Orange oil can kill pests on contact.
Orange oil extract for termites and other insect pest control contains some advantages over traditional insecticide treatments. However, orange oil's effectiveness is questionable and not recommended for very large termite infestations. Does this Spark an idea?
Active Ingredient
Orange oil contains the active ingredient d-limonene, which kills many types of insects, including termites, fleas, wasps and ants. This agent kills insects when they come in contact with it.
Treatment
Orange oil pest treatment products come in sprays, aerosols or shampoos, except for termites. Termite colonies must be located, often inside of trees or wooden structures. Holes are drilled into the wood and the orange oil pumped in.
Disadvantages
Orange oil evaporates more quickly than conventional insecticides and must be reapplied more often. For termites or carpenter ants, the queen must be killed or she will keep producing replacements for those killed. However, whether the queen can come into contact with d-limonene during application is doubtful.
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