Company & Product History
XT-2000’s primary mission is to provide consumers the choice of controlling termite infestations through minimal application of an environmentally responsible and less toxic product with documented efficacy in the field in an IPM treatment plan. XT-2000’s secondary mission is to provide the industry an alternative to fumigant products for owner-operators and to reduce fumigant use. While fumigants are currently on the exempt list, they will eventually be phased out due to political and regulatory pressures. The California Department of Pesticide Regulation estimates that 50-60% of all VOC emissions are attributed to fumigants.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) system approach and philosophy is foundational to XT-2000’s business. Our practice is to use educate, train and mentor pest control professionals, the pest industry, and government agencies in the least amount of the least toxic termiticide that will be efficacious, and thereby reduce the health and environmental risks of treatment.
XT-2000 Orange Oil Plus® has been used to treat over a million homes, schools, multi-family buildings, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, restaurants, hotels, commercial and industrial buildings throughout California, Hawaii, Florida, Texas and many U.S. sunbelt states, where drywood termites are prevalent.
“Orange Oil” has been used in integrated pest management (IPM) methods with a biodegradable, least-toxic, locally injected termiticide derived from orange rinds (d-limonene) as an alternative to hybrid toxic chemicals. XT-2000 has performed comprehensive, long-term, quantitative efficacy of an integrated pest management approach using minimal locally applied XT-2000 Orange Oil Plus® (d-limonene) for the treatment of infestation by drywood termites.
XT-2000 Orange Oil Plus® IPM program is used to further the mission in providing alternatives to toxic chemicals, thereby reducing exposure to toxic chemicals. Proven effectiveness provides options to the consumers interested in eradicating infestations while minimizing environmental burdens.
“Orange Oil” and other Green List pesticides as comparably efficacious to hybrid toxic chemical treatments in an actual field setting. However, the total cost of convenience and benefits is the value differentiators for consumer acceptance of XT-2000 Orange Oil Plus® IPM treatment methods.
Gases used in fumigation are toxic and environmentally deleterious volatile organic compounds (VOC). The California Air Board (under AB 1807) has identified sulfuryl fluoride as a toxic air contaminant. In contrast, XT-2000 Orange Oil Plus® (D-limonene) is significantly less-toxic, conforms to TSCA (Toxic Substances Control Act) and does not promote tropospheric ozone formation or stratospheric ozone depletion. As XT-2000 Orange Oil Plus® (D-limonene) is a pure hydrocarbon it contains none of the persistent and ozone destroying potential of CFC or halogenated fumigants currently exempted. The DPR’s “Status Report for Fumigant Pesticides” estimates that 50 to 60% of VOC emissions from pesticides are attributed to fumigants.
Active agent mechanism of action: XT-2000 Orange Oil Plus® (D-limonene) kills termites by two primary mechanisms. It affects the sensory nerves of the peripheral nervous system of termites causing rapid depolarization of neural circuits in their small permeable nervous systems (Ware and Whitacre 2004). Also some evidence that this natural monoterpene, which is an effective organic solvent for fats and grease, rapidly dissolves the waxy cuticle on the surface of termites causing collapse of the air holes and suffocation.
XT-2000 Orange Oil Plus®, contains no inert ingredients, the d-limonene (orange oil) is entirely derived from steam distillation of orange rinds (a natural and renewable resource) rather than chemically synthesized. This process also distills a residual amount (<2%) of anhydrous citric acid (the sour of lemon juice) into the final XT-2000 product. This residual citric acid is also a potent toxin to drywood termites and chemically “burns” them and kills them immediately upon contact. In a laboratory study by Dr. Rudolf H. Scheffrahn, an entomologist working at the University of Florida, XT-2000 Orange Oil Plus® was shown efficacious in killing termites. In this study, the ability of d-limonene to “wick” efficiently and quickly along the grain of the wood due to capillary action and to diffuse radially throughout was demonstrated. Finally, unlike other technologies such as fumigation, XT-2000 Orange Oil Plus® efficacy tests show that local application of D-Limonene destroys both adult termites and their eggs, leading to eradication of both current primary and progenitor colonies.
From “Natural Products for Insect Pest Management” by Eileen A. Buss and Sydney G. Park-Brown, University of Florida, IFAS Extension – “Limonene and linalool are contact poisons (nerve toxins) and may have some fumigant activity against fleas. They have low oral and dermal toxicities. Both compounds evaporate readily from treated surfaces and have no residual. They are effective against all external pests of pets, including fleas, lice, mites, and ticks”. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN197
As it is not a cholinesterase inhibitor, XT-2000 Orange Oil Plus® (D-limonene kills) termites on contact, but it is virtually non-toxic to warm-blooded animals. It is Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS) by the FDA, nor is it on the EPA hazardous substance list, nor is it a TAC (Braddock 2004), nor carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic, nor a Prop 65 compound (Henneberry 2005; Florida Chemical MSDS). It is not rated as acutely toxic, with oral and dermal LD50 > 5 g/kg in rabbits (Florida Chemical MSDS). D-limonene is a significantly less toxic and environmentally burdensome replacement for still exempt halogenated fumigants (conforms to TSCA). It is also not a VOC that promotes tropospheric ozone formation nor stratospheric ozone depletion [for “good” vs. “bad” ozone overview see: US Nuclear Regulatory Commission January 2003 monograph or link below].
George W. Ware and David M. Whitacre (2004) “AN INTRODUCTION TO INSECTICIDES
(4th edition), University of Minnesota, from “The Pesticide Book, 6th ed.” (2004). MeisterPro Information Resources, A division of Meister Media Worldwide, Willoughby, OH.
[http://ipmworld.umn.edu/chapters/ware.htm].
Good ozone up high, bad below:http://www.policyalmanac.org/environment/archive/ozone.shtml
MSDS: http://www.floridachemical.com/MSDSdlimonenematerialsafetydatasheets.htm
Braddock, R.J. (2004) public document from Prof. R.J. Braddock, U. Florida “Comment on Draft Report: Terpene sections/Indoor Air Pollution in California” to D. Shimer of California Air Resources Board, Sacramento, CA
We recently expanded to Florida, while maintaining our success in California, Hawaii, and Texas. Over 500k homes have been successfully treated with XT-2000 Orange Oil Plus® for the past years, and we expect to reach a half a million end of this year. I’m here to share with everyone about XT-2000 Orange Oil Plus®, how unique our product is to the pest industry, and why you should consider us for your termite issues. The high demand from eco-friendly homeowners has contributed to our success and it stems from the positive impact XT-2000 Orange Oil Plus® will have on the people, environment and future generations.
In 1998, Michael Folkins (or as we like to call him, the Godfather of Orange OIl) was working for a company called Tallon Pest Control in San Diego, CA. Someone from Georgia came out with a product, d-limonene and offered it to Jay Tallon (the owner) and he said no, people weren’t ready for eco-friendly solutions yet. Michael Folkins requested to have it and Jay said yes. In the year 2000, as part of the EPA registration process, we hired Dr. Rudolph Shaffron from the University of Florida for our efficacy study and he gave us a 98% mortality rate.
Meet the X-Team
- Michael Folkins, President & Founder
- Anna Folkins, Vice President & Co-Founder
- Peter Berk, Vice President & Co-Founder
- John Kidwell, Director of Sales, Education and Training
XT-2000, Inc.
- 17 years in business. In 2003, XT-2000 was incorporated
- In 2002, Granted U.S.E.P.A. Registration to manufacture and distribute XT-2000 Orange Oil Plus® (United States Environmental Protection Agency)
- Michael & Anna Folkins, prior business owners and co-founders of Xtermite
- Peter Berk, Co-Founder and President of Berk Media Advertising & Marketing
- Eric Revere, Chemist & Regulatory Compliance, President of Chemeer Consulting
- 100 years combined experience in Pest Control and development of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs and business practices.
- Various Featured News Development in USDA, EPA, DPR, University and Trade Publications
- Member of National Pest Management Association (NPMA) and member PCO Association of California since 2002.
- Developer, trainer and business advocate for IPM practices and education.
What Is XT-2000 Orange Oil Plus?
It’s the scope and inject method for drywood termite, carpenter ant, and wood-boring beetle treatment. XT-2000 Orange Oil Plus™ is 95% pure d-limonene, which is the active ingredient in orange oil. It is a least toxic, low impact product derived from orange rinds.
Still not impressed?
Consider this: it leaves no toxic residues or by-products behind, is renewable, pet-friendly, landscape-friendly, affordable, and can be used to treat your home without tenting. No tenting means you do not have to move out of your home for treatment! It is an “orange” product that can save you time, money, and hassle.
What’s not to love? Join the orange oil revolution today!
