Marin Termite Control aims to be at the forefront of environmentally safer and the most effective termite solutions. Years of experience, communication with the entomology departments of UC Berkeley and UC Riverside, customer feedback and record tracking help us to provide our customers with the most reliable treatments and the lowest impact on the environment.
Termidor-SC has been used in California for both subterranean
and drywood termites over 15 years, in the US, Canada and Europe for over 20
years and has a proven record as a reliable low-risk termiticide. Termidor is
not systemic and does not affect plant life around your home. The active ingredient “Fipronil” is found in
Frontline and Fiproguard pet products for flea
control. Termidor is a non-repellent termiticide (no odor, fumes, color or
taste) approved for both subterranean and drywood termites and has a transfer
effect between termites through grooming and feeding (trophallaxis).
Altriset is a newer generation of termiticide using anthranilic
diamides (from the Ryania genius tree) with the lowest toxicity level of all termiticides.
Altriset’s active ingredient “Chlorantaniliprole” is reported as having no
effect on mammals (humans, pets, cattle, etc.) and not systemic with plants.
Altriset is approved for subterranean termite treatments only and is a
non-repellent termiticide (no odor, fumes, color or taste) and has a transfer
effect between termites through grooming and feeding (trophallaxis).
Unfortunatelly our record tracking shows more recalls for retreatment with
Altriset and its effectivneess against subterrenean termites has proven to be
inferior to Termidor.
TimBor & BoraCare are a borate based
insecticides/fungicides (disodium octaborate tetrahydrate) used in the US for
over 20 years. Borate, borax and boric salts have been used as a food
preservative, insecticide and fungicide for centuries. Boron is a natural earth
deposit dating over 20 million ago. Over 50% of the world’s borate is produced
in the mines of Boron California. Though lacking the transfer effect of
Termidor and Altriset, TimBor and BoraCare are effective against drywood
termites and wood-boring Beeltes as well as fungi/dry-rot infestation to wood
members. They are not used against subterranean termite soil treatments, as
they are also herbicides that can affect nearby plant life.
Optigard-ZT is approved only for drywood termite and is an older
generation of non-repellents used since the 90s. The active ingredient is using
thiamethoxam, a neonicotinoid and its effectiveness against drywood
termite has prooven inferior to Termidor-SC, TimBor and XT-2000. This product
is systemic and should not be used around vegetable gardens and crops.
XT-2000 is approved only for drywood
termites and is an odorous repellent (d-limonene) extracted from the rind of
citrus fruit. Commonly called orange oil, d-limonene is very acidic and should
be applied cautionly as it may cause skin, eye and respiratory reactions. The
product does not have a transfer effect between termites, is a repellent that
can be detected by termites that will avoid it. Orange oil is not lasting once
dry several days after application. Its effectiveness against drywood termites
has proven to be inferior to Termidor-SC and TimBor. Some pest control
companies will advocate orange oil as a marketing tool but always use it in
conjunction with another product like Termidor or Timbor/BoraCare to lessen
calls for retreatments against drywood termites.
Premise-75 is approved for both subterranean and drywood
termite and is an older generation of non-repellents used since the 90s. The
active ingredient is using imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid and its
effectiveness against drywood termite has prooven inferior to all other tested
products (see table below). This product is systemic and should not be used
around vegetable gardens and crops. Most pest control companies will prefer
using another more reliable product against subterranean and drywood termites.
Natural Oils: Other oil extracts from
pine, juniper, clove, peppercorn and mint are all terpenes type oils similar to
orange oil and have been tried against various insects including drywood
termites with less than satisfactory results. Natural oil extracts are acidic
and should be used cautiously with the proper protective equipment as they may
cause eye, skin and respiratory problems. Natural oil extracts cannot be used
as a soil treatment against subterranean termites as they can affect nearby
soil and water tables with rains and landscape irrigation.
Freezing, Heating, Microwaving: Temperature and
electronic treatments against drywood termites have been attempted several
times in the past and all have many limitations and less than satifactory
results. Freezing cannot be used where plumbing pipes and other sensitive
materials are present. Heating cannot be used where plastics and vinyl material
are present nearby or within walls(vinyl windows, ABS, PVC,
electrical/electronic cables) and Microwaving cannot be used where metal is
present (nails, ties, anchors, electrical cables, etc.). Additionally the cost
of freezing and heating a structure makes these alternatives too expensive
against other conventional treatments and these are seldom used unless in a
highly controlled environment for crops and wood based products in containers
and kilns.
Most Effective Termite Treatments: Termidor, Altriset, TimBor/BoraCare, Optiguard & Premise are non-repellents termiticides that do not have anysmell, taste or vapors, while X-2000 and other oil based terpenes have a smell, taste and emanate vapors that termites can detect and avoid. Only Termidor and Altriset have a transfer effect where contaminated termites pass the termiticide onto others through grooming & trophylaxis (mouth-to-mouth feeding). XT-2000 and other oil extracts are repellent-contact insecticide that does not have a transfer effect and do not remain effective once dry. Termidor is the most effective at eradicating an entire colony within a few days or weeks. Termidor is the only product effective against both subterranen and drywood termites that remains effective for years and provide a long lasting protection against termite infestations without any smell, vapors and short or long-term impact on the landscape and grounds surrounding your home.
Termiticide
|
Pesticide
|
Target
|
Smell/Odor
Scent/Vapor
|
Type of
Insecticide |
Transfer
Effect |
Still Effective Once Dry
|
Effect on
Plants |
Drywood Termite
|
Termidor-SC (Fipronil)
|
Caution
|
Subterranean
& Drywood
|
None
|
Non-Repellent
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
None
|
100%
|
BoraCare/TimBor (Sodium Borate)
|
Caution
|
Drywood
Only |
None
|
Non-Repellent
|
No
|
Yes
|
Toxic
|
98-99%
|
Altriset (Chlorantiniliprole)
|
None
|
Subterranean
Only |
None
|
Non-Repellent
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
None
|
93% *
|
Optigard-ZT (Thiametoxam)
|
Caution
|
Drywood
Only |
None
|
Non-Repellent
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Systemic
|
81%
|
XT-2000 (d-Limonene)
|
Caution
|
Drywood
Only |
Yes
|
Contact/Repellent
|
No
|
No
|
Toxic
|
81%
|
Premise 75 (Imidacloprid)
|
Caution
|
Subterranean & Drywood
|
None
|
Non-Repellent
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Systemic
|
45%
|
*Marin Termite Statistic
– Other percentage statistics from Dr. Vernard Lewis, UC Berkeley & Dr.
Michael Rust, UC Riverside 2009
Subterranean termites travel underground through cracks, voids and decaying tree roots.
Studies show they branch out in multiple areas often infesting structures
through multiple entry points at the perimeter of the structure, through slabs
and in subareas. They feed on the wood and return the food to the underground
nest. Because Termidor and Altriset have no smell, taste or color, termites do
not detect or avoid it and are attracted to the moist treatment.
Drywood termites feed and live in the wood without any ground contact.
They too are attracted to the moist treatment when it is injected into the wood
and do not avoid Termidor which has no taste, smell or fumes unlike other oil
based inseticides like XT 2000 orange oil and other plant based terpenes.
Conclusion: Termidor-SC is faster acting and longer lasting than other
termiticides like TimBor/BorCare, Altriset,
Optigard-ZT, XT-2000 and Premise-75. Termidor-SC remains a low impact termiticide most effective against both subterranean and drywood termites.
Call Marin Termite Control at 415-456-9620
and check our website at www.marintermite.com for additional information.
and check our website at www.marintermite.com for additional information.