their underground colonies to your home.  Also, make sure the gutter drains at least three feet away from the foundation of the house. Store firewood away from the house.  Don't give termites a snack that leads them closer to your home. Schedule regular home inspections with a local PMP before you see signs of termite damage.  Preventative measures can stop termite problems before they start.