Bonide Termite & Carpenter Ant Killer Concentrate, 32 fl oz, Permethrin

Bonide Termite & Carpenter Ant Killer Concentrate is a 32 fl oz bottle of permethrin-based liquid concentrate, designed to be diluted with water and applied around the perimeter of existing residential structures. Headline use is post-construction subterranean termite trench treatment (one application can last up to 5 years if treated soil is left undisturbed) and carpenter ant / carpenter bee control. Permethrin is a broad-spectrum pyrethroid, so the same EPA label also covers a wider range of perimeter pests — flies, mosquitoes, wasps, and ticks per the manufacturer label.

Active Ingredient + Mode of Action

• Permethrin 13.30% w/w (CAS #52645-53-1) — a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide with both contact and ingestion activity
• Repellent + lethal action — treated soil and surface zones become a chemical barrier: insects that contact the band die; foragers that detect the barrier are repelled before entering
• Long-residual — permethrin binds to soil particles and surfaces and persists; the listed 5-year longevity assumes the soil isn't dug, mulched-over, or saturated by repeated irrigation. Surface treatments on perimeter spray applications generally hold 30-90 days
• Other ingredients: 86.70% (carrier + petroleum distillate)
• EPA Reg. No. 4-349-9086; EPA Est. No. 4-NY-1

What It Controls

The EPA label covers a broad set of crawling and flying pests — this is genuinely a multi-purpose perimeter insecticide, not just a termite product:

• Subterranean termites (the dominant Eastern-U.S. species; Reticulitermes flavipes and related) — the headline use; trench treatment around foundations for the long-residual barrier
• Carpenter ants (Camponotus spp.) — perimeter band plus direct application to nesting wood and foraging trails
• Carpenter bees — direct treatment of bore holes in wood (deck framing, railings, fascia, eaves) where carpenter bees have tunneled. The contact + residual action kills returning females
• Other wood-infesting insects — powderpost beetles, old-house borers (per label)
• Surface-foraging ants — pavement ants, odorous house ants, etc. on the perimeter band
• Outdoor flying / biting pests — flies, mosquitoes, wasps, and ticks per the EPA “Kills” list on the current label. Apply as a perimeter / barrier spray to lawns, foundation edges, and deck areas during peak season
• Treats foundation perimeters, slab edges, crawl-space entries, exterior wall plates, deck framing, and the soil zones around them

Where to Apply (Outdoor Only)

Per the manufacturer’s Use On guide on the current packaging:

• Perimeters — the outdoor band along exterior walls and foundations (the primary barrier-spray zone)
• Foundations — trench treatment for subterranean termites (see Application Notes below)
• Sidewalks, driveways, patios adjacent to the structure for perimeter ant + crawling-insect control
• Lawns — broadcast or perimeter per label rate for ticks, fleas, surface ants
• Flower gardens — perimeter and around ornamentals (apply when bees are not foraging; see Safety below)
• Vegetable gardens — PER LABEL DILUTION ONLY. Crop-by-crop dilution rates and pre-harvest intervals vary widely; always read the current product label on YOUR bottle before applying near edible crops
• Deck framing, fascia, railings — direct treatment of carpenter bee bore holes
• Crawl-space entries, plumbing penetrations, slab cracks — termite + carpenter ant entry points

Use Restrictions — READ FIRST

• RESIDENTIAL USE ONLY. Not for commercial / industrial / institutional applications.
• POST-CONSTRUCTION ONLY for termites. This product is for use around EXISTING structures. Not approved for pre-construction soil treatment (the pour-during-build use case requires a different product class).
• OUTDOOR APPLICATION ONLY for termites. Do not apply inside dwellings.
• WARNING signal word on the EPA label — lower acute hazard than products labeled CAUTION-with-specific-hazards, but still requires PPE and label-restricted application.
• Toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates. Do not apply where runoff can reach water bodies. Do not contaminate water during cleanup or disposal.
• Toxic to bees and beneficial insects exposed to direct treatment or residue on blooms. Apply when bees are not foraging (early morning or late evening for flower-garden / lawn perimeter treatments).
• Crop / pre-harvest restrictions apply when used in vegetable gardens. Read the label.

How to Dilute & Apply (Termite Trench Treatment)

Mix ratio: per label, typical mix for termite trench is approximately 0.5% finished spray — about 1.6 oz concentrate per gallon of water. Always read the current product label on YOUR bottle for exact mix rates by application type; the label takes precedence over any third-party guidance.

1. Trench the foundation perimeter — dig a narrow trench 6 in. deep along the foundation wall at grade.
2. Apply 4 gallons of finished spray per 10 linear feet of trench, per the standard subterranean termite rate. The soil in the trench should be saturated.
3. Backfill immediately after application, watering the backfill lightly to settle the chemical evenly through the soil column.
4. Treat slab edges and entry points the same way — cracks in concrete, expansion joints, plumbing penetrations.
5. Re-treat at the labeled interval (typically 5 years for subterranean termite trench applications) if soil has been undisturbed, or sooner if you've dug / re-graded / heavily irrigated the treated zone.

For carpenter ants and surface-foraging insects: mix per label rate (lower concentration) and spray as a perimeter band around the structure, paying attention to under-eave areas, deck edges, and known foraging trails.

For carpenter bees: apply directly into each bore hole (the round 3/8 in. entry holes in wood) using the diluted spray and a pin-stream nozzle. Plug the holes after treatment with caulk or wood filler to prevent re-tunneling.

For perimeter / flying-insect control: spray the labeled rate as a band on lawn perimeter, foundation edge, deck skirting, and under eaves. Re-apply per label interval (typically 30 days during peak season).

Safety & Handling

• Wear protective clothing — long pants, long sleeves, chemical-resistant gloves, eye protection. Wash work clothing separately.
• Keep out of reach of children and pets until spray has dried completely.
• Permethrin is highly toxic to cats if they ingest or are exposed to wet treatment. Keep cats indoors during application and until treated surfaces are fully dry.
• Do not apply when wind speed exceeds ~10 mph (drift risk) or directly before forecasted rain (runoff risk).
• Apply when bees are not foraging — early morning or late evening when bee activity is low, especially near flowering plants.
• Triple-rinse empty container and dispose per local hazardous-household-product regulations. Don't reuse the bottle for any other purpose.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: Bonide Products LLC
• Manufacturer part number: 568
• Net contents: 32 fl oz (946 mL)
• Formulation: liquid concentrate (dilute with water before application)
• Active ingredient: Permethrin 13.30% w/w
• Other ingredients: 86.70% (contains petroleum distillate)
• EPA Reg. No. 4-349-9086; EPA Est. No. 4-NY-1
• Approved uses: post-construction subterranean termite trench treatment, carpenter ant + carpenter bee control, perimeter spray for flies / mosquitoes / wasps / ticks / surface ants, wood-infesting insects around residential structures, ornamental and turf-perimeter applications per label
• NOT for: pre-construction soil treatment, indoor dwelling use (for termites), commercial / institutional facilities
• Country of origin: USA
• UPC: 037321005681

What’s in the Box

• One 32 fl oz (946 mL) bottle of Bonide Termite & Carpenter Ant Killer Concentrate

Compatible Accessories — Sold Separately

• 1- to 2-gallon pump sprayer for mixing and applying the diluted spray
• Pin-stream / crevice nozzle for carpenter bee bore-hole treatment
• Chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile, 4-mil or heavier)
• Safety goggles and respirator-grade mask for confined-space or windy-day applications
• Garden trenching shovel for the foundation-perimeter trench dig
• Wood filler or caulk for sealing carpenter bee bore holes after treatment
• Bonide carpenter ant / termite bait stations for combination IPM approach (chemical barrier + bait monitoring)

Stop by Garoppo’s to pick one up. Note: some EPA-registered insecticides have shipping restrictions to certain states — in-store pickup recommended for fastest fulfillment.