Efficacy of Varied Concentrations of Fipronyl 200 G/L in the Graveyard (Field Trial Test) Control of Termites

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 nataensis from attacking buildings. This study evaluated the efficacy of Termidor and Fipronyl 200 g/l commercial formulations at various treatment concentrations on treated timber. Termidor was the experimental standard. The experiments was laid out in a Randomised Block Design carried out in the graveyard with 100 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). 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.