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The mode of action for Tim-bor is that of a slow acting stomach poison to insects and a contact poison to decay fungi. As wood destroying insects or their
larvae feed on, tunnel in and/or digest wood, they accumulate the active ingredient into their systems. General insects such as cockroaches, ants, crickets, etc.
will ingest Tim-bor through their normal preening habits after contacting deposits. The accumulation of the boron into their systems acts to poison the insect.
Since Tim-bor 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 area where these individuals have died. The Tim-bor
treated wood is not the first choice for feeding, therefore Tim-bor treated wood is avoided by foraging termites. In addition, the Tim-bor powder used as a dust in wall
voids and injected into galleries is toxic to termites. 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.
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 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.
DECAY FUNGI can infect and rapidly destroy wood where there are moisture problems. Some fungi can actively transport moisture from
the ground or a leak to wood of a lower moisture content in efforts to expand the colonization of the wood. Tim-bor is highly toxic to decay fungi and will kill the
fungi present and/or protect against future infections.
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