BUENA VISTA COMPANY aims to be at the forefront of environmentally safer and the most effective termite solutions. Years of experience, communication with the entomology departments of UC Berkeley and UC Riverside, customer feedback and record tracking help us to provide our customers with the most reliable treatments and the lowest impact on the environment.

Termidor-SC has been used in California for both subterranean and drywood termites over 15 years, in the US, Canada and Europe for over 20 years and has a proven record as a reliable low-risk termiticide. Termidor is not systemic and does not affect plant life around your home.  The active ingredient “Fipronil” is found in Frontline and Fiproguard pet products for flea control. Termidor is a non-repellent termiticide (no odor, fumes, color or taste) approved for both subterranean and drywood termites and has a transfer effect between termites through grooming and feeding (trophallaxis).

Altriset is a newer generation of termiticide using anthranilic diamides (from the Ryania genius tree) with the lowest toxicity level of all termiticides. Altriset’s active ingredient “Chlorantaniliprole” is reported as having no effect on mammals (humans, pets, cattle, etc.) and not systemic with plants. Altriset is approved for subterranean termite treatments only and is a non-repellent termiticide (no odor, fumes, color or taste) and has a transfer effect between termites through grooming and feeding (trophallaxis). Unfortunatelly our record tracking shows more recalls for retreatment with Altriset and its effectivneess against subterrenean termites has proven to be inferior to Termidor.

TimBor & BoraCare are a borate based insecticides/fungicides (disodium octaborate tetrahydrate) used in the US for over 20 years. Borate, borax and boric salts have been used as a food preservative, insecticide and fungicide for centuries. Boron is a natural earth deposit dating over 20 million ago. Over 50% of the world’s borate is produced in the mines of Boron California. Though lacking the transfer effect of Termidor and Altriset, TimBor and BoraCare are effective against drywood termites and wood-boring Beeltes as well as fungi/dry-rot infestation to wood members. They are not used against subterranean termite soil treatments, as they are also herbicides that can affect nearby plant life.

Optigard-ZTis approved only for drywood termite and is an older generation of non-repellents used since the 90s. The active ingredient is using thiamethoxam, a neonicotinoid and its effectiveness against drywood termite has prooven inferior to Termidor-SC, TimBor and XT-2000. This product is systemic and should not be used around vegetable gardens and crops.

XT-2000 is approved only for drywood termites and is an odorous repellent (d-limonene) extracted from the rind of citrus fruit. Commonly called orange oil, d-limonene is very acidic and should be applied cautionly as it may cause skin, eye and respiratory reactions. The product does not have a transfer effect between termites, is a repellent that can be detected by termites that will avoid it. Orange oil is not lasting once dry several days after application. Its effectiveness against drywood termites has proven to be inferior to Termidor-SC and TimBor. Some pest control companies will advocate orange oil as a marketing tool but always use it in conjunction with another product like Termidor or Timbor/BoraCare to lessen calls for retreatments against drywood termites.

Premise-75 is approved for both subterranean and drywood termite and is an older generation of non-repellents used since the 90s. The active ingredient is using imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid and its effectiveness against drywood termite has prooven inferior to all other tested products (see table below). This product is systemic and should not be used around vegetable gardens and crops. Most pest control companies will prefer using another more reliable product against subterranean and drywood termites.

Natural Oils: Other oil extracts from pine, juniper, clove, peppercorn and mint are all terpenes type oils similar to orange oil and have been tried against various insects including drywood termites with less than satisfactory results. Natural oil extracts are acidic and should be used cautiously with the proper protective equipment as they may cause eye, skin and respiratory problems. Natural oil extracts cannot be used as a soil treatment against subterranean termites as they can affect nearby soil and water tables with rains and landscape irrigation.

Freezing, Heating, Microwaving: Temperature and electronic treatments against drywood termites have been attempted several times in the past and all have many limitations and less than satifactory results. Freezing cannot be used where plumbing pipes and other sensitive materials are present. Heating cannot be used where plastics and vinyl material are present nearby or within walls(vinyl windows, ABS, PVC, electrical/electronic cables) and Microwaving cannot be used where metal is present (nails, ties, anchors, electrical cables, etc.). Additionally the cost of freezing and heating a structure makes these alternatives too expensive against other conventional treatments and these are seldom used unless in a highly controlled environment for crops and wood based products in containers and kilns.

Most Effective Termite Treatments: Termidor, Altriset, TimBor/BoraCare, Optiguard & Premise are non-repellents termiticides that do not have anysmell, taste or vapors, while X-2000 and other oil based terpenes have a smell, taste and emanate vapors that termites can detect and avoid. Only Termidor and Altriset have a transfer effect where contaminated termites pass the termiticide onto others through grooming & trophylaxis (mouth-to-mouth feeding). XT-2000 and other oil extracts are repellent-contact insecticide that does not have a transfer effect and do not remain effective once dry. Termidor is the most effective at eradicating an entire colony within a few days or weeks. Termidor is the only product effective against both subterranen and drywood termites that remains effective for years and provide a long lasting protection against termite infestations without any smell, vapors and short or long-term impact on the landscape and grounds surrounding your home.

*Termite Statistic – Other percentage statistics from Dr. Vernard Lewis, UC Berkeley & Dr. Michael Rust, UC Riverside 2009

Subterranean termites travel underground through cracks, voids and decaying tree roots. Studies show they branch out in multiple areas often infesting structures through multiple entry points at the perimeter of the structure, through slabs and in subareas. They feed on the wood and return the food to the underground nest. Because Termidor and Altriset have no smell, taste or color, termites do not detect or avoid it and are attracted to the moist treatment.

Drywood termites feed and live in the wood without any ground contact. They too are attracted to the moist treatment when it is injected into the wood and do not avoid Termidor which has no taste, smell or fumes unlike other oil based inseticides like XT 2000 orange oil and other plant based terpenes.

Conclusion: Termidor-SC is faster acting and longer lasting than other termiticides like TimBor/BorCare, Altriset,  Optigard-ZT, XT-2000 and Premise-75. Termidor-SC remains a low impact termiticide most effective against both subterranean and drywood termites.