Protecting Against Termites for Over 300 Years

Borates have been used for the last 300 years to protect against termites and other wood destroying insects.  The Borate treatment eliminates the wood as a food source for pests and also diffuses deep into wood fibers to stop wood decaying fungi.  Borates are toxic to both insects and fungus species. One mode of action is that borates disrupts the enzyme system of the insect and destroys the microflora (bacteria and protozoa) in the stomach of the insect, thus disallowing food digestion. Borates also affect the enzyme system of fungi and the active ingredient is a contact toxicant to fungus.