Termiticide
A termiticide is the chemical active behind a termite barrier. The repellent vs non-repellent split and the three actives a builder meets on residential work.
Ask Chalkline about this →A termiticide is a chemical active that kills or repels termites, used in chemical termite-management systems under AS 3660. It is the chemistry that does the work in a chemical soil treatment or a treated-sheet barrier; without the termiticide the barrier is just a physical separator.
The repellent vs non-repellent split
The defining distinction for any termiticide is how it interacts with foraging termites:
- Repellent termiticides create a treated zone termites detect and avoid. Effectiveness depends on the barrier being continuous and unbroken; termites probe for a gap to bypass the zone. Fast contact kill at the line. Class: synthetic pyrethroids.
- Non-repellent termiticides are invisible to the termite, so foragers tunnel through the treated zone, pick up a sub-lethal dose, and carry it back to the colony via the transfer effect. Slower colony-level kill rather than line-of-defence. Class: phenylpyrazoles.
Neither is universally better; the pest technician chooses based on the site, the management plan, and the system.
The three actives a builder meets
Three termiticide actives cover almost every Australian residential job:
| Active | Class | Mode | Common product |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bifenthrin | Synthetic pyrethroid | Repellent | Biflex, HomeGuard |
| Fipronil | Phenylpyrazole | Non-repellent | Termidor |
| Deltamethrin | Synthetic pyrethroid | Repellent | Kordon (treated sheet) |
Each has its own termite barrier deployment (soil treatment, treated sheet) and its own label-life and approval profile. The deeper detail sits in each active’s material article.
Compliance points
- APVMA registration: every termiticide product sold in Australia is registered with the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority.
- Licensed application only: termite chemicals are applied by a licensed pest-management technician, not by the builder.
- AS 3660: chemical soil treatments and treated-sheet products are referenced under AS 3660.1 (new building work) with assessment under AS 3660.3.
Also known as: termite chemical, termite-control active.
Category: Termite management
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See also
Last updated: 2026-05-29. Verified: 2026-05-29. Quarterly review for currency.