Because Microcerotermes diversus (Silvestri), a subterranean termite, is able to attack cellulosic materials, it is destructive to structures and the most economically important wood pest in Iran. Therefore, control or management of the termite is a serious public concern. The use of nonrepellent termiticides such as thiamethoxam (a neonicotinoid compound) has been gaining popularity in recent years. The success of these compounds in managing termite infestations depends primarily on their speed of action and non-repellent characteristics. The current study was designed to determine termite mortality, non-repellency, and horizontal transfer of termiticide by trophallaxis when termites were in contact with treated-filter paper in laboratory choice and no-choice tests. A donor-recipient trial in two ratios was used: 1:1(10 donors: 10 recipients) and 1:5 (10 donors: 50 recipients). In one trial, workers were placed on filter paper previously treated at 5.0, 10.0 or 15.0 ppm thiamethoxam. Exposed workers were then removed from the treated paper, placed in a clean container, and allowed to have side-by-side feeding interactions with previously non-exposed recipient workers for 14 days, after which mortality was assessed. Results indicated that mortality of non-exposed workers contacted by the exposed workers increased with increasing of insecticide concentrations in both donor-recipient worker ratios. Therefore, transfer of lethal insecticide concentrations from the donor to recipients was observed with thiamethoxam.

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