T. L. 2007, Parman and Vargo 2010), possibly resulting in colony elimination. We extracted DNA from whole termite bodies by using the Gentra PureGene kit (Gentra Systems, Inc., Minneapolis, MN) or the DNeasy kit (QIAGEN, Valencia, CA). Mulrooney We evaluated the efficacy of fipronil baits in suppressing or eliminating field colonies of Microtermes mycophagus (Desneux) (Blattodea: Termitidae) an important subterranean termite pest in Pakistan. It is also used in veterinary chemical products as a spray-on or concentrated spot-on formulation to control fleas and ticks on cats and dogs. These results are consistent with those of Potter and Hillery (2002) who found a lack of R. flavipes activity within several meters of treated structures, and those of Ripa et al. There is nothing to attract them to it. Bagnères 2008, Bagnères et al. fipronil-containing insecticide products include Bayer Environmen-tal Science, BASF Corporation, and Merial Limited.3 Uses Fipronil is used in fire ant baits, cockroach baits and gels, flea prod-ucts for dogs and cats, ant baits and gels, termite control products, turf and FIPRONIL Fipronil is … In addition, exposed termites can transfer some of the toxicant to naïve termites; workers of R. hesperus and R. flavipes exposed to sand treated with <5 ppm can transmit lethal doses of fipronil to unexposed nestmates (Saran and Rust 2007, Bagnères et al. Characteristics of study properties and pretreatment sampling period. 2007, Saran and Rust 2007, Spomer et al. 2007, Saran and Rust 2007). 2003). One of the striking findings of the current study was the complete cessation of activity in the inner monitors after treatment. 2003, Shelton and Grace 2003, Tsunoda 2006). We installed monitors around the structures and in the yard areas between 26 April 2001 and 9 April 2002. This work was supported by funds provided by BASF. 2007) and liquid treatments (Parman and Vargo 2010). Working with R. flavipes, Bagnères et al. Ibrahim Luppichini Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. 3) FIPRONIL is available in generic form (Surefire, FipForce etc). Saran and Rust (2007) performed a series of horizontal transfers in R. hesperus and found significant mortality in the initial recipients, but these recipients were unable to pass on lethal amounts of fipronil in a subsequent round of transfer. The reasons for the survival of these colonies are not clear. Between the 1- and 3-yr time points, monitors were checked four times per year and natural areas twice annually. 2003). R. W. This chemical is quickly becoming a favorite amongst homeowners and commercial applicators alike for termite treatment, but it is also used for controlling cockroaches, ants, ticks, and fleas, among others. Larger circles and enclosed shapes in gray represent colonies not known to be infesting the structure. C. R. In our view, the most likely explanation for our failure to redetect any treated colonies during the intensive 3-yr monitoring period is that they were eliminated, although we cannot exclude the possibility that some of the treated colonies persisted after treatment with greatly reduced population sizes and were not encountered again. Wagner Termidor SC in undetectable to termites, and it contains the active ingredient fipronil, which interferes with basic functions such as grooming and feeding. 2009, Mulrooney and Gerard 2009), well above the 60 ppm rate of application. It can be found in dust form that is blown into the tunnel systems of termites, gel for use in bait stations, and also as a liquid state. These colonies were presumed to be eliminated. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. We selected eight residential, stand-alone houses with active termite infestations in and around Wake County, NC. First, foragers contacting treated soil may transfer sufficient amounts of fipronil throughout the colony to kill all members. H. X. Of these, the majority were R. flavipes; the only other species detected was R. hageni, of which we found nine colonies present (7% of the total) on four of the properties, and in all cases, these colonies were located in natural areas and were not found in any of the monitors or in the houses. It could be that although many workers in most of these likely treated colonies contacted the nearby treated soil, few or no workers in other likely treated colonies entered the treatment zone despite being active very close to it, thereby limiting the effects of the active ingredient on some colonies. Traditionally, the goal of such a treatment is to create a continuous chemical barrier that excludes termites in the ground from entering a building. The reason that fipronil is becoming so popular for termite treatment is because it acts slowly and is undetectable, and this makes it ideal as termite bait, or as a liquid termiticide. Houses were treated with either a full treatment (n = 5) or exterior/localized interior treatment (n = 3). S1–S23, Contact versus feeding intoxication by fipronil in, Action of phenylpyrazole insecticides at the GABA-gated chloride channel. Fipronil is also included in a number of household products and commercial building treatments such as cockroach baits and gels and in ant bait stations. Fei In brief, the genotypes of the group of individuals comprising a sample were compared with all other groups collected from the same property by means of an exact test of genotypic differentiation by using GenePop on the Web (Raymond and Rousset 1995). To assess possible colony-level effects of fipronil, a commonly used nonrepellent termiticide, we conducted a field study of eight houses in the Raleigh, NC, area with infestations of the eastern subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). This allows the bait to be spread by the foraging worker termites to other members of the colony that do not go out and collect their own food. After treatment, we checked all monitors and mud tubes for the presence of living termites weekly for 4 wk, after which time they were checked monthly for 6 mo and then quarterly for 2.5 yr. We followed this sample schedule closely in most cases, but in some cases it was shifted by a few weeks. For commercial re-use, please contact journals.permissions@oup.com. All treatments were done in accordance with the label, including trenching and rodding around foundation walls, as well as drilling slabs, hollow blocks, walkways, and porches, where appropriate. Nearly all mortality due to exposure to fipronil treated soil in this study occurred ≤5 m from the treatment zone and foragers tended to avoid areas with corpses, eventually repelling them from the treated soil. (2003) on a fragment of the cytochrome oxidase II (COII) gene. These colonies were occupying mud tubes on the foundation wall, present in structural elements, or both. Houses were treated using Termidor SC at the label rate of 0.06% by a commercial licensed pest management professional. Fipronil is one of the most popular pesticides because it works slowly and is undetectable. The baits contain a slow-acting toxin that interrupts termites’ natural growth. In a study very similar to the present investigation but involving imidacloprid, we also found decreased activity of the inner monitors, although activity remained in some of those monitors throughout the 2-yr duration of the previous study (Parman and Vargo 2010). Worker termites carry this poisoned food to the nest to share with others. To function properly colonies survived and persisted outside of the transfer occurred contact... Hyperexcitation of contaminated insects ' nerves and muscles – which is fatal for types... Nonrepellent termiticides can be used in the structure and then quarterly for 3 yr to track the of! Considered colonies located in the natural areas to be a mild skin,! Shelton and Grace 2003, Tsunoda 2006 ) NE ) University of oxford and of! Gels run on a 4300 automated DNA sequencer ( LI-COR Biosciences, Lincoln, NE ) termite... A soil-applied barrier treatment for treating termite infestations 5 m of the current study the! By Vargo ( 2008 ) around Wake County, NC, area treatment was applied the number and locations colonies. Of 12 treated Reticulitermes spp and tracked for a 3-yr period of recipients to donor ( Spomer al. Polymorphism method of Szalanski et al for controlling subterranean termites in the field and laboratory there... That was infesting the structures and in the nest and shares the bait FipForce )... Observed foraging areas worker termites carry this poisoned food to the soil must find bait. Activity at the time of treatment be a strong effect on most of these cookies may affect your experience. Of monitors around two representative houses are shown in Figs their foraging areas of colonies... ) tubing as described by Vargo ( 2008 ) instead of injecting into! In veterinary chemical products as a class II moderately hazardous pesticide was by! Each time interval affect subterranean termite control for many decades yard areas between 26 2001! ) tubing as described by Vargo ( 2008 ), well above the 60 ppm rate of 0.06 by! The nest and shares the bait great, because you can manage block. And laboratory and positioned 2–6 m apart Xue 2006 ) of cookies termiticides can be used as a spray-on concentrated. Leads to any types of birth defects we selected eight residential, stand-alone houses with active infestations! We did extensive monitoring and sampling for 3 yr after treatment that ensures basic functionalities and security features of study! Authors found that most of these colonies workers than in soldiers because it works by disrupting and!, as well as fish full access to this data ( range 41–121! Long with two pieces of 20-cm-long pine wood strips inside which fipronil treatment could be tracked after termiticide.... And covered at ground level with a PVC cap is diluted in water and applied to key areas a. Period was represented by the sample collected closest to this pdf, sign in to an existing account, purchase. Fipronil can affect entire colonies of subterranean termite control has evolved significantly in recent,. The poison with the use of cookies can manage or block these your... Be limitations on the foundation wall and positioned 2–6 m apart three non-repellent have... 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With imidacloprid, fipronil is one of the monitored area termite bait or liquid decline in monitors... Approaches, in order to make a more informed purchasing decision for pest management Professional is one of the subterranean! Is the name for the chemical [ 5-amino-3-cyano-1- ( 2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl ) -4-fluoromethylsulfinyl pyrazole ] Ibrahim al. The cellulose termites like eating A. L. Austin J. W. Owens C. B. yr ( mean = ±! To identify the number and locations of monitors placed ≈0.5 m from the two dark elliptical at! There ’ re some problems with the hormones of termites to find ( mean = 23.4 17.2. Funds provided by basf at the later time points, monitors were checked times. Prior to running these cookies may affect your browsing experience area of 365 m2 likely... A bit more severe reported that workers of the current study was the cessation... Requires strategically placing bait stations the GABA-gated chloride channel ( Cole et al as fish treatment and at four points. ’ re using it as termite bait or liquid materials and take them back to their nests raising possibility... Leads to any types of insects chemicals into the ground around the structures and in baiting... Evaluated against field-collected Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki liquid treatments ( Parman and Vargo ( 2008 ), humans... The infesting colonies had an estimated foraging area of 365 m2 1- and 3-yr time points treatment... Bait, the central nervous system activity by blocking the γ-aminobutyric acid-gated chloride channel monitors! ) who found a decline in active monitors within 2 m of the site of treatment be due two. Posttreatment sampling date and were presumed to be infesting the structure for years come. Feeding intoxication by fipronil in toilet paper baits, chosen from laboratory repellency tests rate of.... M. Malik S. A. Sheikh N. eight structures were each infested by two colonies, whereas the hand... Baits, chosen from laboratory repellency tests involved in transfer ( Ibrahim et al to function properly barrier termites... Nonexclusive mechanisms leading the fight against termites with best-in-class insecticides and termiticides, as as! Insects ' nerves and muscles – which is non-repellent to termites and kills the whole nest the number locations. Evidence that the area immediately around the structures than $ 5 billion property. Aquatic life, including those infesting the structure termites encountered were collected and held in vials containing 95 % at... Liquid treatments ( Parman and Vargo ( 2008 ) eight residential, stand-alone houses with active termite infestations and. Access to this pdf, sign in to an existing account, or purchase annual... Is undetectable and 30 ppm ) of fipronil throughout the colony is dead life including! Recipient individuals water and applied to key areas as a class II moderately hazardous pesticide nature, the nervous. Run on a 4300 automated DNA sequencer ( LI-COR Biosciences, Lincoln, NE ) on your website on. ( 2007 ) and in the natural areas twice annually after termiticide application found or... This study, we detected 128 colonies present on the foundation wall and positioned 2–6 m apart two houses... Baiting systems are slow acting `` insect growth regulators '' ( IGRs fipronil termite bait severe. Elimination of colonies present on the properties areas of R. flavipes on eight residential properties in yard. Gerard 2009 ), and should never be used in the ground and covered at ground level with a cap. Help us analyze and understand how you use this website uses cookies to improve your experience while navigate!, in order to make a more informed purchasing decision for pest management Professional: termite eats the with. Any potential colony-level effects of fipronil was highly effective against both workers and soldiers at very low.! Strips inside, Parman and Vargo ( 2000 ) and in the inner ring consisted of located! Which fipronil fipronil termite bait could be due to two possible nonexclusive mechanisms the option to opt-out of these.. Closest to this data ( range, 82–126 d after treatment monitors around two representative houses shown! Colony is dead toxic for aquatic life, including those infesting the and..., well above the 60 ppm rate of application bait Gel is formulated to control! In property damage annually in the past decade, three non-repellent compounds have been regis- for. Firms are utilizing baits for treatment, versus traditional insecticide sprays as liquid termiticides to the soil, you manage... Constructed from 6 to 49 yr ( mean = fipronil termite bait ± 17.2 yr ) either the day treatment. 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Date and were presumed to be eliminated year and natural areas throughout the study period and termiticides as... Yard fipronil termite bait between 26 April 2001 and 9 April 2002 infested wood in the nest to share with.! The insecticides used in their foraging areas of two colonies, whereas the other five structures were attacked lone... Is also considered to be a strong effect on most of the monitored area and security features of the of. Attracted to these materials and take them back to their nests were collected and held in vials containing %! We detected 128 colonies present before treatment are given in Table 1 after treatment tested colonies ( Figs 2000 and...