The Changing Face Of Termite Control

The ‘winds of change’ are blowing through our industry"... So began an earlier termite article appearing in this magazine. Technologies that had been in their infancy scarcely four years ago have arrived with hurricane force, and are reshaping our industry. If the lessons from the past are any indication, more changes are coming and probably sooner than you think. This article — the first of a two-part series — offers an assessment of the current subterranean termite control climate … and a forecast for the future.

THE TERMITE BAITS. Who would have guessed, as recent as three years ago, that companies would be "dry-docking" their termite rigs and utilizing baits as their flagship termite control service? Or that a homeowner could stop by the corner hardware store and buy a product which "guaranteed" to protect their home against termites for less than $50? Termite baiting has come of age and figures to play an even bigger role in the future. Let’s review the pros and cons of the termite baits currently on the market.

SENTRICON. Thus far the market leader in this bait transformation has been Dow AgroSciences’ Sentricon® Colony Elimination System. No other product has had a bigger impact on industry operating procedures, nor has been more controversial. Hundreds of thousands of termite-infested structures in the United States have already been baited with Sentricon. A small but growing number of new subdivisions are being retrofitted with the System in lieu of conventional pre-treatments. Sentricon has been installed on such national treasures as the Statue of Liberty and the White House, and is being featured on nationwide television commercials. In a remarkably short time, "Sentri-con" has become a household word in termite control.

If you happen to be a Sentricon Authorized Operator, odds are you’re a pretty happy camper. According to Sterett Robertson, product development manager for Sentricon, "the vast majority of authorized operators are not only satisfied with the products and results, but are actually restructuring their businesses around Sentricon." Clients are usually relieved to learn that their carpeting won’t have to be pulled back, their floors automatically drilled or their stored items moved. No drilling, no noise, no dust, no pesticide or stranger in the house — in other words, less intrusion and disruption of their already hectic schedules.

But what about Sentri-con’s effectiveness? Is the product merely a sales tool, or does it also eliminate structural termite infestations as reliably and consistently as conventional liquid treatments? Nearly five years after gaining EPA registration, these questions still persist in the minds of many PCOs, manufacturers, regulators and even some researchers. While there is still much to learn about Sentricon, dozens of independent research trials, many of which have been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, have confirmed its effectiveness as a stand-alone treatment against subterranean termites. Authorized operators who have used the product for at least two years report callback rates generally no higher, and in some cases lower, than with traditional treatments. Among the success stories from the field are many "nightmare" accounts which had withstood all previous efforts employing conventional methods. Recognizing that no termite treatment, including Sentricon, works 100 percent of the time, it would seem that the System warrants status as a legitimate management option in most areas of the country.

Not to say that Sentricon is without problems. The biggest complaint, common to all of the current baiting systems, is that it is slow, time-consuming and tedious. Despite the palatability enhancements which Dow AgroSciences has made to their monitors and bait tubes, getting termites to find and feed on the below-ground stations can be frustratingly slow for both installer and client. This is especially true of accounts where termite foraging is less intense due to weather, time of year, locale or behavioral differences among termite species.

The targeted placement of above-ground stations (Recruit AG) lessens the dependence on below ground hits to occur. Further improvements are expected when Dow AgroSciences launches its acoustic emission detector (Locator®). This device will help installers optimize their placement of above-ground stations by detecting termites feeding in wood members. Nonetheless, since each termite baiting episode is site-specific, users should be careful what they promise their customers. Clients should be notified, preferably through a signed disclosure form, that the baiting process may take several months or longer to complete, and that some degree of feeding and damage may occur before the bait takes effect.

It is difficult to predict how long structures, formerly baited with Sentricon, will remain free of termites. In Kentucky, all 20 termite-infested test houses initially baited with Sentricon in 1995 still appear to be termite-free. However, a few of the houses continue to have termites in monitors out in the yard, underscoring the importance of diligent monitoring and on-going inspection.

FIRSTLINE. Initially introduced in 1996, FMC’s FirstLineTM termite bait stations continue to be marketed to PCOs seeking an alternative to Sentricon. Both above- and below-ground stations are available. The makers of FirstLine believe that utilization of baits, alone, may not be the best way to control termites. According to Dr. Jim Ballard, FMC’s technical manager, "FirstLine baits are but one element of our Systematic Termite ControlSM program which includes inspection, moisture management, food source management, directed treatments using liquid termiticides and/or termiticide foam and termite baits. We make the assumption that every structure is different, and therefore would require a customized treatment program using all available tools."

There is still debate over whether non IGR-type active ingredients, such as contained in FirstLine, are sufficiently slow-acting to perform (work) as termite baits. The debate is complicated by how one chooses to define the term "work." Foraging termites are killed when they eat bait treated with either IGR or non IGR-type active ingredients. In this respect, most if not all bait products "work." It would seem that a more important distinction is whether the product can rid a structure of termites, hopefully with some degree of consistency.

Independent field research trials with FirstLine are still rather limited, and results presented at meetings have been inconclusive. PCO experiences with FirstLine have also been mixed. Since the baits often were used in combination with spot treatments of conventional products, it has been difficult to determine which element(s) of the overall treatment plan are impacting the termites. Granted, subterranean termites are generally best managed through a combination of techniques, and the bottom line is to protect the structure. Nonetheless, a great deal of time, effort and expense goes into installing and continuously monitoring termite baits. PCOs and some customers may wonder what they are getting for their investment.

Looking toward the future, FMC has made several recent modifications to their in-ground baiting system that could significantly enhance performance. The new FirstLine GT Plus Termite Bait Stations are much larger and contain eight times more bait than their previous bait tubes. The wood monitors also are larger, and can now be inserted directly into a plastic station housing (Smartdisc® Locator) in a manner similar to Sentricon. This should make it easier to locate stations during subsequent monitoring visits. The lid of the Smartdisc Locator has a ridged design to help "channel" foraging termites into the station. The new stations should be available this month. FMC also has developed the Smartrak® STC Software system to help PCOs manage their baiting program.

EXTERRA. The newest player in the baiting game is Ensystex, Inc., makers of the Exterra® Termite Interception and Baiting System. The bait component of the system is called Labyrinth.® The active ingredient in Labyrinth Termite Bait is diflubenzuron, an insect growth regulating compound in the same chemical group as hexaflumuron, the active ingredient in Sentricon. Both active ingredients are chitin synthesis inhibitors and kill by disrupting the molting process in termites.

There is much debate over which active ingredient, hexaflumuron or diflu-benzuron, is most effective, and whether the two baiting systems are comparable in performance. As with any new technology, the proof will be in the performance. Little independent research has been published confirming the efficacy of di-flubenzuron under a variety of field conditions, nor against subterranean termite species other than Reticulitermes. Lacking such data, pest control firms will need to assess the performance of Exterra themselves. Initial reports from some PCOs using the product have been encouraging. We will know more after the coming swarm season.

Although it is too soon to judge the reliability and long-term performance of Exterra, there are certain design features that are appealing. Because the untreated wood monitors (termed "interceptors") are flat and affixed to the sides of the in-ground plastic station, bait can be stuffed into the center with minimal disturbance to those termites already feeding. The bait matrix consists of loosely wadded, shredded paper toweling, and is readily consumed by termites as they "transition" from feeding on the wood monitors to the bait. Installation around structures is similar to Sentricon except that Exterra stations, being box-shaped, require a bit more effort to install using a soil agar. An above-ground design is in development. Exterra is sold only to authorized operators who agree to abide by the conditions of the manufacturers’ agreement.

TERMINATE. Issues pertaining to the use of this over-the-counter bait, promoted as the "... first do-it-yourself termite home defense system," were reviewed in a recent article (See "Do-It-Yourself Termite Baits: Do They Work?" PCT, Oct.’98, p.34). On October 15, 1998, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and eight state Attorneys General filed a complaint in U.S. District Court alleging that the advertising claims about the product are deceptive and unsubstantiated. Among the claims being chal-lenged are that use of Terminate, alone, is sufficient in preventing termite infestation and damage, and that Terminate is effective in eliminating active termite infestations in homes. Copies of the full text of the complaint are available from the FTC’s web site www.ftc.gov.

Regardless of how this case is decided, there probably will be more do-it-yourself termite baits in the future. However ill-conceived this may seem to industry professionals, there will always be people who believe homeowners have the right to attempt control of termites on their own property.

One positive outgrowth of the investigation against Terminate is that it has highlighted the need for more efficacy data in support of bait products and their label/advertising claims. In contrast to conventional termiticides, there currently are no specific performance guidelines for baits. This is likely to change with the recent formation of the ASPCRO-EPA-NPCA-RISE Bait Efficacy Task Force. According to Carl Falco, director of North Carolina’s Structural Pest Control Division and current president of ASPCRO (Association of Structural Pest Control Regulatory Officials), the committee is in the midst of developing a Pesticide Regulation (PR) Notice that would establish efficacy criteria for both new and existing bait products. In formulating the PR Notice, the group will also be seeking input from researchers and others within the pest control community. Products lacking efficacy data will be required to generate additional data and/or adjust their label claims. An added requirement being considered for do-it-yourself baits is that they would also need to be evaluated for efficacy following installation and use by homeowners. Stay tuned for more news from this important committee.

"BAITLESS" BAITS. Some companies who opt not to use baits as a control tool, would still like to monitor for the presence of termites on a customer’s property. Two new products — the Perimeter Patrol System® (PPS) from B&G Equipment Company, and the Termatrol Pro® from Sector Diagnostics — are designed to detect foraging subterranean termites before they infest a structure. Each consists of a plastic, in-ground monitoring station of similar overall appearance to other bait stations on the market. No active ingredient is included; instead, they are equip-ped with untreated termite monitoring inserts (wood in the case of Termatrol, foam in the case of the PPS System). Both mon-itoring stations can also be retrofitted on top with a weather-resistant station for dispensing general pest control baits (ants, cockroaches, etc.).

FURTHER BAIT CONSIDERATIONS. The allure of using baits for termite control has been mentioned many times before. One of their greatest benefits will be in handling difficult construction practices. The trend in modern building construction has little to do with reducing the threat of termites, and everything to do with making structures energy efficient, cosmetically appealing, and comfortable for humans. With today’s construction challenges (combination structures, rigid foam board insulation, in-sulated concrete forms, stucco below grade, wood and tile floors, wells, plenums, sub-slab heat ducts, etc.), it’s become all but impossible to deliver conventional termiticides to every termite entry point. Being able to decipher complex construction has far less influence on the performance of baits since foraging termites are as likely to encounter stations installed around the foundation exterior as beneath the structure. Construction problems can be further negated by strategically placing above-ground baits in areas where termites are known to be active.

Baiting will have a huge impact on employee hiring and training practices. Training technicians about building construction, treatment techniques, pesticides, and the operation and maintenance of equipment is an industry-wide challenge. Generation "X" — the pest control industry’s primary pool of new employees — is the smallest, most transient workforce in decades. Many of the new job applicants are fearful of pesticides and prefer air conditioned offices and computers over hammer drills and crawl spaces. A termite control service structured around baits may appeal to a greater number of these prospective young employees. The less strenuous nature of baiting may also attract more female technicians and articulate employees who excel in customer relations.

One of the risks with baiting is that companies will become complacent and begin to cut corners in their monitoring efforts. Over time, the landscape around a building evolves. As layer upon layer of mulch is deposited, shrubs grow up, and weeds and ground cover take over, a percentage of monitoring stations will be lost. (Another reason for having a disclosure form with a statement requiring customers to keep bait stations free of mulch and accessible for inspection.) Escalating production demands on technicians to re-inspect thousands of prior installations will result in a percentage of stations being neglected — despite our best laid plans of quality assurance. And on some accounts the termites will slip through. Companies who make the commitment to bait must not fall asleep at their "watch."

Baiting in general is less physically demanding than traditional forms of treatment. Yet as technicians spend hour after hour bending and checking in-ground stations, expect to see back injuries. Anyone with back problems knows there is a right and a wrong way to bend for objects. For the health of their employees (and to reduce workman’s compensation claims), companies that do a lot of in-ground bait-ing may need to address this topic in their training programs. Yellowjacket stings, tick bites, poison ivy and fire ants are other potential hazards awaiting technicians who bait; some pro-active safety training here may be warranted also.

THE NEXT GENERATION OF BAITS. What will future termite baits be like? We certainly will see other slow-acting ingredients incorporated into baits. Big changes may also occur in the way future termite baits are designed, installed and inspected. The biggest impediment to the current style of baiting is the labor required in checking stations frequently and repeatedly. Future bait systems may permit less frequent inspections while still affording adequate control. Bigger hunks of bait, as is currently the trend, are one step in this direction. But the real payoff will come from new ways of installing baits below ground so termites have a greater opportunity to find them.

We know from practical experience that it is often very difficult to pinpoint where termites are foraging below ground. Several months may pass before the first "hit" occurs on a monitoring station, and these termites may not even be associated with the foraging population causing the structural infestation. The current method of installing below ground baits whereby discreet stations are placed at 10- to 20-foot intervals around the foundation, and in "conducive" areas, seems rather inefficient for getting termites to find and feed upon them. Perhaps a more continuous length of bait, installed in strips or as an edible rope, would hasten the overall process. Such a design might also open the door to somewhat faster-acting compounds, since a greater number of foragers would be involved in transferring the active ingredient throughout the termite population. Obviously, there would be issues to work out on how such a system would be installed and monitored. The point to be made is that the art and science of termite baiting is still in its infancy. The products and methods in vogue today may be obsolete in the future.