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Termidor^® - The Truth About Non-Repellent Termiticides:
[Termidor® Technical Update #3]
The Difference is not just the Performance.

Currently, there are 2 non-repellent, soil applied, liquid termiticides registered in Australia for Post Construction use. These products are Termidor® and 'Premise'.

A common mistake is that these two products are basically the same and they behave in a similar manner, both biologically and in the soil. This is simply not true!

Explained below are the key differences between the active constituents of Termidor® (fipronil) and Premise (imidacloprid) that make Termidor the most efficient termiticide in the world today.

(1) More easily transferred from Termite to another:
Both active ingredients can be passed from one termite to another. However, studies clearly show that Termidor® is transferred much more efficiently throughout a termite population than imidacloprid. Dr Mike Potter highlighted these effects in the paper entitled "Exterior Targeted Liquid Termiticides: An Alternative Approach to Managing Subterranean Termites" (2002). In this study, the activity of termites around existing structures treated with either Termidor or Premise was observed, using monitoring stations placed in the ground away from the treated zone. Dr Potter found that "Premise generally had slower and more limited effect on termites within our in-ground monitoring stations; however visual activity eventually ceased".

Similarly, the USDA Forest Service, which undertakes independent research on all termiticides registered in the US, found that termite activity decreased dramatically in untreated control plots located adjacent to Termidor® plots. This effect had never been experienced previously in any other termiticide trial.

One of the reasons this happens is that Termidor binds much more efficiently to the cuticle of a termite, which means that much more can be transferred throughout a colony. When termites groom and contact each other, Termidor® is readily transferred from one termite to another. Because Termidor® is easily transferred by contact, it is much less reliant on transfer by trophallaxis than imidacloprid.

This is the beauty of the "Transfer Effect".

(2) Slower Intoxication adds to the "Transfer Effect":
A well-respected United States termite researcher from Louisiana State University conducted a study into the termite behavioural effects of Termidor® vs Premise. Dr Gregg Henderson, Professor of Urban Entomology, had numerous reports from Pest Managers that Termidor® seemed to transfer more effectively between termites than Premise.

This apparent performance disparity inspired Dr Henderson to look more closely at the two products in the lab in an effort to determine the cause. Henderson's lab study, "Comparing Behavioural Affects of Termidor® vs Premise',' indicated that there was indeed a difference in the Way the two products affect termite behaviour.

Henderson found that termites treated with Premise immediately began to manifest behavioural abnormalities. Because healthy termites instinctively avoid sickly-acting termites this could have a dramatically limiting effect on transfer. On the other hand, the Termidor® treated termites behaved completely normally for a 24-hour period before dying.

This period when the termites behave normally after encountering Termidor allows transfer of the product to thousands of other termites through contact and grooming. Dr. Henderson concludes that this is probably part of the explanation for Termidor®'s superior transfer when compared with Premise.

(3) Is your Termiticide where you left it?
Imidacloprid is approximately 300 times more soluble in water than fipronil. This means that imidacloprid has a greater potential to be leached downward in the soil profile and is much more available for plant uptake from landscaping around structures. In fact, various imidacloprid formulations are sold as systemic insecticides for use in landscaping!

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This is a significant contributing factor as to why Premise can only claim two years of effective protection from termites on the product label. After this period it is possible that there will be insufficient imidacloprid in the treated zone to provide further protection. Termidor® has very low water solubility and therefore will not readily move from the treated zone. Termidor will still be present for a minimum of 5 years under Australian conditions when applied according to the label.

In the USA Termidor® is the only product to have controlled 100% of termites in every trial, regardless of geography or soil type. After more than 8 years in these rigorous trials, Termidor® is still perfect in every location.

The facts presented here illustrate that all termiticide products are definitely not the same! Termidor®'s unique combination of transferability between termites, low water solubility, and slower mode of action make it the most efficient termiticide on the market today.

Factor	Premise	Termidor®
Water Solubility (pmm)*	610	1.9
Label period of Protection (All species except Mastotermes)	2 years	5 years
Label Period of Protection (Mastotermes)	1 year	2 years

* The Pesticide manual, British Crop Protection Council, 12th edition 2000

The Transfer Effect™ Affected termites transfer Termidor® to others by contact, grooming, and exchange of food.