Indianapolis, IN - January 09, 2006

The release of a new quarterly monitoring label for Recruit^™ IV termite bait on Jan. 1, 2006, is supported by extensive research conducted by Dow AgroSciences LLC and university cooperators. The research, involving the elimination of 95 colonies with the Sentricon^® Termite Colony Elimination System, shows that 70 percent of the colonies were eliminated within the first quarterly baiting cycle. The overall mean time to colony elimination was less than 85 days.

Recruit IV termite bait, with the active ingredient noviflumuron, is the third-generation termite bait for the Sentricon System, offering faster colony elimination with a novel shape and texture that termites prefer over other cellulose food sources.¹ 

“Recruit IV offers more than 0.3 grams of noviflumuron per Baitube device,” says Michelle Smith, R&D communications leader for Dow AgroSciences. “The 0.5 percent concentration of a superior active ingredient, noviflumuron, on more than 60 grams of a highly palatable bait matrix, allows for successful colony elimination using a quarterly monitoring interval.”

Field studies were conducted throughout the country from May 2004 to August 2005, in which researchers characterized colonies by using mark-recapture techniques or through DNA analysis. Once a colony had been clearly delineated, Recruit IV termite bait was placed into infested Sentricon stations and auxiliary Sentricon stations. Sentricon stations with no termite activity were left unbaited. Recruit IV termite bait was replenished on a quarterly basis in keeping with label instructions.

The study also showed that auxiliary Sentricon stations can be important to overall bait consumption by a termite colony. With Recruit IV termite bait, Authorized Operators have the ability to immediately install and bait auxiliary Sentricon^® stations in areas where termite activity is suspected. This is an important treatment option, allowing Authorized Operators to make Recruit^™ IV termite bait available to a colony on day one.

“On most study sites, an auxiliary Sentricon station was installed and baited at the same time the infested station was baited,” Smith adds. “Nearly 40 percent of the bait consumed by these colonies was taken from auxiliary Sentricon stations.”

Dow AgroSciences LLC, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, is a top tier agricultural company providing innovative crop protection, seeds, and biotechnology solutions to serve the world’s growing population. A wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, global sales for Dow AgroSciences are $3.4 billion.

¹In laboratory tests, Recruit IV was preferred 6 to 1 over the cellulose matrix used in Recruit II and Recruit III termite baits.

Always read and follow label directions.

For Editorial Information:

Lisa Frymark
Bader Rutter & Associates
262-938-5467