Mortality of Subterranean Termites Tunneling in Sand Treated with Single or Dual-Combination Insecticides

Laboratory bioassays were used to evaluate mortality and tunneling distances of the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes Kollar, in sand treated with single or dual-mixture insecticide dilutions. Termites tunneled into all treatments, with mean cumulative tunneling distances of the five shortest ranging from 3.0 to 12.2 mm. Relatively little cumulative tunneling (≤5.1 mm) occurred in the two most effective treatments. Five of 11 treatments killed 100% of termites in <14days post-exposure. Chlorantrniliprole plus thiamethoxam combinations and thiamethoxam alone were the most effective treatments.