Timbor Professional Insecticide

General Insects and Tim-bor Insecticide

General insects such as cockroaches, ants, crickets, etc. will ingest Timbor through their normal preening habits after contacting deposits. The accumulation of the boron into their systems acts to poison the insect. When used as a dust or as a crack and crevice solution, Timbor is not repellent to general pests. Since Timbor is slow-acting, termites that have fed on treated wood can accumulate the active ingredient and still move among other individuals in the colony. The transfer of food from workers to nymphs, soldiers and reproductives, will also transfer the ingested Tim-bor. Affected individuals also exhibit behavioral changes, becoming sluggish, stop feeding and become moribund. Others in the colony will avoid these individuals as well as areas where these individuals have died. The Tim-bor treated wood is not the first choice for feeding; therefore foraging termites avoid Tim-bor treated wood. In addition, the Timbor powder used as a dust in wall voids and injected into galleries is toxic to termites.

Tim-bor and Powderpost Beetle Larvae

Tim-bor treated wood also deters wood destroying Beetle larvae. Eggs deposited on the surface of treated wood by beetles will have a reduced hatch rate. Larvae that may hatch from eggs will soon die after attempting to eat into Tim-bor treated wood. In infested wood, the larvae will die from ingesting Tim-bor treated wood as they tunnel toward the surface of the wood to pupate. Depending on the life cycle of the beetle, type of beetle, and seasonality of treatment, adult beetles may emerge but will not re infest the wood.

Tim-bor and Carpenter Ants

Carpenter Ants do not consume wood, but they can cause substantial and rapid damage by excavating cavities in wood for nesting. Tim-bor treated wood is very unpalatable and is not excavated by carpenter ants. Treated wood with Tim-bor alone may not prevent or eliminate a carpenter ant infestation since the ants can penetrate construction features and avoid chewing treated wood. However, Tim-bor powder used as a dust in nesting sites, in wood and in wall voids and around conduit and plumbing will control these pests. The Tim-bor powder adheres to the carpenter ant's body and is ingested as the insect attempts to clean the powder off.

Tim-bor Remedial & Preventative Treatments

Basement or crawl space

Spray Tim-bor solution on all bare wood accessible in the flooring and subfloor. This application will control an infestation even when certain parts of a gallery are not directly sprayed. In addition, steps must be taken to correct moisture problems (leaks, etc.) that may have led to and sustained the infestation.

Attics

Spray Tim-bor solutions to all accessible wood: rafters, trusses, top-plates, ceiling joists, plywood, particle board, OSB etc. Accessible areas with known infestations should be drilled and injected depending on the type of infestation. This has been a particularly effective technique in spot treating for control of drywood termites.

Exterior Wood

Tim-bor can be applied to bare siding, trim or logs. Applications can be made by spray or pressure injection techniques. Painted or sealed wood can be treated by pressure injection with this solution, or the sealing coat can be removed prior to application. Following treatment, the exterior wood should be sealed to protect Tim-bor from diffusing out. Wood should be completely dry (at least 48 hours) before a sealing coat (paint, varnish or waterproofing seal) can be applied. When properly applied, Tim-bor will not interfere with application of a deck treatment.

 Wood Decks

Tim-bor can be used to treat wood decks. Prepare the deck by removing any dirt, debris or sealant that will interfere with the application and absorption of Tim-bor. After the deck has dried (dry to the touch, no standing puddles), 2 applications of 10% or 1 application of 15% Tim-bor can then be applied to the wood. Protect any surrounding plants and ornamentals from accidental contact with the solution. Following treatment, the deck should be sealed with a water-repellent preservative product to protect the Tim-bor from diffusing out. Wood should be allowed to dry before a sealing coat can be applied.

Mixing instructions

• Always estimate the amount of Tim-bor solution needed. Approximately 1 gallon of mixed solution will be needed to treat 200 square feet of wood surface area. Tim-bor can be applied as a 10% solution or 15% solution.
• Using a slightly oversized container/bucket, fill with water to about 80% of the final required volume. To prepare a 10% Tim-bor solution, add 1 lb Tim-bor powder per gallon of water, then add the remainder of the water, agitating until the Timbor has dissolved. To prepare a 15% solution, add 1.5 lb per gallon of water.

Wood application procedures

• Spray TimBor: The Tim-bor solutions or foam should be applied evenly to wood using a medium to coarse spray at low pressures (20-30 psi). Application rate is 1 gallon per 200 square feet of wood surface area. Ensure that all accessible wood surfaces are thoroughly wetted. Wood will absorb Tim-bor solution at different rates. Surfaces that absorb solution rapidly can be re sprayed immediately.
• Foam: Prepare a 15% solution as listed above and add foaming agent. Typically 1-2 ounces of a foaming agentadded to the 15% solution will produce a dry foam with the desired expansion ratios of approximately 20 to 1 (Approx. 20 gallons of foam per 1 gallon of aqueous solution). Foam should be of a consistency that adheres to wood surfaces so that run-off is minimized. Since each foam machine can produce different foams, refer to the equipment manufacturer manuals and the foaming agent's label for specific instructions.

Pressure injection of Tim-bor

• Solution and foams can be injected into infested wood. Drill into the infested wood and inject until the liquid or foam runs out of openings, damaged areas, or kick-holes in the wood. This procedure is not an alternative to spraying, rather should be an addition to spraying when structural timbers are greater than 4 inches thick, and for selected wood destroying organisms.
• Tim-bor solution can also be injected into uninfested wood including wood adjacent to the infested areas. This procedure should also be used for painted or sealed wood. The sprayer or application equipment should be able to maintain 60-75 pounds of pressure. Only liquid solution will penetrate uninfested wood. Refer to the directions below for specifics on drilling and placement of drill holes.
• Injection holes (typically 7/64 or 1/8 inch in diameter) should be drilled in the area of suspected infestation. The holes should be drilled in a diamond pattern with the long axis along the grain, and the holes spaces every 12 to 16 inches. Holes should be spaced approximately 4 to 6 inches across the grain. (See Figure 1). When possible, the wood should be treated one diamond length pattern beyond the immediate area of visible infestation.
• Drill the holes through the widest dimension available. Drill approximately 3/4 the width of the beam. If the widest surface is not accessible, holes can be drilled in the narrower surface as in Figure 2. Drill holes approximately 8-10 inches apart.
• Press and hold the injection tip firmly into each hole and inject solution until runoff is observed from other holes, galleries, kick-holes, etc. When injecting solid wood, maintain the injection pressure for 15 to 60 seconds at each hole. Longer times give better penetration.
• Release the trigger, wait briefly and withdraw the injection tip. Excess solution can be absorbed with paper towels and collected for disposal (ordinary trash). Injection tips should be brass or other metal and fit snugly into the drilled hole to prevent dripping or spray back. Use a short injection tip (approximately 1 inch). This will allow the solution to flow into the drilled wood. If drilling overhead, be prepared for a solution to exit galleries; tarp or cover surfaces below.

Trouble Shooting / Hints

• Warm water will dissolve more readily.
• While 10% solutions are stable true solutions, the 15% solutions are super-saturated and may form precipitates, if allowed to stand or be stored overnight, or lose water via evaporation.
• You may use a hand paddle or mechanical mixer for mixing the Timbor solution.
• Over sided containers help prevent careless spills and minimize splashing during mixing.
• Always add the Timbor powder to water; adding water to dry powder is not recommended. This tends to form clumps of material that dissolve slowly.

Notes for Powderpost Beetles and Timbor Application

• Powderpost Beetles may have adults emerging from treated wood up to a year, due to their life cycles.
• If the wood is too dry (less than 15%), depth of penetration with the Timbor may only occur to the top 1/4 inch. To solve this, spray the wood first with water to increase moisture.