Finally! Aventis Launches Termidor

After months of anticipation, about 200 PCOs, researchers and distributors met in New Orleans in February to find out the details of a new termiticide from Aventis Environmental Science. And if Termidor lives up to the company’s initial promises, this product may change the way termite control is performed throughout the United States. The company offered research by some of the country’s top termite researchers, a detailed product rollout plan and most notably, the product’s five-year pledge against callbacks. And although not all PCOs who want to get in on the action at first will be able to do so, Aventis explained its plan to introduce the product to all PCOs in the industry.

THE PRODUCT. Discovered by Rhone-Poulenc scientists in Ongar, England, in 1987 (Rhone-Poulenc and AgrEvo Environmental Health merged in December 1999 to form Aventis), Termidor’s active ingredient, fipronil, is the first of an entirely new family of insecticides called phenyl-pyrazoles. Exhibiting a unique mode of action, fipronil distinguishes itself from all other classes of commercially available insecticides by offering high levels of insecticidal activity and excellent residual control at extremely low dose rates.

"Its unique mode of action sets it apart from organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids and other commercial insecticides available today," says Dr. Ken Kukorowski, senior technical development manager, Aventis. "Fipronil interferes with the passage of chloride ions through what is known as the GABA receptor, disrupting activity in the central nervous system and causing death. No other class of insecticides has this specific effect on insects."

Because fipronil works by both contact and ingestion, it is well suited for a wide array of structural pest control applications. In addition, fipronil is non- repellent and shows no cross-resistance with established classes of insecticides.

Since fipronil allows termites to continue at their normal routine even though they may have passed through the treatment, it remains vital long enough to transfer the insecticide to other termites in the colony before dying. The product is low dose too — typical Termidor application rates will contain 0.06 percent fipronil, Aventis says.

Termidor already has been used successfully in Europe for a number of years. "More than 20,000 homes have been treated in France and there have been no breaches," Kukorowski says. "We’re confident the product will perform just as well in the United States."

Researchers spoke with enthusiasm at the Aventis launch event about their experiences with the product. "Termite control is a process, not an event," said Brian Forschler of the Department of Entomology, University of Georgia. "The field data (on fipronil) makes us really excited. It’s a new mindset."

Dr. Gregg Henderson of Louisiana State University agreed. "This is liable to change the way the whole industry works with termite control."

THE ROLLOUT. Termidor was launched in February but was not available until March. This was part of a "controlled rollout," due to the unique characteristics of the product as well as the training requirements for its use, said Karl Kisner, product manager for Termidor. Aventis will offer training to the entire pest control marketplace during the third quarter of 2000, with product available to all trained PCOs effective Dec. 1, 2000. Aventis will have a full launch of Termidor at the National Pest Management Association convention in Las Vegas later this year.

From March 1 to November, Aventis representatives will train an identified group of PCOs across the country in the proper uses of Termidor. As these PCOs are trained, a special distribution plan will be in place. PCOs will order Termidor from Aventis distributors, the distributors will forward Termidor orders to Aventis’ customer service department and Aventis will ship Termidor directly to PCOs.

From December 1 forward, an industry-wide launch will make the product available to all qualified PCOs (PCOs who have been trained to use the product by Aventis). At that time, Termidor will be available through the traditional distributor channels and network. PCOs who were not involved in the original launch will have an opportunity to receive training as of September.

Two formulations of the product will be available: Termidor SC and Termidor 80 WG. The suspension concentrate has a "caution" label while the wettable granule has a "warning" label due to the 80 percent concentrate of fipronil. However, the Termidor 80 WG label has "caution" language PPE requirements because of the water soluble paks and the lower toxicity level of the fipronil spray solution. Termidor 80 WG will be available June 15.

THE PLEDGE. Aventis is so confident in Termidor’s ability that it is offering a five-year pledge that claims "No termites, no callbacks, no excuses."

"In the highly unlikely event that you get a callback within five years of Termidor being applied correctly and at the recommended rate, we will cover all materials and labor costs for retreatment," the company says. The five-year pledge applies to a treatment made as a "total barrier treatment" only and does not apply to spot treatments.

For PCOs to take advantage of the 5-year pledge, an annual inspection must be performed after the treatment is made. The pledge does not apply to a barrier that has been disrupted (i.e., a house has had an addition put on). "In the remote event of termites reappearing on a site that’s been correctly treated with Termidor, we’ll cover the costs and labor. It’s our exclusive five-year pledge to you: no hassles and no excuses," Aventis says.

The company requires that all treated structures be registered with the company using a 14-line form. The form will be available to fill out online this fall.

THE NEXT STEP. PCOs who attended the New Orleans launch event are currently undergoing training from Aventis and Termidor was available for order in early March. But for others, the opportunity to be trained to use the product is still five months away. In the meantime, the industry will have to wait and see just how well this new termiticide works.

• New mode of action

• Long residual

• Low dose

• No odor

• Non-repellent

• 5-year, no callbacks pledge

• Low use rate/low toxicity

• No volatility

• Highly effective via contact and ingestion

• Foam compatible