The efficacy against termites of malathion, Nuvan (dichlorvos), and camphor (1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo(2.2.1)heptan-2-one) was studied in the laboratory in Nigeria where contact toxicity, preference and anti-tunnelling tests were carried out. All three compounds showed contact toxicity to <i>Ametermes evuncifer</i> in both sand and soil substrates. At 6.6 p.p.m., malathion and dichlorvos each gave 86-99% mortality, but camphor gave 62-95% mortality even at 500 p.p.m.; camphor was more effective in soil than in sand. On a wooden substrate, malathion showed a greater repellent effect than dichlorvos, and both showed greater repellency than camphor; mamathion and dichlorvos at 6.6 p.p.m. delayed tunnelling for 20 days, and camphor at 100 or 500 p.p.m. delayed it for up to 35 days. -- AATA