Curious about Orange Oil for termite & Insect control? | Clark Pest Control
Jun 24, 2009, 13:05 PM by User Not Found
If you're contemplating an orange oil treatment for your home, it is important to enlist a company that offers traditional treatments (including fumigation) as well as Orange Oil treatments; it is the only way you can be certain you'll get an unbiased opinion regarding your specific termite control needs. All termite infestations are different and treatment methods are by no means "One size fits all".
Like most products, Orange Oil has its benefits and limitations:
- Orange oil is effective for Drywood termites
- Orange Oil is not effective for Subterranean termite infestations
- Orange Oil will only kill termites where an infestation can be identified and spot-treated
- Orange oil treatments for Drywood termites are localized, spot applications of individual termite infestations and require drilling into the infested wood and injecting the product into the termite galleries
- Orange oil does not leave a long-lasting residual for future protection
- Orange Oil and other D-limonene based termite control products are not considered an alternative to fumigation
- Orange oil products contain the active ingredient d-limonene. D-limonene is extracted from the rinds of oranges, and it's the same chemical found in many household products.
- Orange Oil Termite treatments do not require moving out overnight during the treatment, removal of plants or boarding of pets or bagging of food
and medicine
- Large treatments with orange oil could cost more than fumigation
- Orange oil will not control undetected infestations
- Fumigation is the only way to completely control Drywood termites in an entire structure; 90-95% of a building's wood framing is covered by various building materials (drywall, plaster, insulation, roofing, etc), locating individual termite infestation for drilling and localized treatment is extremely difficult
- Termites spread by swarming (flying) and can land in secluded places in a structure to begin new infestations; if you can't get to an area for a thorough inspection, you won't know if you require spot treatments those areas.
Most importantly, you should hire a trained and licensed inspector to honestly evaluate your specific property. The type of termite(s) and their location(s) will determine what type of treatment(s) will be most effective for your home.
Helpful links:
//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_oil
//www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7440.html
Using orange oil for termites can be a better solution for pest control than other toxic solutions, such as tent fumigation.
What is Orange Oil?
Even though orange oil smells strongly of citrus, it is not a fruit juice but is instead an extract from orange peels, a substance that is insoluble in water. It is used for pest control as well as general cleaning and you can buy orange oil and readily formulated orange oil pesticides at home improvement stores.
Although orange peel shavings can be used to flavor foods and a small dose of the oil from the orange peel is said to convey health benefits, large amounts of the oil can cause vomiting and nausea in humans. Such negative effects are even greater when the orange oil is used against insect pests. Orange oil can be deadly to many insects, including cockroaches, ants, dust mites, flies, wasps, spiders, crickets, and, perhaps most importantly, termites.
Orange Oil as a Termiticide
Orange oil as a natural product is increasingly marketed as a herbicide and insecticide, with particular effectiveness for killing dry wood termites. (Dry wood termites thrive on a building's hard, dry wood.) So, what is this wonder product and how does it kill termites?
The active ingredient of orange oil is d-limonene, a chemical known to be both a weed killer and an effective insecticide against a variety of pests, including flies, mosquitoes, ants, crickets, and mites. Scientists say that the oil dissolves the termite's exoskeleton, which destroys the insect's cell membranes and kills the bug due to massive losses of water and protein.
Fun Fact
During the 1930s, California researchers began injecting arsenic into active infestations of dry wood termites, selecting it because termites not killed by the initial application usually succumbed to toxic residues. Arsenic was a very effective pesticide. But the toxic residue of a powerful poison also poses a notable danger to other animals, including humans, so alternative methods of combatting termites have long been sought.
How to Apply Orange Oil for Termites
Once a dry wood termite colony has been found, the mode of treatment is to drill holes into the infested wood and inject the orange oil into the hollow spaces where the termites are feeding. The treatment works best if the insect galleries are identified and treated. Studies show that some residual effects continue in varying degrees from three days to three weeks after direct injection.
The majority of termites are killed by direct contact, and since orange oil deters the termites from feeding, some of them will then starve. After the treatment, the home or business owner should periodically check for signs of a new infestation. Trained termite-sniffing dogs have been very effective in sniffing out new or previously undetected termite colonies. Orange oil treatment is typically not preventative but must be applied each time a new infestation is discovered.
Tip
You don't need to mix orange oil for termites. However, to make the application easier, use a multiuse 1-gallon sprayer to inject the solution of 2 ounces of orange oil and 1 gallon of water into the holes. Always wear protective gloves when handling orange oil.
Pros and Cons of Orange Oil Termite Treatment
Though orange oil is appealing for use in battling insects, it's not a do-all, end-all panacea against termites. Along with its benefits, it has several drawbacks.
Pros
- It's less toxic than arsenic and modern chemicals such as fipronil, imidacloprid, and hexaflumuron.
- Orange oil can kill insects on direct contact and cause others to starve to death.
- Orange oil is a no-tent treatment. It does not require
that humans, pets, or plants vacate the premises for treatment.
Cons
- Orange oil is not completely safe since it can cause stomach upset if ingested and irritation to the skin.
- Some sources debate orange oil's efficacy against termites. For example, the Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California states, "There are many localized [drywood termite] treatment methods available that include both chemical and nonchemical options....Botanical-based products (e.g., orange oil and neem oil) have been tried, but recent lab and field tests from two universities question the efficacy of at least d-limonene."
- While orange oil does seem to kill termites on contact, its residual effectiveness is minimal so it may not permanently get rid of termites. Repeated applications are the norm when using orange oil.
- Termite galleries must be located and drilled into so the oil can be injected. Commercial fumigation, on the other hand, can kill termites throughout the house. The boreholes used to inject the oil can also leave a substantial amount of patching to be done.
Orange Oil vs. Fumigation
Using orange oil may be better than using a fumigation treatment for your household for a few reasons. A fumigation treatment requires extensive and costly preparation to rid your home of termites. That's because your home will need to be tented for the fumigating treatment to work.
Fumigation also requires that humans, pets, or plants leave the premises for treatment, and all food will usually need to be removed, too. It's much less expensive to buy orange oil for a DIY treatment or ask a pest control company to use orange oil than it is to have fumigation, though the tented treatment will be far more effective.
The Bottom Line
As a minimally toxic pesticide, orange oil is worth trying as a solution against dry wood termites. But expect a somewhat lower level of effectiveness when compared to other commercial pesticides and pest control services, and be prepared for repeated applications as new infestations occur.