Q&A With the Sentricon Field Scientists
Dr. Michelle Smith, Dr. Joe Demark, Dr. Joe Eager and Dr. Barb Nead-Nylander
Q: What is the proof that the Sentricon® System eliminates the termite colonies?
A: Colony elimination with the Sentricon System is documented in 30 independent university studies and 70 published scientific articles. Success also is shown by more than 15 years of real-life success on two million homes. A bibliography includes references for 58 of the top scientific articles concerning field and laboratory testing of Sentricon in relation to termite behavior and efficacy. These published articles provide extensive credibility to support the claims of Sentricon, and no one else in the industry has this kind of scientific support for a termite bait.
Published scientific articles undergo anonymous peer review, and the paper must be detailed enough so experiments can be repeated to ensure the conclusions are consistent. Dow AgroSciences employees have authored some of the articles in the bibliography, but many of the articles are written by university and independent researchers. Researchers have been submitting journal articles on aspects of Sentricon since the mid-1990s.
The bibliography can be shared with the homeowner as a reference. It also helps show that the Sentricon® System is proven in all regions of the country and against all major species of subterranean termites.
Q: When referring to the Sentricon System, what is the basis for calling it “environmentally responsible”?
A: Noviflumuron, the active ingredient in the Sentricon System, is contained inside Sentricon stations and can be removed if desired. Rather than saturating the soil with liquid chemical solution, Recruit® termite bait, used in Sentricon, is contained in the station and doesn’t leach or volatilize. The science behind Recruit termite bait exploits termite biology and behavior to spread the bait and destroy the entire termite colony.
The premier bait used in the Sentricon® System was the first product registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the strict requirements of the Reduced Risk Pesticide Initiative. This distinction was based on its low impact on human health, low toxicity to nontarget organisms (birds, fish and plants) and low potential for groundwater contamination when compared with other commercially available termite treatments.
The Sentricon System also is the only termite control product ever to have earned the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award. The award is one of the federal government’s top environmental honors and recognizes technical innovation that incorporates environmentally responsible chemistry into its design, manufacture and use.
Check out the green insert created for the Sentricon System to learn more.
Q: How do I respond to customers if they ask about the space between Sentricon stations?
A: The Sentricon System delivers the best termite protection, because it is proven to eliminate entire termite colonies as shown by 30 independent university studies and external research contractors, 70 published scientific articles and more than 15 years of real-life success. The Sentricon® stations are placed approximately every 10 feet, according to label directions.
Efficacy has been demonstrated across the United States and against all key termite species. Subterranean termites are continuously searching for new food sources; they feed randomly among all available food sites within their foraging area and may typically forage more than 100 feet from the colony. While foraging, they will encounter one, or more, Sentricon station.
Q: What are some notable sites where the Sentricon System has been installed?
A: Caretakers of many historic landmarks across the United States entrust the Sentricon System to preserve and protect these national treasures:
- The White House, Washington, D.C.
- U.S. Capitol Building, Washington, D.C.
- The Statue of Liberty, New York
- Ellis Island, New York
- Independence Hall, Philadelphia
- The Alamo, San Antonio, Texas
- Jackson Square, French Quarter, New Orleans
- The ‘Iolani Palace, Honolulu
Refer to the National Treasures Fact Sheet for more information on the history of Sentricon at these national landmarks.
