Legally Approved Termiticides

Before termiticides are released for public use, manufacturers have to secure the approval of the state where the chemicals are to be sold and used. For example, all termiticides marketed and used in Australia should be approved by the APVMA (Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority). In the same way, termiticides marketed and used in the United States should be approved by EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) too. Listed below are five of the most popularly used termiticides both in Australia and in the United States.

1. Alpha-cypermethrin

Along with the other laboratory-produced pyrethrums called synthetic pyrenthroids, Alpha-cypermethrin is also used in repelling or killing termites. Like its naturally occurring counterpart, synthetic pyrenthroids kill termites and other similar insects by disrupting the sodium channels of the affected insect's nerve cells. The disruption of the sodium channels alters the salt balance inside the insect's body leading to severe nervous system damage.

Nevertheless, although alpha-cypermethrin is very effective in controlling termite infestations, its reputation is continually being marred because of its high toxicity not only to pests but also to unsuspecting mammals. The chemical can affect the central nervous system of a mammal causing muscular twitching and spasms. However, manufacturers of termiticides containing alpha-cypermethrin maintain their claim that their products are supported by a long-standing clean safety record. Experts also agree that the effects of alpha-cypermethrin are highly reversible and that alpha-cypermethrin poisoning is very rare.

Alpha-cypermethrin can be dispensed with water or with oil. The chemical becomes less toxic when it is dispensed with water than when it is dispensed with oil. In low concentrations, the chemical can cause skin numbness and irritations. It can also cause stomach-related sicknesses like diarrhea and vomiting. However, high dosages of alpha-cypermethrin can cause liver and kidney damages to some experimented animals.

2. Arsenic Trioxide

Arsenic is used in termite control through baiting technology or through direct nest application because of its high level of toxicity. Through these methods, possible public exposure is less likely to happen thus securing the public from the harmful effect of Arsenic.

If Arsenic is digested by a person or by a mammalian pet, severe stomach pains would be experienced along with vomiting and LBM. Through a series of laboratory experiments, scientists have established that Arsenic is easily absorbed by the intestinal tract right after it is ingested. Arsenic damages the liver and the kidney the most because 80% of compound passes through these organs before excretion. Only 20% of the compound is excreted through the feces.

Nonetheless it was found out that the human body also needs Arsenic to function normally. However, when the Arsenic in the body exceeds that of the required level, diseases are most likely to appear. It has been found out that a long-term exposure to high levels of Arsenic can cause skin problems that may lead to skin cancer. Furthermore, in other laboratory experiments, it has been found out that Arsenic can cause mutagenic effects (DNA alteration) to test animals.

The harms that Arsenic can do to the human body are the main reason why its usage is strictly limited to direct nest application and to termite baits only.

3. Bifenthrin

Like Alpha-cypermethrin, Bifenthrin is also a synthetic pyrenthroid or a synthetized pyrethrum. It is proven to be very effective in repelling and killing termites.

Although Bifenthrin can affect the peripheral parts of a human's nervous system when ingested, it still considered as a very safe termiticide. The most that it can do is cause slight body tremors which can lead to walking difficulties. Over the years, Bifenthrin is known to have a very clean safety record.

In a series of laboratory experiments on animals exhibiting the same body characteristics as humans, it was found out that the chemical is simply excreted out of the animal's body without any change in its chemical composition. This means that the Bifenthrin is not absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract of the animal. Nonetheless, it was also found out that the chemical can cause skin allergies and irritations.

Bifenthrin also pose a very little threat to the environment. In fact, the chemical hardly mixes with water making it almost impossible for the chemical to bind with the soil.

4. Chlorpyrifos

Chlorpyrifos is highly useful in the field of agriculture because it can repel and kill many different kinds of insects. Chlorpyrifos is classified as an organophosphate insecticide, or a type of insecticide that kills insects by disturbing the normal activity of the insect's nervous system. As a result, the enzyme called acetyl cholinesterase becomes overly stimulated. The condition leads to the severe twitching of the insect's muscles which leads to muscular paralysis, then death.

Although Chlorpyrifos is easily absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract of a human body, it is still not considered to be a very dangerous chemical (when ingested by accident) because it does not linger long inside the human body. In most cases, it is simply excreted through the urine. Nonetheless, long exposures to the chemical is still dangerous because it can cause genetic mutations which can either cause problems with the reproductive system or cause cancer to develop in the body.

Moreover, Chlorpyrifos can be really harmful to the environment when not handled properly. Although it is not soluble in water, the chemical is easily absorbed by the soil which can lead to the death of the microorganisms in the soil that help in decomposing dead plants and animals.

Apart from the four termiticides listed above, the other termiticides that are legally-approved in both the United States and in Australia are: Fipronil, Hexaflumuron, Imidacloprid, Permethrin and Triflumuron. Although these chemicals are approved for public use, it should be noted that these chemicals are still poisonous and are supposed to be handled very carefully. To aid users on handling such chemicals, the "Standard for Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons (SUSDP)" has released an official poison scheduling of all termiticides. Three schedules are assigned for termiticide use, these are:

1. Schedule 5 - This is the lowest schedule level for hazardous chemicals. Anyone can acquire these types of chemicals. Companies manufacturing chemicals classified as Schedule 5 should be labeled with the word "Caution".

2. Schedule 6 - Such chemicals are more dangerous than Schedule 5 chemicals. These chemicals can be dispensed to the public too but containers should bear the label "Poison".

3. Schedule 7 - This is the highest Schedule level allocated for termiticides. These chemicals cannot be acquired by individuals without special licenses to handle highly dangerous termiticides. Schedule 7 termiticides should bear the label "Dangerous Poison".

Yours Sincerely,
Michael Rozatoru :)

The Usage of Liquid Termiticides

There are many different ways and degrees of machineries to deal with termite infestation inside your home. However, there are only a few of those methods come close to perfect efficiency. One of these very effective methods is the use of liquid termiticides which are as well the most commonly used termite prevention method in establishing and established households. There's no question to its effectiveness. However, there are certain things that one should take into consideration first before availing liquid termiticides to deal with the termites in your house. These considerations should be crucially underscored as they could mean the difference between effectively dealing with the problem and failing. Therefore, it would be wise to know first the advantages and disadvantages of using liquid termiticides in treating your household in order to prevent termites from ever invading and destroying your properties.

In this article, the advantages and disadvantages of liquid termiticides will be discussed and explained extensively and thoroughly in order for the reader to comprehensively know how to manage the usage and/or application of the method. One should also take note that no method, device, or treatment is one hundred percent effective by itself. The human factor is always constant. The functionality of the methods would always depend on how one would effectively apply them by using his or her logic and creativity, as well as resourcefulness. If any of these factors are missing, then any amount of tip, no matter how presumably effective it is, will not work. Apart from reading from this article, it would also be wise to consult professional pest (termite) exterminators for any expert advices when applying the liquid termiticides. Not only will one take into consideration the optimization of the method but as well as the safety precautions of using them. There's no way of saying when accidents strike, that is why it is best that one be fully prepared for it.

Liquid Termiticides

First and foremost, let us have an introduction on what are liquid termiticides and how they precisely work in preventing, controlling, and or exterminating termites.

In many households, liquid termiticides are used as barrier treatment against termites, in order to control the infestation that has probably taken place by keeping the termites away at the onset. The treated area is usually circumferentially surrounding the house to ensure covered perimeter will never be breached. The liquid termiticides would typically work in two prongs: to provide an obnoxious scent to termites in order to discourage them from ever invading and killing those that attempt to penetrate the area.

Typically, professional pest termite exterminators are the ones that utilize liquid termiticides due to elaborate procedures needed to apply them, which of course is inherent to anyone whom, have training or experience in applying the treatment. Nevertheless, amateur usage is still not discounted just as long as the user is properly briefed or guided with the application. There are quite many different types of liquid termiticides in the market today. Liquid termiticides like "Demon" and "Prevail" are amongst the repellents widely used by expert exterminators for its effectiveness in keeping the termites away. They are known to establish a considerable distance from your home to any invading termites. However, no matter how seemingly effective these treatments are, there will still be unprecedented possibilities of infiltration due to unforeseen circumstances. The possibility of soil transference due to certain circumstances of human intervention i.e. soil relocation, erosion, etc. When this happens off the record, termites will grab the opportunity to immediately infiltrate the house through the gaps in the parameter caused by the aforementioned factors.

There are other liquid termiticides in the market that ensue a much harsher effect after treatment. Liquid termiticides such as "Phantom" and "Termidor" would allow the termites to infiltrate and pass through the treatment and come in contact with the liquid. They do not kill the termites instantly once it comes in direct contact with the liquid; neither do they repel termites from entering. What they do is that they allow the termite(s) that have come in contact with the liquid to carry the chemical back to their colony and there the termiticides would take effect by eliminating the entire population of the termite colony.

While these types of liquid termiticides are normally expensive in a rate per treatment, the upside however, outweighs the former disadvantage as they have shown a great deal of positive output in dealing and controlling termites. Due to its "genocidal effect", the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has then conducted studies concerning the potential negative impacts on the fragile ecological balance. However, the studies concluded with no substantial results relating to mass damage to termites' ecological standing. Such methods are indeed a major breakthrough in termite control and elimination.

Still, no matter how advantageous liquid termiticides may seem, it is unavoidable to have certain setbacks in it. So that you will be able to gauge the potential of liquid termiticides, here are brief pros and cons of its usage.

Advantages

1. Liquid termiticides will definitely provide immediate protection to any establishment against termites.


2. Liquid termiticides have long lasting effects. Effects could last as long as several years depending on the quality and potency of the liquid.


3. The usage of "genocidal" termiticides like "Terminador" offers a solution to gaps in treatment perimeters that allow termite penetration.


4. They are relatively inexpensive compared to any other forms of termite control and elimination methods.

Disadvantages

1. Liquid termiticides can be utterly dangerous if applied near water passages or deposits. The risk of contamination is high. In this case, in order to bridge the gap, baiting methods can be used to appropriate the untreated area(s).


2. Drilling hassles may be incurred if deemed necessary to show evidences of termite infestation.


3. Liquid termiticides will potentially have eventual gaps over the years as you may never be able to keep track of the parameters all the time. When this happens, it would open an opportunity for termites to infiltrate the household and it would become considerably difficult for any expert exterminator to deal with. Infestation issues might still take place at some point.

Your favorite termite pest control guy,
Michael Rozatoru :)