Toxicity of Abamectin against Reticulitermes speratus (Kolbe)

The toxic effect of 0.2% abamectin EC against Reticulitermes speratus was determined by filter paper method, toxic sand and toxic soil pillar in laboratory. The results indicated that active speed of 0.2% abamectin EC against Reticulitermes speratus was slower, the toxic effects increased gradually as the process of time within 96 h after treatment. The LC50 value at 96 h was below 20 mg/L whether contacting with toxic sands or feeding filter paper treated by 0.2% abamectin EC. When the concentration of abamectin in solution for soil treatment was beyond 2.5 mg/L, the tunneling behavior of Reticulitermes speratus in toxic soil could be prevented in this experiment. The possibility of 0.2% abamectin EC for termite control in practice thus deserves to be further studied in the near future.