What effect do insect growth regulators, like Hexaflumuron, have on termites?

Insect growth regulators (IGRs) like Hexaflumuron are specifically designed to interfere with the growth and development of insects. They mimic natural hormones that are crucial for the molting process, which is an essential part of an insect's life cycle. Termites, like many other insects, must molt in order to grow. When an IGR is introduced into their environment, it disrupts this molting process, preventing them from shedding their exoskeleton appropriately.

If termites cannot molt, they cannot grow or develop into their next life stage effectively. This disrupts their life cycle, eventually leading to a decline in their populations as they cannot mature and reproduce normally. By halting their ability to molt, IGRs ultimately provide a means of controlling termite infestations over time, as the existing termites remain trapped in their current life stage without the ability to transition to more mature, reproductive stages.