Time-Release Termite Control Coatings for Concrete Foundations

Formosan termites are cellulose eating subterranean insects that build colonies in the soil and cause billions of dollars of damage every year. They invade buildings from beneath by cracks in the foundation or by constructing mud tubes over concrete foundation walls to reach wood. Anti-termite treatment under and around building foundations with persistent pesticides was effective and long-lived. Many environmentally safe substitutes are being tried, but most seem to be shorter-lived, less effective, and/or more expensive. Borates are effective inexpensive natural termiticides that are relatively non-toxic. Their major defect is that they are soluble in water and therefore are not persistent in the environment. The purpose of this project is to make time release paints that can be used to release termiticidal amounts of borates over a long period of time. If successful, our proposed approach could eliminate soil treatment with toxic persistent chemicals.