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Commercially
Available Drywood Termite Management Options. |
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Treatment |
Efficacy in
Field |
Strengths |
Considerations
/Limitations |
Damage to
Structure |
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EXISTING
INFESTATIONS |
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Whole-Structure |
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Fumigants |
up to 100%
1,2,3 |
Hidden sites
treated |
correct dosage must be achieved;
residents must leave house; no residual |
Gas pilots must be
extinguished before treatment; possible damage to roof from tarpaulins or if
walked on |
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Heat |
up to 100%
2 |
Hidden sites
treated |
Lethal temperature must be achieved
in the core of all infested wood; no residual; heat sinks may affect
efficacy |
Possible damage to
roof if walked on and for some heat-sensitive household items |
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Localized/Spot Treatments |
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Chemical |
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Chemical
liquids
& dusts |
up to 90%
3 |
Long Term |
Few active ingredients commercially
available; detection accuracy critical; chemical residual; results vary with
active ingredient used and concentration; infestation may rebound |
yes, if drill holes
used |
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Chemical
Foams |
no information
|
coverage of hidden
infestation, long-term |
no published efficacy studies |
yes, drilling
holes |
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Liquid
Nitrogen |
74 to 100%
2 |
benign
material |
highly dependent on dosage;
detection accuracy critical; no residual |
yes, drill
holes |
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Non-chemical |
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Biological
Control |
no information |
no chemicals |
few commercially available;
research needed |
don't
know |
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Electrocution |
44 to 98%
2 |
portable |
detection accuracy critical; many
disclaimers; infestation may rebound |
yes, if drill holes
used |
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Heat |
up to 100%
2 |
semi-portable |
lethal temperature must be achieved
in the core of all infested wood; no residual; heat sinks may affect efficacy |
may be to wood or
heat-sensitive household items |
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Microwaves |
89 to 98%
2 |
semi-portable |
detection accuracy critical; highly
dependent on treatment time and wattage; heat sinks may affect efficacy |
may be to wood or
household items |
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PREVENTIVE |
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Chemical liquids &
dusts |
up to 90%
3 |
long-term |
few active ingredients available;
chemical residual; results vary depending on active ingredient used and
concentration; infestation may rebound |
yes, if drill holes
used |
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Pressure-Treated
Wood |
no information
|
long-term |
few active ingredients commercially
available; chemical residual; results vary with active ingredient used and
concentration; environmental persistence |
no |
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Non-chemical |
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Barriers
(screens/paint) |
no information
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long-term |
barriers degrade & can be
breached; some feeding damage may occur |
no |
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Resistant
Woods |
no information
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long-term |
efficacy highly variable depending
on species of wood; costly; availability; some feeding damage may occur |
no |
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