Reliability for Even the Toughest Accounts

Every pest issue is different, it’s true, but when you get one that stops you in your tracks — where you have to stop and think, “What do I do?” or “What do I do next?” — it’s good to know you have a lifeline you can turn to.

For Excel Pest Services Technical Director Nick Ferrante Jr., ACE, PHE, that lifeline is often BASF.

“Our relationship with BASF, particularly with their Termidor® termiticide/insecticides, is a cornerstone of our operational history. My father, Nick Ferrante Sr., a third- generation PMP, started with this company 32 years ago. He was an early adopter of Termidor SC and quickly recognized its unparalleled efficacy in termite and exterior insect control. When I joined the industry in 2004, at a time when I was just getting my start, the buzz around Termidor was undeniable.”

That buzz was well- deserved as Termidor, now celebrating its 25th anniversary, was on its way to establishing a track record of success. Currently, more than 10 million homes are protected by the Termidor family of products, known for achieving 100% control in three months or less. According to Ferrante, “Termidor was never just another product; it was a paradigm shift in pest control, delivering long-lasting, verifiable results that have reduced our callback rates significantly.”

Rid-A-Bug Exterminating Vice President Marty Roberts is a longtime proponent of Termidor as well. “Before we started using Termidor — in 2000, when it was introduced — we were dealing with a lot of callbacks in termite accounts and a lot of breakdown in the barriers. We found Termidor to be consistent and safe. It helped us achieve the kind of long-term results we had been looking for.”

One infestation that stands out for Roberts was a house outside of Mooresville, N.C., that Rid-A-Bug treated in the early 2000s. “We dug a trench around the house and the crawlspace and left the tubes standing. Two weeks later, we came back and popped open the tubes. They were full of dead termites. It was amazing to see how well Termidor worked.”

Roberts has been loyal to Termidor ever since, and has broadened the range of BASF products his company uses to include Trelona® ATBS Annual Termite Bait Stations, Alpine® WSG Water Soluble Granule, Ridesco® WG Insecticide and others.

Excel Pest Services also relies on multiple BASF products. Ferrante said they are a critical component of the company’s operational efficiency and profitability, helping Excel achieve:

• Reduced callbacks. “The long-lasting residual and transfer of products like Termidor and Alpine WSG significantly reduce the need for repeat visits,” Ferrante said.
• Time and labor savings. “Our technicians can resolve issues more quickly, freeing them up to service more accounts. This efficiency has increased our route density by approximately 15%, allowing us to grow our business without a proportional increase in our labor force.”
• Customer satisfaction. “Trust and loyalty are built when customers see their problems being resolved quickly and effectively.”

TAKING ON TERMITES. Ferrante explained that Termidor works well in both commercial and residential accounts because its active ingredient, the non- repellent fipronil, works through transfer effect, a key mechanism for controlling social insects.

“Termites that come into contact with Termidor can transfer it to nest mates in the colony,” Ferrante said. “We’ve also documented Termidor SC’s efficacy in controlling ant infestations, with a 95% reduction in heavy ant populations within a week.”

PMPs can choose from Termidor SC Termiticide/Insecticide and Termidor HE High-Efficiency Termiticide for liquid termite treatments. One formulation, Termidor HE High Efficiency Termiticide, saves substantial time and labor by needing just half the water, 50% shallower treatment depths, 33% fewer drill holes and 77% smaller trenches.

For baiting, BASF offers Trelona ATBS Annual Termite Bait Stations and Advance® Termite Bait Stations. Roberts has had great experiences with both. “We went through four or five baiting systems before the introduction of the Advance Termite Bait System,” he shared. “We started using that exclusively and then added Trelona to our toolbox. We typically use them along with Termidor, especially in situations where we can’t get under a house or the area is hard to treat. If we’re treating a house where we can’t apply termiticide due to obstacles or customer preference, we’ll use the Trelona and Advance bait stations on their own.”

While Advance Termite Bait Stations require quarterly checks, Trelona ATBS Annual give technicians the option of inspecting stations just once a year. Installation can take as little as just a half-hour, and the palatability of the bait ensures termites consume enough of the active ingredient, novaluron, to inhibit chitin production, preventing molting and ultimately leading to death.

CONQUERING Roaches, ants SPIDERS & MORE. Early in 2025, BASF added Ridesco® WG Insecticide to its line of established dilutables. This line includes well- respected active ingredients found in products such as Alpine WSG Water Soluble Granule Insecticide, trusted for a broad range of indoor applications, and Fendona® CS Controlled Release Insecticide, known for its strong residual, rainfastness, and efficacy against more than 60 arthropod pests. Ridesco WG, which is building a reputation for fast knockdown and reduced callbacks with general pests, was fully embraced by PMPs in early trials.

“My go-to products today are Termidor HE and Ridesco WG (Alpine WSG has been a game changer for us, too),” said Roberts. “We’ve used Ridesco WG on severe German cockroach infestations, and it knocks them out like that! Typically, German cockroaches take multiple treatments, but Ridesco WG controls them on the first go-round. My pest management professionals were overwhelmed by the wow factor the first time they tried it. It’s part of our rotation now for ants, cockroaches and perimeter pests. Just like when we’ve used Termidor, we’ve had no callbacks at all.”

Excel Pest Services has adopted Ridesco WG, too. “My experience with Ridesco WG has been exceptionally positive. It combines dinotefuran with a synthetic pyrethroid, alpha-cypermethrin, to provide a powerful one-two punch.

“For challenging cleanouts of heavy German cockroach and American cockroach infestations in commercial and residential settings, this product has become our top choice. We’ve seen a 99% reduction in cockroach populations in targeted areas, enabling us to gain control of difficult accounts much faster than with other products. This efficiency translates directly into a better customer experience and reduced labor costs.”

REIGNING OVER RODENTS. Ferrante said that he is also a fan of BASF rodent solutions. He shared the experience of resolving a particularly challenging infestation in Newark when his team switched to Selontra® Rodent Bait: A multistory culinary facility located in a dense urban environment had a severe rodent infestation that had grown over time. Capturing an average of nine mice per week in their monitoring stations, the Excel Pest team knew they were dealing with a heavy, established population, yet despite their best efforts, they struggled to gain control.

“Initially, we implemented a comprehensive strategy involving sanitation recommendations, exclusion measures and a variety of bait products. We placed bait stations throughout the facility, focusing on areas with high activity. But the mice were consuming very little bait, and the population numbers remained high,” Ferrante said.

Having tried a range of first- and second-generation anticoagulant rodents baits to no avail, the Excel team switched to the more palatable Selontra bait. “The results were remarkable,” Ferrante reported. “We observed a dramatic shift in bait consumption and, within a month, saw a 90% reduction in rodent activity. Within 60 days, we were capturing only one or two mice per month. The palatability of Selontra was a game changer, as the mice readily consumed the bait, and the stop-feed action of cholecalciferol ensured quick control of the population. We have since maintained a pest-free environment for this client.”

Roberts concluded, “When we can solve pest issues right the first time, everyone wins. Customers are happy and, when they see how quickly we resolve their issues, it makes us look good. I’ve found it’s always a win-win with BASF products.”

Always read and follow label use directions. Not all products are registered in all states. Please check regulatory sites for registration information in your area. Advance, Alpine, Fendona, Ridesco, Selontra, Termidor and Trelona are registered trademarks of BASF Agricultural Solutions US LLC. © 2025 BASF Agricultural Solutions US LLC. All rights reserved.