[Termite Control] Termite News & Notes

BASF, NJ Pest Control Provide HIstoric Treatment
Country’s only existing Civil War drill hall treated for termites.
 

Built in 1859, just before the start of the Civil War, the Civil War Drill Hall in Leonia, N.J., is a national historic landmark and the only existing wood frame Civil War Drill Hall in the country. Added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 19, 1978, the Drill Hall is the home to the Players’ Guild of Leonia. Founded in 1919, the Guild is one of New Jersey’s oldest continuing community theater groups. So when termites threatened, the Guild acted and called NJ Pest Control to help protect its historic group and home.

"Our theater, being more than 150 years old, is in constant need of upkeep," Annette Lenge, president of the Guild said. "We lease the building from the Borough of Leonia and are responsible for all maintenance. During a routine check of the site by a carpenter and painter assessing the site for future work, they found termites at work," said Lenge.

Lenge immediately contacted a few area pest management professionals, including NJ Pest Control.

NJ Pest Control has been in business for almost 10 years. The company is licensed to treat for many general and structural pests, including termites. The company has treated older homes in the past but this was its first opportunity to treat a historic landmark.

"When we heard about the Guild’s needs, we were happy to meet with the board to discuss treatment options," Russell Sieb, owner, NJ Pest Control said. "We were confident we could come up with an effective solution that would provide protection against termites."

The first step for Sieb was meeting with the Guild’s board to review the issues the Guild faced, including any construction challenges.

"One of the biggest challenges for us was the way the property was built. With a building as old as the Drill Hall, we wanted to pay special attention to how the original framework was constructed, note any additions and updates the Guild had completed and take a look at areas surrounding the structure, such as the walkway, to ensure our treatment program fit the Guild’s specific needs," Sieb said.

Sieb surveyed the scene and discussed treatment options. "We recommended the use of Termidor termiticide/insecticide as it was the best product for the job. The Guild’s board was happy with the different treatment perspective we brought to the table," he said.

A benefit to using Termidor is how it’s applied, BASF says. Sieb’s crew treated in the Drill Hall’s crawlspace where termite activity was noted and along the exterior perimeter of the structure using BASF’s PerimeterPLUS application technique, a less invasive yet effective technique that allows for minimal disruption of areas around a structure.

"Using the PerimeterPLUS technique, Termidor provides the PMP with the flexibility of providing a customized treatment that will not only be effective against termites but will also work within the structural challenges associated with historic sites," said Bill Kolbe, market development specialist with BASF Pest Control Solutions.

Termidor is undetectable so termites neither avoid nor go around the treatment zone. Its "Transfer Effect" means when a termite comes in contact with it, it becomes a carrier and then transfers the liquid to other termites in the colony. Termidor is slow-acting, which means individual termites have ample time to transfer it to other termites in the colony. — BASF Pest Control Solutions
 

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Premise promotion from Bayer
Special savings on Premise
"Buy Two, Get One Free" promotion.

Bayer Environmental Science announced the Premise 75 WP "Buy Two, Get One Free" promotion, which runs through June 30.

Through the end of June, pest management professionals who purchase two Premise 75 WP cases will receive one Premise 75 WP case free of charge. Premise is the best value non-repellent termiticide on the market with a less than 1% retreat rate, Bayer ES says. In addition, Premise features water-soluble packaging; by dissolving in water, this packaging reduces potential exposure risk for pesticide handlers, and has eliminated the use of more than 1 million plastic containers since its launch 15 years ago.

"Due to our water-soluble packaging, PMPs who buy Premise 75 WP will continue to help reduce the use of plastic containers and eliminate waste," said Eric Lentz, termite marketing manager for Bayer ES.

For more information on the Premise 75 WP "Buy Two, Get One Free" promotion, call Bayer customer service at 800/331-2867.

Dow AgroSciences Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of
Vikane Gas Fumigant

Basic research for sulfuryl fluoride likely began in the early 1950s.

In 2011, Vikane achieves a notable milestone — its 50th year of use by the pest control industry. "Fifty years is a remarkable milestone for a pesticide to achieve," said Dave Morris, commercial leader for the Dow AgroSciences U.S. Pest Management business. The long-term success of Vikane is based on three factors, Morris said. First are the unique attributes of the chemistry — sulfuryl fluoride. Second is the ongoing investment by Dow AgroSciences in research and development to meet or exceed changing regulatory requirements. Third is the strong product stewardship effort by distributors and fumigation companies.

"No pesticide can succeed without the support and cooperation of those who use it," he said. "The 50th anniversary of Vikane is really an industry event. Huge credit goes to our distributor partners who have worked hand in hand with our field technical and sales team to provide the training and close support needed for structural fumigation. Coupled with that is the remarkable efforts by professional fumigation companies over the years to adapt to new label directions, equipment advances and regulatory requirements."

Justin Stewart, product marketing and communications manager for Vikane gas fumigant, said basic research for sulfuryl fluoride likely began in the early 1950s. "After getting USDA registration in 1959, Dow Chemical Company did further field research in 1960 with commercialization beginning in 1961," Stewart said. "As part of the commercial launch, Dow Chemical introduced the Fumiguide calculator to give fumigators for the first time the ability to estimate half-loss time."

For more information, visit www.dowagro.com/ppm/vikane.

New Altriset Brochure from DuPont Professional Products

A marketing brochure for Altriset Termiticide, geared towards PMP, is now available.

DuPont Professional Products recently introduced a marketing brochure for Altriset Termiticide. The brochure, which is geared to pest management professionals, helps explain the product’s unique mode of action, as well as its first-in-the-industry environmental benefits, DuPont reports.

The brochure highlights Altriset’s attributes, including an infrared photo showing a termite worker that tunneled through sand treated with Altriset at 50 ppm. "The glowing areas indicate where the termite is carrying (and has already ingested) Altriset," the brochure states.

The piece also highlights Altriset’s "Powerful Performance," i.e., it stops termite feeding within hours once exposed to the product, termites’ increased aggregation means rapid termite control and fast-acting control.

Additionally, the brochure highlights the product’s "excellent environmental and toxicological profile," including the fact that it is the first liquid termiticide to be classified as reduced risk by the EPA and has no signal word on the label.

This piece complements the Altriset Termiticide technical bulletin, which focuses on field and lab research and provides numerous data charts.

To receive a copy of the Altriset Termiticide brochure, PMPs can contact their distributor or DuPont sales representative.

FMC Introduces
Transport Mikron Insecticide

The product’s advanced liquid formulation offers enhanced performance and application benefits, the firm says.

A new, highly advanced, non-repellent liquid insecticide formulation is available from FMC Professional Solutions. Transport Mikron insecticide provides pest management professionals fast-acting, long-lasting control of termites, bed bugs, ants, crickets and more than 30 other pests, including pyrethroid-resistant pests.

A combination of acetamiprid and bifenthrin, Transport Mikron delivers residual protection lasting up to 90 days or longer, depending on the pest. The product achieves knockdown faster than competitive products, often attaining 100 percent control within just 24 hours after treatment, FMC says.

Transport Mikron is effective against all three genera of termites, Reticulitermes, Heterotermes and Coptotermes. With its improved knockdown speed, lasting residual and good resistance management properties, Transport Mikron often eliminates all termite activity within 30 days of application, FMC says.

In addition, the product works well in large spray rigs, including those with in-line dosing systems.

Transport Mikron is a clear formulation. For more information, visit www.fmcprosolutions.com or contact your FMC sales representative.

Bora-Care: For Use as Primary
Termite Treatment

Bora-Care applications can earn "green point" credits for green-based construction programs.

Bora-Care is labeled for the primary control of subterranean termites and other wood destroying fungi and insects. The active ingredient is disodium octaborate tetrahydrate infused into a liquid glycol solution as a concentrate. The concentrate is mixed with water to form up to a 23 percent active treatment solution. Bora-Care kills existing infestations and also provides long-term residual control. The application of Bora-Care to new construction serves as a primary treatment for the prevention of subterranean termites in residential and wood-built structures and is backed by more than 20 years of product-specific research and field usage. Bora-Care applications can earn "green point" credits for green-based construction program requirements.

Bora-Care can be used to treat for subterranean termites, Formosan termites, drywood termites, wood decay fungi, carpenter ants, wood destroying beetles, algae and general pests.

For more information, visit www.nisuscorp.com.

MaxxPro: Non-Repellent Termite Control

MasterLine I MaxxPro comes in two formulations: a wettable powder and a liquid formulation.

MasterLine I MaxxPro is a non-repellent, odorless insecticide/termiticide that provides a superior barrier or zone around structures, Univar USA reports. Its unique chemistry binds to the soil and does not easily move. Termites cannot detect MasterLine I MaxxPro and they readily move through treated areas. Not only will termites that directly contact the barrier die, but other termites that come in contact with affected termites will also die, Univar says.

MasterLine I MaxxPro comes in two formulations: MasterLine I MaxxPro — a wettable powder — comes with two pouches of four water soluble bags per pouch. The liquid formulation — MasterLine I MaxxPro 2F — is 2 pounds of active ingredient per gallon, adding the convenience of a liquid formulation in a 27.5-ounce container (four per case). In addition, its patented on-wood use provides long-lasting protection of structures as well as superior control of ants, the company says.

MasterLine I MaxxPro and MasterLine I MaxxPro 2F offers a five-year guarantee. For more information call 800/888-4897 or visit www.MasterLine.com.
 

Pest Identification Series, Volume III: The Termites

CD-ROM features full-color images of 21 commonly encountered termite species.

Volume III: The Termites is a state-of-the-art CD-ROM training tool featuring original, full-color images of 21 commonly encountered termite species. Advanced 3-D technology enables users to rotate and zoom in on high-resolution images, ensuring faster and more accurate pest identification. Other program features include a fully searchable glossary of technical terms, printable homeowner fact sheets, an interactive taxonomic key, and a termite identification testing component. Sponsored by Bayer Environmental Science, Volume III: The Termites is the third in the highly acclaimed series of interactive pest identification training CD-ROMs. Cost of the CD-ROM is $39.95. To order, visit www.pctonline.com/store.