A scientific way of eliminating subterranean termites

US-based Dow AgroSciences Co. Inc. has introduced a scientific way of getting rid of devastating subterranean termites in farms, homes and buildings using a process that is said to be environment-friendly and with guaranteed results of success on a sustained basis.

"We don’t just classify termites as one kind but we study their species, their colony practices, eating patterns and everything there is to know about them before we even recommend the treatment to our clients," said Dow AgroSciences marketing manager Ma. Gladez Ilao-Talavera.

"We have to identify the species of termites first, whether they are garden termites, the coptotermes vastator or the Philippine milk termite, the most destructive species of all, based on samples that we collect in the plastic bait tubes, implanted outdoors," she explained.

Studies indicate that 90 percent of urban structures are attacked by coptotermes vastator.

The traditional way of treating termites was to use liquid termiticides where floors are drilled and homeowners are exposed to harmful chemicals. But the termites keep coming back even more vengefully after the treatment.

Sentricon colony elimination system makes sure that the termites are not just controlled individually but that the whole colony is destroyed and eliminated.

The technology has been received well in the scientific communities of the US, France, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Australia, she said.

Dow AgroSciences came to the Philippines in 2000 but the technology had been successfully adopted in the United States, particularly the White House, the Statue of Liberty and the 100-year old Lolani Palace in Hawaii, for the past 10 to 12 years. In the US, Sentricon was awarded in 2000 the Presidential Green Chemistry Award by then President Clinton.

Dow AgroSciences has installed its termite elimination technology in 15,000 "high safety areas" like hospitals and schools; buildings and residential homes and condominiums.

Admittedly, the system can be afforded by the A and B markets only because the technology is so thorough and quality of service is so high, she said.

She said the eight pest control operators that Dow AgroSciences has partnered with in implementing the Sentricon technology are now in the process of completing their requirements for ISO certification.

Dow in fact is now looking for more pest control operator partners for its business expansion but the criteria for selecting partners are quite stiff, namely they are financially capable; highly professional and willing to learn new systems; they have achieved expertise and passed licensure of both the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority and the Dow AgroSciences and they are willing to go through one to two months technical training for the managers and staff.

The system may take two to three months to eliminate the termite depending on the size of the colony and the degree of infestation, she said.

There are 2,000 to 10,000 individual termites per square meter and the queen lays eggs every two seconds, with one queen having a life span of 25 to 30 years.

Before the Sentricon Termite Colony Elimination System is adopted, professionally licensed pest technicians monitor the size of the colony for two months and the extent of their infestation – using samples collected in termite bait tubes.

The technicians will conduct a thorough inspection inside the house, the gardens and other areas where cellulose materials (the food of termites) abound. Cellulose materials are wood, paper, clothes, barks, even paintings that termites could chew. – Rose dela Cruz