(499827 - U)
77A, Jalan Othman (3/14), 46000 Petaling Jaya,
Malaysia.
Telephone No : 603-78746657, 603-78737508, 603-77817020 Fax No : 603-77817020
Domain : panenvironment.com E-mail : [email protected]
Calls after office hours : TF Foo (LICENCED PESTICIDE APPLICATOR NO PA0311) Hand phone No : 012-6570647
Active Member No. 0232 of PCAM
LICENCED PEST CONTROL OPERATER NO PCO/SEL/293/162 PESTICIDE ACT 1974 (MALAYSIA)
(LESEN PENGENDALI KAWALAN MAKLUK PEROSAK NO PCO/SEL/293/162)
1)When are termites most common?
ANSWER:
Once a colony is established, termites are a year-round problem. However,
there is an increase in colony expansion activity during warm weather
such as that of Malaysia.
2) How many types of termites are there? Which type of termite is most active in Malaysia?
ANSWER:
There are three main types of termites. They are the dry wood termites, mount building termites and the subterranean termites (white ants). The Dry Wood termites are not very common in Malaysia. They are normally found in dry wood and therefore may live above the ground level. The mount making termites are mainly found in the forest. They live in mounts and are quite easy to detect. The most commonly found and feared specie is the subterranean termite. They live in nest below the ground. Therefore, it is not easy to detect their nest.
3) Can you provide some information on subterranean termites ?
ANSWER:
Subterranean termites lives in colonies beneath the ground. Their favorite food is rotten wood which is soft and easy for them to chew. Therefore the most common areas that are attacked by them are the door frame of the toilet and the window frame of the kitchen. They eat almost anything to do with wood such door frames, parquets, wooden skirting, wood beams, tree trunks, newspapers and etc. They have even been known in some instances to eat plastic as in wires causing short circuit to the building.
Subterranean termites are quite shy by nature and therefore does not come out openly. They are mostly hidden behind or inside the wood or concrete. When they need to move across an uncovered terrain, they will construct mud tunnels to enable them to move around unnoticed. Like ants, they foray outside their colony in search for food to bring back to feed the queen and colony. Termites like ants and bees share a common structure in hierarchy. They have a Queen whose job is to mate and lay eggs. Then there are the kings that mates with queen. Beside that there are some spare queens which will assume the role of the queen when the current queen is dead or missing. Next are the soldiers guarding the colony against their enemies. The rest are workers that search for food and build nests. Those termites that are normally seen in the house are the workers termites. Among them are a few soldiers on guard to protect the workers against attack by their enemy.
4) There are lots of wood dusts around my kitchen door frame, is it a sure sign of termite infestation?
ANSWER:
If the door frames are not hollow, and there are tiny holes around, there is a possibility that Wood Borers are the culprits. Wood Borers made holes in the wood but are not as destructive as termites. To be sure, call us for a free inspection.
5)There are lots of sands dropping from holes in the wall. Is this sign of termites infestation?
ANSWER:
Termites have mud trails / tunnels for them to move from one place to another. They do not carry sand around like the ants. In fact the sign of sands is a telltale sign of ants. Ants are not as destructive as termites. They live on plants, existing holes in concrete walls and built their nest in the ground. They do not chew on woods.
6 ) What are the methods of pest control available for subterranean termites?
ANSWER:
There are currently three methods available. Others are a combinations of these methods.
7 ) If treatment is done correctly, how long will the insecticide barrier be effective?
ANSWER:
Before chlordane was taken off the market as a termiticide in October
1988, it was the most widely used product for termite control because
of its long-term effectiveness. In fact, a house could be protected for
20 years or more using chlordane or like products. Chlordane was taken
off the market because of misuse. The termiticides used today for termite
control are much less persistent to the environment. With the products
today, you should expect a properly applied termite treatment to protect
your home for five years.
According to Pest Control Association of Malaysia, the recommended warranty period are as follows:
However, individual companies in Malaysia will provide warranty from 1-5 years.
8 ) My next-door neighbor has termites and is going to have his house treated. Are the termites going to attack my house next?
ANSWER:
Termites move randomly through the soil searching for a source of food (wood). So, they don't know where your house is exactly. If your next-door neighbor treats his home for termites, your house isn't automatically the termites' next meal. Your house does not need to be treated; but, if there are active termite infestations in your neighborhood, it is a good idea to have it inspected. If you can afford, doing a corrective slab injection with warranty of up to 5 years is a cost effective option to consider. Prevention is always better than cure. Imagine the cost of damages if left untreated. Your door frames, parquet flooring, expensive furniture, ceilings, wood beams, speakers, expensive clothing and etc will definitely cost more than the treatment. In some extreme cases, the termites can cause a short circuit by eating the plastic covering the live wires.
9 ) What is "Pre-Construction Anti -Termites Treatment"? How is this different from "Post Construction Anti-Termites Treatment" or Corrective Slab Injection Treatment?
ANSWER:
Pre Construction Treatment or Soil Treatment means treating the soil
under the structure before concreting. This will only be possible for
new houses under construction. Post Treatment and Pre Treatment would
be the same the method of treatment, amount and kind of pesticide used,
and methods of application are the same, unless drilling would be
needed as in a ready built house.
10) How do I know I am getting the right company to treat my house/premise?
ANSWER:
a) Do Not use a one man pest control operator. One person doing a slab treatment is almost next to being impossible. The same apply to company without the proper equipment or manpower.
b) Do not go for the cheapest price. I was told by a client that a certain company is charging RM500.00 for a corrective slab treatment. I am wondering what kind of chemical is being used. Reasonably good chemical such as Landtrek (20 liter), Premises (1 liter), Cyren and others cost from RM500.00 to RM800.00. What about the workmanship, the drill bit, the warranty and etc.??? Even if you get 10 years warranty, they might disappeared out of sight. The warranty from an established company is far more valuable than that of a newly established company. Never treat them as the same!!! You might have to pay the price of having to retreat the whole premises again using a more established company. The chances for an established company (with more than 5 years) to close down is much lesser than a newly established company even if it is bigger and look solid. Due to their inexperience in managing the company, many new companies and/or pest control operators close down within the first few years.
c) Do not assume all the chemical are the same. Some of my clients on seeing the white colour liquid would assume the chemical used is the same. I used Landtrek for my treatment and is more expensive than the average chemical for termites. For instance, Landguard, Cyren 2 and etc have higher level of active ingredient chlorpyrifos of 38.7% in comparison with Termiban, Pestban, Logic and etc. which have chlorpyrifos level of between 19% to 21.2%. Therefore, the prices of Landguard will definitely be higher than Logic by about RM100.00-RM150.00. The price difference between a better known brand such as Landtrek and Cyren 2/Landguard is about RM100 to RM150.00 even though they have the similar level of chlorpyrifos at 38.7%. Always compare an apple with an apple.
d) Understand what you are paying for and why. For instance a more established company will quote more than the average. A double storey house normally cost around RM3,000.00 to treat. Inside this cost are i) managerial perks ii) staff costs iii) better chemical cost iv) double sided drilling v) brand goodwill. Most big company charge by the number of holes drilled and therefore have to drill as many holes as possible. We just quote by lump sum and therefore does not require unnecessary drilling. For the same reason, a branded computer will definitely cost more than one assembled in the computer shop in Mid-Valley. Smaller company like Pan Environment Technology Sdn Bhd does not have to burden their customers with unnecessary costs. We assure you our price is competitive and reasonable. We provide you with quality services and reasonable prices.
11 ) What is the best termite chemical available now for termite treatment?
ANSWER:
There is not much difference between the effectiveness of the various
termite chemicals on the market, when they are used as directed on the
label. However, it would be wise to notice the active ingredient of the
termiticide used. For the active ingredient Chlorpyrifos, the percentage
for a reasonably suitable termiticide is around 38.7%. Those chemicals
with around 20% Chlorpyrifos is about half the normal strength and
therefore half as effective. Chlorpyrifos belongs to the
Organophosphorus family of nerve poison and is more poisonous to
vertebrates than other classes of poison. It inhibit or tie up
certain vital enzymes of the nervous system such as chlolinesterse (ChE).
This will result in the accumulation of acetylcholine (ACh) neuron
and muscle junctions causing rapid twitching of voluntary muscles
and finally paralysis. Chlorpyrifos can kill the termite within
seconds on contact and can be a good barrier to prevent the entry of
termites since it is smelly and poisonous.
The more expensive chemicals such as Premise 200SC are normally more environmentally friendly and belong to a lower class poison. The active ingredient is Imidaclorprid at 18.3% and the balance solvent. Imidaclorprid is from the Nicotinoids family of tobacco based poison. It is a systemic chemical that can kill the termite on contact within minutes. Even on minimal contact, the termite could lose its ability to do grooming. As the soil is normally damp, fungi will attach to the termites. Losing the ability to groom will caused the fungi to eat into the termites and kill them.One liter of Premise 200SC can be used to treat an area of 80 to 160 meter square. The cheaper alternative such as Landguard/Cyren will require 10 liters for the same area. Therefore, Premise 200 SC cost about twice that of the cheaper chemicals. We would recommend the higher dosage which should easily provide protection of up to 5 years. Many company are actually using the lower dosage to charge cheaper prices.
However, you must be aware of some small company especially a one man show offering cheap treatment. The chemical used by them might not be suitable for termites. Refer to 10c.
The most common reason that a chemical / barrier treatment fails is when the application results in an incomplete insecticide barrier around the structure.
This is due to the following reasons :
A) The termiticide is diluted with too much water.
B) The termiticide is not injected deep enough (all the way to the footings of the basement).
C) The volume of termiticide was insufficient.
D) Treatment procedures are not carefully followed to ensure proper coverage.
E) The chemical used is not suitable (i.e. a) using chemical with active ingredient of around 20% Chlorpyrifos b) using chemicals not for termites c) chemical is diluted with diesel, kerosene, petrol and etc.)
F) The technicians does not have sufficient or proper equipments to perform the task. Instead of using a power sprayer, the one man show will only have a normal sprayer. When there is clay, the normal spraying will not be able to penetrate the layer of clay.
G) The technicians does not have sufficient or proper experience and knowledge to perform the task.
Please note that as from 2008, we have ceased to use Chlorpyrifos for soil treatment and slab injection treatment. We are currently using imidaclorprid based chemical for termite treatment. Chlorpyrifos will only be used for residue spraying of homes or offices that feel safer with the smell of the chemical.
Termites Treatments - Soil Treatment Vs Baiting System
Baiting System
Woods are placed in a container inserted into holes. The holes would be monitored regularly to detect any termite infestation. Should termites be detected, the wood would be replaced by treated baits. When the termites (workers) attack the baits and feed the colony with them, the whole colony might be eliminated. However, the absence of termites hit does not denote the absence of the termites.
Advantages of Baiting System
1) No drilling is required and therefore no messy and noisy environment.
2) Frequent monitoring and services to ensure result.
3) No smelly chemicals used. Only baits treated with odorless chemical.
Disadvantages of Baiting System
1) Some termite species are known to avoid these 'foods' preferring their familiar food sources of rotting tree roots or trunks. I have personally heard the managers of pest management companies (using baiting system) asking both foreign and local professors at Pest Management Seminars why it was not effective.
2) Areas treated by baiting system might not be termite free. One specie of termite might be exterminated but another might be immune to it. They might totally ignore the new food source and therefore occupied the area. The soil is not treated and therefore will not affect the termite. Similarly the wooden structures are not treated and are susceptible to termite attacks.
3) The monitoring stations set up randomly might not provide adequate coverage and control of the termite.
4) The termite will have to first eat the wood placed in the monitoring station and then the treated baits. If the termite for any reason decide not to eat the wood or the baits, it will not be effective.
5) Costly solution more so on the long term. The cost of a baiting treatment is dependent on the number of monitoring stations as the cost is standard for all operators. You have to pay for royalty and trade mark. Each year, you will also have to pay 20% of the initial cost. For instance if the initial treatment is RM10,000, you will have to pay RM2,000 for the following year.
6) There is no warranty provided. As long as a management agreement is signed every year, normal monitoring procedures will be followed.
Theoretically, the best system is to do soil treatment before a building has been build. So far I have not heard anyone using baiting system before building a house. Obviously, the next best would be to do corrective slab treatment as it is trying to correct the soil by treating it after the building is already in place.
Corrective slab injection soil treatment
This involved drilling into the slab of building at a depth of 18 inches and at an interval of 18 inches around the walls of the building. Chemical mixtures of not less than 5 liters are pumped into the soil via a power sprayer. By using Premise 200SC or equivalent with the active ingredient imidacloprid, a treated zone is created called Lateral Soil Movement. Termites cannot detect the treated zone as the chemical is non-repelling, odorless and colorless. Termites entering the treated zone will become disoriented losing the ability to groom and stop feeding slowly leading to their demise. There is no need for the termite to eat any bait as on contact with a small dosage of the chemical will cause them to be disorientated leading to their total elimination. Soil underneath the building should be treated to allow a continuous treated zone.
Advantages of using soil treatment for termite treatment (with imidaclorprid)
1) The soil is treated regardless whether there is termite or not. A treated zone exists and would kill any termite coming into contact with the soil treated by Premise 200 SC or equivalent.
2) The treatment is relatively cheaper especially in the long run. You only need to pay once. There is no annual management fee, no royalty payable and no hidden cost whatsoever.
3) The Pest Control Association of Malaysia recommends 1 year warranty for treatment of completely build up houses. We are so confident of our ability and the chemical that we offer you 3 years warranty.
4) Treatment is not done randomly but we systematically treat all soil beneath the building. We even treat all possible target areas such as wooden door frame and etc. Therefore it is the most comprehensive plan available.
5) Some houses treated by slab injection treatment have actually being termite free for up to 20 years or more. There is no need for frequent treatment as compare to the baiting system.
6) There is no need for baits. The termites just need to enter the treated zone.
Disadvantages of doing soil treatment
1) It is time consuming and labor intensive.
2) Drilling can be noisy and messy. Hundred of holes are drilled.
3) Lots of chemicals are pumped into the ground.
Conclusion
From the above, I am sure regardless how you look at it, the soil treatment is the only system capable of eradicating termites systematically and is most cost effective. If you choose a baiting system, you will have to continue with it for many years to come. Even if it work but when you decide not to continue with it on the 4th year you would have paid 160% of the initial sum. If termites surface again the next year, since the soil has never being treated, you are at square one again. You cannot tell the company to do free treatment for you since the management agreement has expired.
The termites might or might not eat the baits. Therefore there is always a degree of uncertainty. The only reason why it is popular especially with the bigger Pest Management companies is because it is a lucrative source of income. You can collect an initial sum and yearly management contract for subsequent year equivalent to 20% of the initial sum. This is fixed income for them in the coming years.
Ours is a proven labor intensive and tedious method using only the proven chemical. We do not even need the termite to eat any bait to be affected by the chemical. As long as the termites enter the treated zone, the job is done.
Looking at it from another angle, no company offering baiting and monitoring system has ever offer warranty for their work. If it is so effective, surely they will have no problem offering a 3 years warranty like us. After the initial treatment we can be reasonably sure that most of the treated area would be free of termites. Together with our comprehensive monitoring and elimination system we can safely assured you that your place would be free of termites far longer than any other system.
Therefore why use a system that might not work when you can have a more cost effective and proven comprehensive termite elimination system.
IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBT, CALL US AT 03-78746657 / 03-78737508
Calls after office hours : TF Foo Hand phone No : 012-6570647
FUNG SHUI for Wealth and Prosperity
Calls after office hours : TF Foo (LICENCED
PESTICIDE APPLICATOR NO PA0311) Hand phone No : 012-6570647
e-mail address : [email protected]
Corrective Slab Treatment - Specifications
Soil Treatment - Specifications
Specific Pests Control Treatments
