Hi,
my 5 yearly barrier treatment is due for termites but the pesticide that is intended to be used is Fipronil. This appears to be highly toxic to honey bees so I’d like to avoid it if possible. Does anyone happen to know of a barrier treatment that isn’t highly toxic?
The pest control company advise it won’t be an issue as it is injected around the slab of the house into the ground and isn’t applied in an aerosol form. Call me a sceptic about it not be an issue.
Cheers,
I believe they are right on this one. If injected into the ground it is highly unlikely to affect your bees. The small hive beetle traps I use in my hives contain Fipronil and to date I have not seen any mass poisoning of bees from using them. I have also had my neighbours spraying their houses internally and externally by the local Pest controller, amazingly I had no bee deaths that were out of the ordinary.
Good on you for seeking out an alternative treatment, would be great to know what the options are.
We had termites in the house and our pest controller uses hormones to disrupt the termite breeding cycle. Worked 100%.
After 2 years he found another termite infestation in a different part of the house, all gone too.
The pest controller fed the ants a package of food on their path, probably sawdust lanced with hormones.
Not sure what it is called, Google will know.
Even if the hormones would have an effect on the bees, they would never find the bait.
So for anyone interested the pest control company confirmed that the product is injected directly into the soil around the slab perimeter and is extremely unlikely to cause any issues with the bees. They also offered to hold the termite warranty without re-application of the chemical so long as I have visual inspections twice a year instead of once per year.
Ok my turn to get some termite treatment done around the house. I had the pest control guy out to quote on getting the house treated and some old gum trees which have termites in them also. He too said the injection into the soil would not affect the bees and brought another pesticide into the equation, bifenthrin which is a repellent opposed to fipronil which, upon contact is taken back to the nest.
It was suggested that bifenthrin be used on the house and fipronil on the trees.
Thing is, is that the gums are budding, (finally) and I am concerned the poison may make its way into the blossom. I was assured it wouldn’t, not systemic i think the term was. There are also bee colonies in some of the trees.
I’m not one for using poisons and understand termites are a necessary part of the ecosystem but I’m attached to the trees and if they fall my neibours house be also…
Any advice from those in the know?
For the record, a week ago the house and trees were treated. The tree with the colony in it was also treated as it was frond to have termites in it. The hive entrance is about 8 ft above the holes drilled for the treatment injection. A week later the colony looks fine. Thankfully as this was the colony that I’ve been watching for the last 20 years.
There are many ways that can kill termites. There are certain chemicals that can immediately kill the termite population of a particular place. But, there may be some restrictions on using certain chemicals in your locality. It might be against the law also. That’s why you should take some advice from a licenced professional pest control company who can do this job for you. I was also dealing with this same situation, then on a suggestion of my neighbour, we had hired a termite exterminator in NYC who had eliminated all the termites from our home safely.
Hello,
I searched these on google and find the best method for Fipronil Termite Treatment. The fipronil works and does its best to kill the Termite Pest control Sydney
Anyway, scientists inform all homeowners, that they should use it only with a pest control specialist.
The idea is that termites can live in a number of places in your house.
Only an expert can find out for sure where they can be. For homeowners that’s really difficult.
After you know the places where termites are, a professional should apply fipronil. To reach the best effect, this product should be placed in correct locations.
If in any way you are using fipronil independently, be very careful, follow instructions on label and try to avoid exposure. If exposure happens, you should follow the label instructions or First Aid instructions really carefully.
How can I be exposed to fipronil?
A person using fipronil can be exposed to it in four different ways:
the chemical contacts your skin;
it contacts your eyes;
you breathe fipronil in;
you swallow it.
Contact with skin and eyes can happen while you are using fipronil. If you use fipronil for pets, to get rid of flea and ticks, they can be also exposed. You may swallow some product if you don’t wash your hands after using it.
To minimize the chances of exposure you should read the product label really carefully and follow what it says.
Brief exposure to fipronil is not really dangerous but it should better be avoided. Short contacts with skin can cause skin irritation. If a person eats fipronil, he can experience headache, vomiting, sweating, weaknesses and pains in stomach and so on. Signs of brief fipronil exposure do not last long, people start feeling better without special treatment.
I hope It will be helpful for you.
I don’t understand why people insist on treating with fibronil when other treatment is available. Our organic pest controller is quite busy in our area because people look out for ways to avoid poisons. It works 100%, just takes a couple of weeks longer to be effective.
My brother in law killed his hive by putting a layer of fibronil on the coreflute against ants and SHB. He meant well. I think the bees died from the fumes.
There will be no fibronil on our land ever.
Hello All members,
Adequacy of fipronil 2.5 e.c. for termite administration in structures
While trying to discover bio-viability of Fipronil 2.5 E.C., as termiticide for structures, a long haul think about was done. Three tests were directed viz. Adjusted Ground Board test, Residual poisonous quality test and Anti-termite treatment in termite plagued structures utilizing four test measurements i.e. 0.5%, 0.25%, 0.1% and 0.05% (an/I) of Fipronil 2.5 E.C. Altered Ground Board test and Residual danger test were done in three distinctive climatic and soil states of India. Hostile to termite treatment in termite pervaded structures was done according to Indian Code of Practice for Anti-termite Measures in Buildings, IS: 6313 (2001). Exploratory discoveries demonstrates that 0.25% or more fixations (an/I) of Fipronil 2.5 E.C. is 100% compelling for termite administration in structures up to five years. It is moderately stationary in soil and can possibly filter into groundwater.
Thanks for sharing…
Hello,
If you want to remove the bees organically , try mixing a solution of half water and half mild soap detergent into a spray bottle. Spray the nest and other affected areas with the solution in the evening like the vinegar and water. The soap-water solution will kill the bees but doesn’t leave a harmful residue like an insecticide. Spray every bee until no bees return for at least one day.
Robin, I suspect you posted your answer before you read it, or are you into bee eradication:grinning:
It seems that Fipronil themselves and other scientific tests do not agree with you. Fipronil was also found to be highly toxic to honey bees,
It is sad that you as a pest control ‘expert’ don’t know about the products you use. Do you provide protect coveralls and respirators to your employees when they are told to spray it? Ignorance is not an excuse.
You are obviously not a bee keeper.