Bistrifluron Kills 95% of Western Drywood Termites by Blocking Chitin During Molting
Laboratory assays demonstrated high efficacy of bistrifluron against hidden drywood termite colonies through targeted disruption of exoskeleton formation. The approach offers greater selectivity than conventional fumigants because it affects only organisms that synthesize chitin. Further field trials are needed to confirm transfer efficiency inside naturally infested timber.
Drywood termites evade detection by living entirely inside structural wood, forcing pest managers to rely on slow-acting chemicals that spread through social grooming and food exchange. Bistrifluron exploits the insects' mandatory molts—roughly seven per lifetime—by preventing formation of a functional new exoskeleton, leading to death during the vulnerable shedding phase rather than immediate poisoning. The study compared three chitin synthesis inhibitors and showed bistrifluron acted fastest at 0.1 percent concentration, with activity and feeding declining well before the lethal molt failure.
Poulos: Within 18 months, at least two commercial bait products containing 0.1 percent bistrifluron will receive California registration for drywood termite use after field trials show >80 percent colony elimination.
Sources (2)
- [1]Primary Source(https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toaf012)
- [2]Supporting Source(https://www.ucr.edu/news/2025/termite-molt-study)