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Carl's Corner
Not Your Father's Termidor
May 30, 2008
Not Your Father’s Termidor
If you have not noticed, Termidor with the active ingredient fipronil, is no longer just for ants and termites. We know that the best selling termiticide has been very successful for treating termites and has really caused the pest management industry to reevaluate how we do termite control. Now, manufacturer BASF has added even more insects to its Perimeter Pests part of the label.
The label now includes 9 different species of ants, Asian lady beetles, box-elder bugs, cluster flies, spiders, paper wasps and yellow jackets, to name a few. Remember, Termidor has no knockdown, so treating stinging insects should be done with care.
As a barrier treatment, Termidor is restricted to one foot up and one foot out from the structure. There is still the restriction of two applications per year. Some other restrictions on the label state that Termidor cannot be used within one foot of the drip line of edible plants and also cannot be applied during any precipitation. A good inspection around the outside perimeter of the structure should identify edible plants, fish ponds, toys and other items that must not be sprayed.
In addition to the one foot up and one foot out perimeter treatment, the label also permits the use of a low pressure coarse spray around any exterior openings (doors and windows), around any wire or pipe penetrations and any cracks where the listed pests may enter a structure or hide. Termidor is not for use indoors, with the one exception and that is treating into wall voids.
To treat inside, Phantom with the active ingredient chlorfenapyr, is a logical choice. To drive home this point, BASF has now packaged Termidor and Phantom in the same case called the Companion Pack.
For general pest control, Phantom has a very limited outdoor label. Indoors, Phantom has a food handling area label with most of the pest cockroaches listed. You cannot, however, make general surface applications to cabinets. Phantom has shown to be successful against pharaoh ant infestations and has replaced baiting as the most popular treatment strategy.
Finally, Phantom is labeled for bed bugs. This allows for the use of another type of chemistry other than a pyrethroid. Mattress treatments are limited to folds, seams and edges only. Its low (or no) odor makes it a good candidate for using in bedrooms.
Both of these products represent the cutting edge of chemistry in our industry today. They are both non-repellent insecticides. Several of our customers have had good success with these products and you owe it to yourself to try them.
Before using either of these products, pay particular attention to the requirements for Personal Protection Equipment on the label. No shorts and sandals here! As always, read and follow the label, it’s the law.
