Hoffman’s Exterminating highlights new study offers insight into how termite behavior may influence treatment effectiveness.
Hoffman’s Exterminating, a leader in pest management solutions across the Mid-Atlantic, is drawing attention to a recent scientific study that could have significant implications for how pest control professionals approach termite treatments.
Termites are among the most destructive pests affecting American homes, with damages costing an estimated $6.8 billion annually in the U.S. alone. As pest management professionals, understanding how termites respond to chemical treatments is critical in staying ahead of these silent invaders.
A new study published in Insects by researchers Shi, Merchant, and Zhou explores how Eastern Subterranean Termites (Reticulitermes flavipes) respond to various termiticides—not just through mortality rates, but by analyzing how the survivors handle the remains of their fallen nest mates.
The study tested a range of soil-applied and bait-delivered termiticides, including:
- Repellent: Bifenthrin
- Non-repellents: Fipronil, Imidacloprid, Chlorantraniliprole, and Chlorfenapyr
- Baits: Hexaflumuron and Sulfluramid
Researchers observed that certain active ingredients influenced termite “undertaking” behavior—how worker termites manage corpses within the colony. This behavior is critical because the act of cannibalizing or relocating deceased termites can spread termiticides further through the colony, enhancing control efforts.
Notably, bifenthrin and fipronil triggered a spike in early death cues, such as 3-octanol and 3-octanone, shortly after death. These chemicals are known to alert colony members to act. However, termites responded differently depending on the product:
- Bifenthrin, a known repellent, caused termites to seal off tunnels and abandon the area—a type of termite “funeral” without further engagement.
- Fipronil, while non-repellent, caused a delay in corpse retrieval, potentially due to its immobilizing effect, which may lead to behavioral resistance.
Despite these variations, most termite workers still performed their corpse-management duties, except in cases involving high concentrations of repellents. Interestingly, the late-stage death cues—phenol, indole, and oleic acid—were consistent across all termiticides, suggesting certain universal chemical signals remain unaffected.
“This kind of research gives us deeper insight into termite biology and helps us make more strategic decisions when it comes to product selection and application methods,” said William T. Hoffman, owner of Hoffman’s Exterminating. “It’s about understanding not just what kills termites, but how they behave afterward. That’s the next frontier in pest control.”
As termites continue to pose a serious threat to property owners, Hoffman’s Exterminating remains committed to implementing science-backed strategies to ensure effective, environmentally responsible control measures.
Hoffman’s Exterminating is your local South Jersey leader in pest control. For more information on termite control or to schedule an inspection, contact the Hoffman’s team today.
Reference: Shi, J., Merchant, A., & Zhou, X. (2025). The Impact of Termiticides on Termite Corpse Management. Insects, 16(2), 208. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16020208
