What is Disodium Octaborate Tetrahydrate?
Disodium Octaborate Tetrahydrate (or DOT) is a white, odorless, powdered substance containing the basic elements of boron and oxygen, and is most often used in pest control products that are designed to target wood destroying insects such as termites, carpenter ants, and powderpost beetles. Disodium Octaborate Tetrahydrate is not flammable and presents little or no hazard to humans.
How Does Disodium Octaborate Tetrahydrate Work to Control Pests?
Disodium Octaborate Tetrahydrate is one of a family of borate compounds (containing boron and oxygen), which are considered absolutely toxic to insects. Borate compounds like Disodium Octaborate Tetrahydrate utilize a stop-feed mode of action. Stop-feed means that the active ingredient DOT disrupts the enzyme and digestive systems of the insect, preventing future digestion and causing death by starvation. In treatment of wood decaying insects like termites or carpenter ants, DOT prevents these pests from being able to digest the wood that they depend on for survival.
What Sets Disodium Octaborate Tetrahydrate apart from Other Active Ingredients?
The big plus of using products (like BoraCare and Timbor) that contain DOT to control wood destroying pests is that once the active ingredient diffuses into the wood it will remain indefinitely. There are not any natural forces that are able to degrade or break it down.
Professional Products Containing Disodium Octaborate Tetrahydrate:
- BORACARE - Provides prevention and control of Termites, Carpenter Ants, Powderpost Beetles and Wood Decay Fungi.
- Timbor Insecticide and Fungicide - A wood preservative for the protection and treatment of lumber against fungal decay and wood destroying insects.
- Gourmet Ant Bait Gel - Gourmet Ant Bait is effective for virtually all ants.
Toxicity / DOT HAZMAT
While it is excellently effective against pests and fungus, Disodium Octaborate Tetrahydrate has a very low toxic level to humans and pets. To insure safety, always be sure to read all instructions on the pest control product label explicitly before use.
Related Articles and Product Pages:
Wood Boring Bugs, Wood Beetles