When large numbers of termites are present, they can be readily treated with a dust toxicant with minimal disturbance. It is a technique for eradicating a termite colony when their activity has been detected. It is not a technique for preventing attack. Further Reading Contacts Background Arsenic dusting of termites has long been used in Australia as an integral part of the management of subterranean termites. Being fine, the dust adheres to the moist bodies of termites.
Termites ingest the arsenic during their grooming activities.
The end result is the death of the queen and the entire colony. Only a relatively small amount of arsenic trioxide dust is needed to eradicate an entire colony. However, the method is not always successful. When large numbers of termites are present, they can be readily treated with a dust toxicant with minimal disturbance. The technique is an indirect method of termite management used when the nest cannot be located and subsequently eradicated by direct methods of control.