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Soil insecticides
A traditional approach to pest control |
Soil insecticides are a tried and tested method of
controlling insect pests. A soil insecticide creates a chemical barrier which retards
or temporarily eliminates termite access to a structure. Basically, there are two ways in which a soil
insecticide can be considered effective:
- Repellency. The insects actively avoid the area containing the insecticide.
- Lethality or toxicity. The insects are killed by the insecticide in the soil.
There is also a new breed of insecticides that is
gaining recognition and acceptance. These new compounds combine the
characteristics of low repellency and delayed toxicity.
The theory behind this approach is that larger portions of a termite colony's
population can come in contact with the pesticide due to its low repellency. And
since mortality is delayed, the termites do not associate negatively with the
treated area, assuring continual exposure. Delayed toxicity also aids in any possible carry-back effect,
where exposed individuals unknowingly transfer pesticide to other colony members
outside of the treated area.
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Advantages
- Properly applied, soil insecticides are usually quite
effective.
- The pesticides are generally useful against a
broad range of pests.
- No maintenance costs.
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Disadvantages
- Protection is not indefinite. Generally,
re-treatments are needed every 3 to 5 years.
- Introduces potentially toxic chemicals to the environment.
- A relatively large amount of pesticide must be
used.
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| A soil insecticide being
tested by the U.H. Termite Project. |
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