EFFICACY OF FIPRONYL 200 G/L AND TERMIDOR IN CONTROLLING TERMITES.A LABORATORY AND GRAVEYARD TRIAL TEST

Abstract

Fipronyl is chemical formulations of phenyl pyrazole insecticide acting on the chloride channel of nervous system of insects to hinder chloride metabolism of γ- amino butyric acid of insect’s nervous system. It has good control against Microtermes natalensis from attacking buildings. This study evaluated the efficacy of Termidor and Fipronyl 200 g/l commercial formulations at various treatment concentrations on treated timber and treated sand. Termidor was the experimental standard. The experiments was laid out in a Randomised Block Design carried out in both laboratory and graveyard with 60 and 200 samples, five treatments and ten replicates. Both termicides were tested at Fipronyl 200 g/l concentrations (2 ml/l, 4 ml/l and 6 ml/l) and Termidor under concentration of (10 ml/l) by treating Eucalyptus grandis and Grevillia robusta. The research was carried out at the Forest Products Research Centre of the Kenya Forestry Research Institute. This was a Wood preservation experiment with the main aim of treating timber commonly used in the construction and furniture industry in Kenya. The mode of wood blocks treatment was by dip diffusion and sand drenching. This showed that 2 ml/l, 4 ml/l and 6 ml/l levels of concentrations for Fipronyl or termidor (10 ml/l) have equal impact on termites since there was no significant difference in weight loss in the treated timbers compared with untreated timbers that had weight loss. Fipronyl treatment is effective at different concentration. This was determined by assessing the magnitude of timber attack by subterranean termites under different treatment regimes. It is advisable for the user to use Fipronyl 200 g/l at medium concentration this is because too high concentration may kill termites faster than expected while at lower concentration may not supply a sufficient dose for contaminated termites to transfer a lethal dose to unexposed termites. Appropriate concentration of a termiticides should be applied to achieve a wide coverage.