Fipronil under scrutiny after being found in water sources
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Special Shout Out
GregoryPestSolutions @GregoryPest Greenville, SC
Scott Ferree jr. Is a Tech at A-1Termite Pest Control in Lenoir, North Carolina
Tech Tip
Looking for a cool way to take pictures and videos of insects for your blog or training
Celestron usb microscope is a great low cost microscope that is easy to use.
USB-powered handheld digital microscope
Built-in 2MP digital camera for capturing images and videos
10x to 40x magnification (up to 150x on some monitors)
6 LED ring illuminator
Use the included Windows software to capture images and video of your discoveries.
Measure your specimens with built-in measurement tool.
http://www.celestron.com/browse-shop/microscopes/digital-microscopes/deluxe-handheld-digital-microscope
In the News
Assistant Researcher Thomas Chouvenc, Distinguished Professor Nan-Yao Su, and Professor Rudy Scheffrahn will publish their new study this summer.
50% South Florida structures could be at risk of subterranean termite infestation by 2040
For their study, the researchers estimated the geographic spread of the two subterranean termite species in South Florida by using records of specimens collected between 1985 and 2015 at the UF Termite Collection at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center.
For each year of the study period — 1990 to 2015 — the researchers estimated that any structure within a 500-meter radius from any recorded Asian subterranean or Formosan termite would be at risk of infestation.
http://pestgeek.wpengine.com/new-hybrid-termite-in-south-florida-an-interview-with-dr-nam-yao-su/
Fipronil is primarily used in
WDO Termidor termite treatments and GHP for exterior perimeter for ant control
Max force Roach Bait
Top Choice granular applications for fire ants and roach control and
For with limited application in Agriculture such as Rice seeds
Pet products like Frontline.
Environmental Fate of Fipronil in California
An estimated 119,000 lbs of fipronil was used in California in 2006, primarily for structural pest control (CDPR, 2006).
Use of Fipronil continues to rise in California Since its registration for use in the U.S. in 1996, there are currently 109 products registered in California that contain the active ingredient fipronil.
fipronil works by interfering with the γ-aminobutyric acid by targeting (GABA)-gated channels; fipronil disrupts normal nerve influx transmission of chloride ions causing excessive neural excitation, severe paralysis, and insect death.
Fipronil is not registered for production agricultural use in the state of California.
Why is Fipronil so problematic to the environment
The dissipation of fipronil to
fipronil-sulfide,
fipronil-desulfinyl
fipronil- sulfone
fipronil-amide
Some of the degragates like fipronil- sulfone are considered to be more toxic and persistent than the parent compound to freshwater invertebrates.
http://nature.berkeley.edu/classes/es196/projects/2006final/ma.pdf
In degradation reduction through oxidation, photolysis, hydrolysis, and biotic reaction mechanisms.
The biggest problem with fipronil is not the ground water but the surface water and in the drinking water.
http://cdpr.ca.gov/docs/emon/pubs/fatememo/fipronilrev.pdf
Revised March 5, 2007
Fipronil has a very high run off potential
Could a pin streem application of fipronil be mandadted just like pyrethrid restriction.
In 2008 study a perimeter and spot treatments with Fipronil using a pin-stream nozzle reduced ants by 80-82%.
Fipronil Slab wash of studies
Review of Fipronil Mitigation Strategies for the Protection of Surface Water http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/emon/pubs/ehapreps/analysis_memos/fipronil_mitigation_strat_updated.pdf
January 15, 2015
Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) conducted a study an found fipronil or its degradates in many urban runoff samples .
Samples from creeks around Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay areas found that 84% of the samples contained fipronil.
In the Sacramento area Fipronil was detected in 66-85% of samples.
21% of the samples had an above the reporting limit (50 ng/L).
DPR employed as a benchmark for acute toxicity (110 ng/L).
According to the EPA Fipronil is highly toxic to acuatic species in concentrations as low as 5 parts per trillion.
In 2007 – 2009 Fipronil was detected in 100% of sediment samples from the Ballona creek estuary the high was 9.8 ppbof fipronil solfone http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/rwqcb2/water_issues/programs/TMDLs/urbancrksdiazinon/fipronil%20summary.pdf
Fipronil showing up in waste water treatment plants
How you apply the chemical on your pest and wash your hands
You bath your treated pet in the tub
Groomers wash water down the drain
Compromised sewer lines leaking from trenching treatments.
http://www.tdcenvironmental.com/resources/BACWA_Fipronil_Wastewater_Memo_2014.pdf
