By Rasheeda Hamidu
Researchers at University of California, Riverside have developed a chemical treatment that killed drywood termites in laboratory tests without harmful effects on humans, according to a study published Friday in the Journal of Economic Entomology.
The study focused on bistrifluron, a chemical tested on western drywood termite colonies by researchers from the university’s Department of Entomology.
Corresponding author of the study, Nicholas Poulos, said the treatment works by preventing termites from forming new exoskeletons during molting.
“This chemical is more environmentally friendly than ones traditionally used for drywood termite infestations,” Poulos stated in a university release. “It’s specific to insects and can’t harm humans.”
Senior author of the study, Dong-Hwan Choe, explained that termites exposed to the treatment eventually die because they cannot develop protective outer shells required for survival.
According to the researchers, termites transferred the chemical through feeding interactions within colonies, allowing the treatment to spread beyond directly exposed insects.
The researchers reported that laboratory trials recorded up to 99 per cent termite mortality within 60 days, while transfer experiments achieved complete colony mortality after 90 days.
Choe noted that the slower treatment process may provide a less toxic alternative to conventional fumigation methods that often require tenting entire buildings.
The researchers also warned that climate change and global wood transportation could contribute to the spread of drywood termites into new regions, increasing demand for safer and more sustainable pest-control methods.
The findings highlight growing research interest in environmentally safer pest management systems aimed at reducing chemical risks to humans and ecosystems.
