Researchers Use Pine Scent to Dramatically Improve Termite Control

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 07:24:00 +0200

Scientists at the University of California, Riverside, have developed a highly effective approach to controlling western drywood termites by leveraging their natural instincts. Using a compound called pinene, a natural pine scent that termites associate with food, researchers were able to guide the insects directly to wood treated with insecticide. This method significantly improves the mortality rate, raising it from about 70% with insecticide alone to over 95% when combined with pinene. The technique offers a more targeted, cost-effective alternative to traditional fumigation, which involves sealing a home and filling it with toxic gas. Fumigation can be expensive, environmentally concerning due to its greenhouse gas effects, and does not prevent future infestations. Localized injections of insecticide are safer and use fewer chemicals, but their effectiveness depends on reaching hidden termite galleries. Pinene overcomes this limitation by attracting termites from a distance, simpli