Protecting your client’s investment from termite damage in Asia
Eng-Kooi Tan, Regional Project and Technical Services Manager, Environmental Science APAC, Crop Science Division, Envu
Imagine spending thousands of dollars constructing an award-winning structure or helping your client build their dream home, only to discover a termite infestation a few years later. With the Envu portfolio of non-repellent termiticides, Agenda and Premise, there is flexibility in terms of pre- or post-construction treatments that are effective for long-term termite control and colony management – ultimately protecting your client’s investment from termite damage.
Termite control has undoubtedly remained one of the most challenging tasks for pest management professionals in Asia. As termites typically nest and forage underground, and remain hidden behind walls and ceilings in buildings, pest managers must play detective, searching for clues to discover their whereabouts.
Fortunately, a range of tools available today make the task easier. Devices can monitor, detect and accurately identify different species of termites, making inspection easier and also reducing the amount of probing required, which might otherwise cause damage to the wood in the buildings.
One of the biggest advances in termite control over the past decade has been the introduction of non-repellent termiticides. These work differently to traditional repellent termiticides, which are typically based on synthetic pyrethroid chemistry.
Foraging termites will not be repelled as they are unable to detect the presence of non-repellent termiticides in the treated soil when they approach a protected property. They pick up a small dose of active ingredient through ingestion or upon contact with the treated area. By not dying immediately, they transfer the active ingredient to uncontaminated termites through contact, grooming and exchange of food before they die. The active ingredient can be transferred to termites back in the colony, magnifying the effect of the treatment.
Liquid non-repellent termiticides are applied as a continuous treatment band or ‘protection zone’ around buildings, and when used correctly, offer the ideal solution for long-term structural protection and colony management. Say goodbye to monthly inspections, and hello to fewer callbacks and more satisfied clients!
“We’ve been using Agenda to successfully treat our clients’ houses for over ten years. It is the first choice for our clients and technicians. Successful treatments have given our technicians the confidence to continue offering homeowners Agenda as part of their termite management plan.”
Surath Aebtarm, General Manager, Chemin Pest Control, Thailand
Termites – Silent Destroyers
It is common to find several termite pest species co-existing and infesting the same buildings in tropical Asian countries. Re-infestation of building structures that have undergone successful termite treatments by other termite species may occur.
It has been estimated that the global economic impact of termite pests is US$40 billion per year with subterranean termites (particularly Coptotermes spp.) accounting for around 80% of the damage.1 Approximately US$400 million of that occurs in Southeast Asia alone.2
This article was published on Termite Professional (ASEAN Edition 2021). Click here to view the article on the online magazine.
References:
1 Rust, M.K. and N.Y. Su, 2012. Managing social insects of urban importance. Annu. Rev. Entomol., 57: 355-375.
2 Lee, C.Y., 2007. Perspective in Urban Insect Pest Management in Malaysia. Vector Control Research Unit, School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia, ISBN-13: 9789833986071, Pages: 104.