MANILA, Philippines - “It’s called the termite superhighway,” says Scott Kleinschmidt, technical manager of pest control BASF Australia. It’s that region closer to the equator that circles the globe, where tropical and subtropical countries are located.
The Philippines lies within this highway. No wonder, termites are a major problem in the Philippines, as it is in most other parts of Southeast Asia. “There are three basic conditions that allow termites to thrive: a warm temperature, moisture or a good water supply, and timber or wood for food,” Scott says. “Termites are smart creatures. So we also need to bring smart science to fight them.”
BASF, the leading global chemical company, recently launched a new product designed to effectively eliminate termites. Ceptiva Powder is the latest breakthrough in termite colony elimination. It contains 0.5 percent Fipronil, a broad spectrum insecticide that disrupts the insect’s central nervous system. It is a slow acting poison so that when mixed with bait, the poisoned termite has enough time to return to its colony where the dust poison is transferred from one termite to another through the termites’ normal practices of mouth-to-mouth feeding and social grooming. This eventually leads to the elimination of the whole colony.
“The powdered termiticide has been observed to eliminate all species of subterranean termites. It has been proven to thoroughly destroy termite colonies in just three to four weeks after the application of only five grams of the powder,” says Elmer Baradas, president of Upgreen Corp., the company-appointed local distributor of Ceptiva Powder.
User-friendly and ecologically safe, Ceptiva Powder does not require the preparation of baiting and feeding stations. Once detected, termite activities in the house can be stopped by Ceptiva Powder. For exteriors, it is recommended that Ceptiva Powder be used in tandem with BASF’s Stedfast to form a barrier against future termite infestations. Stedfast, with 25-percent alpha-cypermethrin, is a liquid termiticide that is applied around the perimeter of the house.
“There is no need to apply the Ceptiva Powder all over the house but only in the infested sites,” Scott explains. Pest control operators that use Ceptiva Powder have well-trained personnel who are skilled in locating infested sites and applying the powder. Due to its very low yet effective dosage, it has minimal impact on the environment. It is of low toxicity to humans and animals.
“Termite control is not a one-time activity,” says Claro Arriola Jr., BASF Philippines senior business manager. “There is a system of protection, inside and outside the house. We offer a technology package that includes termite control and elimination, barrier protection, as well as a residual program. You get rid of the termite activity and also get protection.”