Method for enhancing the effectiveness of termite control agents

Abstract

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a method for enhancing the efficacy of a known termiticide and an efficacy enhancer therefor. As a means for solving the problem, provided is a method for enhancing the efficacy of a termiticide, said method being characterized by comprising using the termiticide together with an efficacy enhancer that comprises, as an active ingredient, one or more members selected from the group consisting of a compound having a phenol skeleton and a compound having an imidazole skeleton.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for enhancing the efficacy of a termite control agent and an efficacy enhancer for the termite control agent. More specifically, the present invention is characterized in that an efficacy enhancer containing one or more active ingredients selected from the group consisting of compounds having a phenol skeleton and compounds having an imidazole skeleton is used in combination with a termite control agent to synergistically improve the termite control activity of the termite control agent. [Background technology]

[0002] Termites are said to be the most destructive structural pests that damage wooden materials in buildings such as houses, cultural heritage buildings, etc. Termites eat away at nearby wood and other cellulose-containing materials, but since these damages are usually hidden inside the wooden materials or in the soil, they often go undetected until the damage becomes severe. One of the termite extermination methods that has been put into practical use is to spray or apply a preparation containing an insecticidal ingredient such as a neonicotinoid compound or a pyrethroid compound to areas damaged by termites or areas where termites invade houses (e.g., Patent Documents 1 and 2, etc.). It has also been reported that the combined use of two types of chemicals with different mechanisms of action, such as a neonicotinoid compound and a pyrethroid compound, can produce effects that cannot be obtained by using either agent alone (e.g., Patent Document 3, etc.). It is known that when pyrethroid compounds are used as soil treatment anti-termite agents, they act as so-called repellents, preventing termites from boring into the soil, by a contact repellent effect rather than a lethal effect. Among these, bifenthrin has been widely used as a soil treatment anti-termite agent because it is highly practical at low dosages and highly safe for the applicator due to its volatilization.

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP2007-031334A [Patent Document 2] JP2010-265263A [Patent Document 3] Special Publication No. 2006-515374 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a method for enhancing the efficacy of known termite control agents such as neonicotinoid compounds and pyrethroid compounds, and an efficacy enhancer thereof. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] As a result of extensive research into solving the above-mentioned problems, the present inventors have discovered that by using a compound selected from the group consisting of compounds having a phenol skeleton and compounds having an imidazole skeleton in combination with a termite control agent, the termite control activity of the termite control agent can be synergistically improved, thereby solving the above-mentioned problems.

[0006] Specifically, the present invention relates to the following items. 1. A method for enhancing the efficacy of a termite control agent, comprising using in combination with the termite control agent an efficacy enhancer having as an active ingredient one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of compounds having a phenol skeleton and compounds having an imidazole skeleton. 2. The method for enhancing the efficacy of a termite control agent according to claim 1, wherein the compound having a phenol skeleton or the compound having an imidazole skeleton has an octanol-water partition coefficient (logP value) of 2 or more and 4 or less. 3. An efficacy enhancer for termite control agents, which comprises, as an active ingredient, one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of compounds having a phenol skeleton and compounds having an imidazole skeleton. Effect of the Invention

[0007] The method for enhancing the efficacy of a termite control agent and the efficacy enhancer of a termite control agent of the present invention can synergistically improve the efficacy of a known termite control agent, and therefore the present invention exhibits an exceptionally excellent termite control effect. This makes it possible to obtain an exceptionally excellent termite extermination effect without increasing the amount of termite extermination agent used, and therefore the composition has the advantage of being excellent not only in terms of safety for humans and animals such as pets, but also in terms of safety for the environment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] The method for enhancing the efficacy of a termite control agent and the efficacy enhancer for a termite control agent of the present invention will be described in detail below. The active ingredient of the efficacy enhancer in the present invention is one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of compounds having a phenol skeleton and compounds having an imidazole skeleton. In the present invention, the compound having a phenol skeleton means a compound having the following chemical structure.

[0009] [ka] (In the formula, R1 represents a substituent, n is an integer of 0 to 5, and when n is 2 or more, R1 may be the same or different.)

[0010] The compound having a phenol skeleton in the present invention is preferably a compound having an octanol-water partition coefficient (logP value) of 2 or more and 4 or less. This octanol-water partition coefficient (logP value) is a value obtained by taking the common logarithm of the partition coefficient between 1-octanol / water, and is an index showing the hydrophobicity of an organic compound, and refers to a value calculated by the f-value method (hydrophobic fragment constant method). In the present invention, the logP value in the CLOGP Reference Manual Daylight Software 4.34, Albert Leo, David Weininger, Version 1, March 1994, or the logP value in CambridgeSoft's Chem Draw Ultra ver. 7.0.1 was used. Specific examples include thymol (logP: 3.4), carvacrol (logP: 3.4), eugenol (logP: 2.4), isoeugenol (logP: 2.6), m-chloroxylenol (logP: 3.1), 2,4-dichlorophenol (logP: 3.0), and 3-methyl-4-isopropylphenol (logP: 3.4). In the present invention, the compound having a phenol skeleton is preferably an alkyl group-substituted phenol, and among these, a dialkyl-substituted phenol in which two alkyl groups are substituted is more preferable.

[0011] In the present invention, the compound having an imidazole skeleton means an imidazole compound or a benzimidazole compound having the following two chemical structures:

[0012] [ka] (In the formula, R2 represents a substituent.) [ka] (In the formula, R3 represents a substituent, R4 and R5 represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, m represents an integer of 0 to 4, and when m is 2 or more, R5 may be the same or different.)

[0013] The compound having an imidazole skeleton in the present invention is preferably a compound having an octanol-water partition coefficient (logP value) of 2 or more and 4 or less. Specific examples include the above-mentioned imidazole compounds such as enilconazole (logP: 3.8), miconazole (logP: 3.8), befurazoate (logP: 3.0), and the above-mentioned benzimidazole compounds such as benomyl (logP: 2.1), thiabendazole (logP: 2.5), mebendazole (logP: 2.8), flubendazole (logP: 2.9), albendazole (logP: 3.1). In the present invention, the compound having an imidazole skeleton is preferably a compound having a molecular weight in the range of 200 or more and 300 or less.

[0014] The termite control agent in the present invention may be any known compound used as a termite control agent without any restrictions.Specific examples of the termite control agent include pyrethroid compounds such as bifenthrin, pyrethrin, allethrin, resmethrin, furamethrin, prallethrin, telallethrin, phthalthrin, fenothrin, permethrin, cyphenothrin, cypermethrin, transfluthrin, metofluthrin, profluthrin, imiprothrin, empenthrin, etofenprox, and silafluofen; carbamate compounds such as propoxur and carbaryl; fenitrothion, DDVP, and the like. Organophosphorus compounds such as metoxadiazon; oxadiazole compounds such as metoxadiazon; phenylpyrazole compounds such as fipronil; nitroguanidine compounds such as amidoflumet; neonicotinoid compounds such as imidacloprid and dinotefuran; insect juvenile hormone-like compounds such as methoprene and hydroprene; anti-juvenile hormone-like compounds such as precocene; various termite control agents such as phytoncides, peppermint oil, orange oil, cinnamon oil, clove oil, and other insecticidal essential oils. Among them, the termite control agent is preferably a compound selected from the group consisting of pyrethroid compounds, carbamate compounds, phenylpyrazole compounds, and neonicotinoid compounds, from the viewpoint of enhancing termite control activity. Note that one or more compounds may be used in combination as the termite control agent. Furthermore, synergists such as sinepirin and piperonyl butoxide may be used in combination.

[0015] The termites targeted by the method for enhancing the efficacy of a termite control agent and the efficacy enhancer of a termite control agent of the present invention refer to isoptera insects belonging to, for example, the families of Paratermitidae, Termitidae, Raphitermitidae, Scrophularitermateidae, and Termitidae. Specific examples include Yamato Termite, Formosan Termite, Formosan Drywood Termite, Formosan Termite, Taiwan Termite, Korean Termite, Satsuma Termite, Nakajima Termite, Katan Termite, Komatsu Termite, Kushimoto Termite, Formosan Termite, Formosan Formosan Termite, Amami Termite, Ophiotermes, Formosan Termite, Takasago Termite, Nitobe Termite, and Muscovy Termite, as well as Eastern Subterranean Termite, Western Subterranean Termite, Dark Southern Subterranean Termite, Aridland Subterranean Termite, Desert Subterranean Termite, and Nevada Dampwood Termite.

[0016] The efficacy enhancer of the present invention, or when the efficacy enhancer is used in combination with a termite extermination agent, may be formulated for use. Examples of the formulation type include oils, emulsions, wettable powders, flowables (suspensions in water, emulsions in water, etc.), microcapsules, powders, granules, tablets, gels, liquids, sprays, aerosols, etc. Among them, spray formulations such as sprays and aerosols, and dispersing agents such as powders and granules, as well as dispersing agents in which liquids are filled in a container with a watering can head, are suitable formulation types in the present invention because they can maximize the termite extermination effect. Examples of liquid carriers that can be used in formulation include alcohols (methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, butanol, hexanol, benzyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, etc.), ethers (diethyl ether, ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, etc.), esters (ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, isopropyl myristate, ethyl lactate, etc.), ketones (acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, cyclohexanone, etc.), aromatic or aliphatic hydrocarbons (xylene, toluene, alkylnaphthalene, phenoxyethanol, phenylpropanediol, etc.), and the like. Examples of suitable solvents include benzene, kerosene, diesel, hexane, cyclohexane, etc.), halogenated hydrocarbons (chlorobenzene, dichloromethane, dichloroethane, trichloroethane, etc.), nitriles (acetonitrile, isobutyronitrile, etc.), sulfoxides (dimethyl sulfoxide, etc.), heterocyclic solvents (sulfolane, γ-butyrolactone, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-octyl-2-pyrrolidone, 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone), acid amides (N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, etc.), alkylidene carbonates (propylene carbonate, etc.), vegetable oils (soybean oil, cottonseed oil, etc.), vegetable essential oils (orange oil, hyssop oil, lemon oil, etc.), and water. Examples of suitable water include tap water, ion-exchanged water, distilled water, filtered water, sterilized water, and groundwater.

[0017] In the present invention, the liquid carrier used for formulation into an aerosol agent is preferably a saturated hydrocarbon. Examples of saturated hydrocarbons include paraffinic hydrocarbons and naphthenic hydrocarbons, and among them, paraffinic hydrocarbons consisting of normal paraffin and isoparaffin are preferred. Typical normal paraffins are those mainly having 12 to 14 carbon atoms, such as Neothiosol manufactured by Chuo Kasei Co., Ltd., and normal paraffin N-12, normal paraffin N-13, normal paraffin N-14, and normal paraffin MA manufactured by JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation, and examples of isoparaffins include IP Clean LX and IP Solvent manufactured by Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. Furthermore, it is preferred to use one or more of the following liquid carriers in combination: fatty acid ester solvents, glycol ether solvents, heterocyclic solvents, ester solvents, and alcohol solvents. A wide variety of known propellants can be used for the aerosol, including liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), dimethyl ether, alternative fluorocarbons (HFO, HFC, etc.), carbon dioxide, and nitrogen gas. Of these, LPG and dimethyl ether are preferably used. When this aerosol is used, the amount of propellant is 30 to 95% by volume, particularly 50 to 90% by volume, and the concentrate (total amount of surfactant, liquid carrier, etc.) is 70 to 5% by volume, particularly 50 to 10% by volume.

[0018] The surfactant that can be used in the formulation includes nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, and amphoteric surfactants.The nonionic surfactants include, for example, polyoxyalkylene allyl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene allyl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene styryl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether formaldehyde condensate, polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block polymer, polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block polymer alkyl phenyl ether, sorbitan fatty acid ester (sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan laurate, etc.), polyoxyethylene fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil, polyethylene glycol fatty acid ester, polyethylene glycol fatty acid ether, etc. Examples of the anionic surfactant include sodium, calcium, or ammonium salts of alkyl sulfate, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate, polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether sulfate, polyoxyethylene benzyl (or styryl) phenyl ether sulfate, or polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block polymer sulfate; sodium, calcium, ammonium, or alkanolamine salts of alkyl sulfonate, dialkyl sulfosuccinate, alkylbenzene sulfonate (e.g., calcium dodecylbenzene sulfonate), mono- or di-alkylnaphthalene sulfonate, naphthalene sulfonate formaldehyde condensate, lignin sulfonate, polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether sulfonate, or polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfosuccinate; and sodium or calcium salts of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether phosphate, polyoxyethylene, mono- or di-alkyl phenyl ether phosphate, polyoxyethylene benzyl (or styryl) phenyl ether phosphate, or polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block polymer phosphate.Examples of cationic surfactants include quaternary ammonium salts, alkylamine salts, alkylpyridinium salts, alkyl oxides, etc. Examples of amphoteric surfactants include alkylbetaines, amine oxides, etc.

[0019] Examples of solid carriers that can be used in formulation include clays (kaolin, diatomaceous earth, bentonite, clay, acid clay, etc.), synthetic hydrous silicon oxide, talc, ceramics, other inorganic minerals (sericite, quartz, sulfur, activated carbon, calcium carbonate, hydrated silica, etc.), porous bodies, etc. The particle size of the solid carrier is preferably in the range of 0.01 μm to 15 mm, and more preferably in the range of 0.1 μm to 10 mm.

[0020] In the present invention, when the composition is formulated, antifreeze agents, antifoaming agents, preservatives, antioxidants, thickeners, etc. may be added as necessary. Examples of antifreeze agents include ethanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, ethyl cellosolve, butyl carbitol, and 3-methyl-methoxybutanol. Examples of the defoaming agent include silicone-based defoaming agents and fluorine-based defoaming agents. Examples of preservatives include organic nitrogen-sulfur complexes, organic bromine compounds, isothiazoline compounds, benzyl alcohol mono(poly)hemiformal, 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one, 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, potassium sorbate, and sodium dehydroacetate. Antioxidants include tetrakis[methylene-3-(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate]methane (Tominox TT, API Corporation), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), propyl gallate, and vitamin E, mixed tocopherols, alpha-tocopherol, ethoxyquin, and ascorbic acid.

[0021] The content of the efficacy enhancer in the present invention may be appropriately selected according to the efficacy enhancing effect of the termite control agent, and for example, it is preferable that the termite control agent composition contains one or more active ingredients selected from the group consisting of compounds having a phenol skeleton and compounds having an imidazole skeleton at 0.001 to 50 w / v%, preferably 0.005 to 10 w / v%, and more preferably 0.01 to 5 w / v%. In particular, if the content of the efficacy enhancer is 0.01 w / v%, it is preferable because the efficacy enhancing effect of the termite control agent by the efficacy enhancer can be reliably obtained. On the other hand, the termite control agent is preferably contained in the termite control composition in an amount of 0.001 to 10 w / v%, preferably 0.01 to 5 w / v%. When the content of the termite control agent is within the above range, the termite control activity can be sufficiently exhibited, and the safety to humans and animals such as pets is also high. The efficacy enhancer in the present invention is preferably contained in the termite control agent at a weight ratio of 100:1 to 1:100 (termite control agent: efficacy enhancer), preferably 50:1 to 1:50, and more preferably 10:1 to 1:10. By containing one or more active ingredients selected from the group consisting of compounds having a phenol skeleton and compounds having an imidazole skeleton, which are efficacy enhancers, in the above range, the efficacy of the termite control agent against termites can be synergistically improved, and the time until death can be shortened, thereby achieving an excellent extermination effect.

[0022] In the present invention, when a termite control composition using a termite control agent and an efficacy enhancer is used, in order to suppress absorption into the soil and exert a sufficient pest control effect when treating a nest hole in soil or its surroundings, a viscous liquid may be used. The viscosity of the liquid is not limited, but for example, a viscosity of about 2 to 1000 mPa·S is preferable, and a viscosity of about 2 to 500 mPa·S is more preferable. When adjusting the viscosity, for example, one or more thickeners such as glycerin, zanflo, xanthan gum, pectin, gum arabic, guar gum, agar, cellulose and its derivatives, starch and its derivatives, carboxyl alkalized products, polyacrylates, polymaleates, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and carboxyvinyl polymers may be used.

[0023] In the present invention, it has been confirmed through experiments described below that by using a termite control agent in combination with an efficacy enhancer having one or more active ingredients selected from the group consisting of compounds having a phenol skeleton and compounds having an imidazole skeleton, a synergistic effect can be obtained that far exceeds the termite control activity expected when the termite control agent and efficacy enhancer are simply used alone, compared to the termite control activity of each agent alone. Although the details of the mechanism of action by which the combined use of the present invention shows synergistic termite extermination activity are unclear, it is assumed that the combined use of a termite extermination agent having a high octanol-water partition coefficient (logP value) and the efficacy enhancer of the present invention improves the introduction of the termite extermination agent into the body of termites, and a synergistic effect at the action site level is expressed, resulting in such a remarkable effect. Therefore, this synergistic effect is an effect that is specifically obtained by using an efficacy enhancer containing one or more active ingredients selected from the group consisting of compounds having a phenol skeleton and compounds having an imidazole skeleton, and is particularly remarkable. EXAMPLES

[0024] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to formulation examples and test examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples. In the examples, unless otherwise specified, all parts are by weight.

[0025] <Confirmation test 1 for the effectiveness of termite control agents> (1) Preparation of test samples The tests were conducted using bifenthrin as the termite control agent and IPMP (3-methyl-4-isopropylphenol, logP: 3.4) and enilconazole (logP: 3.8) as the active ingredients of the efficacy enhancer during the humid summer (late July 2018) when termites are active. Example 1 A test sample (ethanol solution of bifenthrin and IPMP) was prepared by mixing 0.5 parts by weight of bifenthrin, 0.1 parts by weight of IPMP, and ethanol to a total amount of 100 parts by weight, and stirring the components with a magnetic stirrer until the composition was uniform. In Examples 2 and 3 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3, test specimens were obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 using the compositions shown in Table 1 below.

[0026] (2) Test method Ten pieces of red pine sapwood (20 mm x 3 mm x 50 mm planar cut) were immersed in each test specimen (Examples 1 to 3, Comparative Examples 1 to 3) for 3 minutes in a glass beaker (200 mL), and then dried indoors for 1 day to be used as wood specimens. A wood sample and test insects (Reticulum termites, 10 worker ants) were placed in the center of a petri dish (diameter 90 mm), and the time (min) required for all of the ants to be knocked down was measured. The observation time was up to 9 hours (540 minutes), and the test was carried out three times. The average values ​​are shown in Table 1. "No KD" in Table 1 indicates that none of the test insects were knocked down. In this test, "knockdown" refers to a state in which the termites are suppressed (unable to get up) or startled, and are unable to walk or take other actions.

[0027] [Table 1]

[0028] The results in Table 1 confirm that when the efficacy enhancers of the present invention, IPMP and enilconazole, are used in combination with the termite control agent bifenthrin (Examples 1 to 3), termite control effects are achieved much more quickly than when the termite control agent is used alone (Comparative Example 1) or when the efficacy enhancer is used alone (Comparative Examples 2 and 3). In detail, in Example 1, in which bifenthrin was used in combination with IPMP, the efficacy enhancer of the present invention, all termites were knocked down in 93 minutes, whereas in Comparative Example 1, in which bifenthrin was used alone, it took 280 minutes, i.e., about three times as long, and further, in Comparative Example 2, in which IPMP was used alone, not a single termite was knocked down within the test time (540 minutes) despite the use of 15 times the amount of IPMP compared to Example 1, demonstrating an extremely excellent efficacy enhancer effect on termite control. Furthermore, the termites that were confirmed to have been knocked down did not rise again, and death was confirmed.

[0029] <Confirmation test 2 for the effectiveness of termite control agents> The termite control agent was bifenthrin, and the active ingredients of the efficacy enhancers were IPMP (3-methyl-4-isopropylphenol, logP: 3.4), carvacrol (5-isopropyl-2-methylphenol, logP: 3.4), and thiabendazole (2-(1,3-thiazol-4-yl)-1H-benzimidazole, logP: 2.5). The tests were conducted in winter (early January 2019) with low humidity when termite activity is reduced. Example 4 A test sample (ethanol solution of bifenthrin and carvacrol) was prepared by mixing 0.5 parts by weight of bifenthrin, 0.1 parts by weight of carvacrol, and ethanol to a total amount of 100 parts by weight, and stirring the components with a magnetic stirrer until the composition was uniform. In Example 5 and Comparative Examples 4 and 5, the test specimens were obtained in the same manner as in Example 5, with the compositions shown in Table 2 below. The test specimens in Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 were the same as those in the above "Confirmation Test 1 for the Efficacy Enhancement Effect of a Termite Control Agent." The test was carried out three times in the same manner as in the above "Test 1 for confirming the efficacy enhancement effect of termite control agents," and the average test results are shown in Table 2. "No knockdown" in Table 2 indicates that none of the test insects were knocked down, as in Table 1.

[0030] [Table 2]

[0031] The results in Table 2 confirm that the efficacy enhancers of the present invention, IPMP, carvacrol, and thiabendazole, when used in combination with the termite killer bifenthrin (Examples 1, 4, and 5), provide a much faster termite knockdown effect than the termite killer alone (Comparative Example 1) or the efficacy enhancer alone (Comparative Examples 2, 4, and 5). Specifically, it was revealed that Examples 1, 4, and 5, which are examples of the combined use of bifenthrin and the efficacy enhancer of the present invention, knock down termites about 1.6 to 2.1 times faster than Comparative Example 1, which uses bifenthrin alone. In particular, in Comparative Examples 2 and 5, which use the efficacy enhancer alone, not a single termite was knocked down within the test time (540 minutes), and in Comparative Example 4, an average of 1.7 termites were knocked down within the test time (540 minutes). This confirmed that the efficacy enhancer of the present invention can significantly improve the extermination efficacy when used in combination with a termite extermination agent. It was confirmed that the termites that were confirmed to have been knocked down were dead, as they did not rise again. The test shown in Table 1 was conducted in the summer when termites are actively feeding, whereas the test shown in Table 2 was conducted in the winter when termites are less active feeding, so the total knockdown time shown in Table 2 tended to be longer than the results shown in Table 1. However, it is believed that the total knockdown time in summer for Examples 4 and 5 can be roughly estimated from the test results of Example 1 in Tables 1 and 2. [Industrial Applicability]

[0032] The method for enhancing the efficacy of termite control agents and the efficacy enhancer of termite control agents of the present invention can synergistically improve the termite control activity of known termite control agents, thereby providing exceptionally excellent termite control effects and being useful. This synergistic effect provides an exceptionally excellent termite extermination effect without increasing the amount of termite extermination agent used, offering the advantage of excellent safety not only for humans and animals such as pets, but also for the environment.

Claims

1. Bifenthrin, an efficacy enhancer containing one or more active ingredients selected from the group consisting of IPMP (3-methyl-4-isopropylphenol), carvacrol, enilconazole, and thiabendazole; A method for enhancing the termite extermination effect of bifenthrin, which comprises using the same in combination.

2. A termite control potentiator for bifenthrin, comprising one or more active ingredients selected from the group consisting of IPMP (3-methyl-4-isopropylphenol), carvacrol, enilconazole and thiabendazole.

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