[Annual Termite Issue] News and Notes from the Termite World

Formosan Termites May Flourish In Post-Hurricane Galveston

GALVESTON, Texas — Property owners, construction companies and contractors should be wary of Formosan termites during post-Hurricane Ike reconstruction in Galveston and nearby coastal areas, urban entomologists say.
The voracious pests should be destroyed in infested buildings before reconstruction, said Dr. Robert Puckett, an assistant research scientist with the Center for Urban and Structural Entomology at Texas A&M University in College Station.

Contractors and government agencies should be sure debris piles are free of the pests before removal, as a state quarantine prohibits transporting infested materials from one county to another, Puckett said.

To be safe, Puckett said, residents, property owners and contractors should hire state-licensed pest control professionals to inspect for the pests and treat the area to get rid of them if necessary.

“Proper identification of termites is of utmost importance,” he said.
Builders should also consider using pressure-treated wood or steel in reconstruction to stifle the insects. Pressure-treated wood is more resistant to termites than surface-treated wood.

“The populations have been festering since the storm,” Puckett said. “So we wanted to make people aware of the pests and offer suggestions on how to handle them.”

Puckett and Chris Keefer, a research associate at the center, traveled to Galveston recently to inspect hurricane damage and infested buildings. Some pest control companies reported up to 25 percent of their business involved Formosan termites, said Puckett, who is also doing research for Texas AgriLife Research and the Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

Termites are always a source of concern, researchers said. The Formosan species is perhaps the worst Texans have to contend with.

“These termites don’t discriminate,” Keefer said. “They attack homes, trees, buildings, etc.”

Their presence raises concerns because they destroy more wood than common termites, Puckett said. The state’s most common species, the Eastern subterranean, lives in colonies that number in the hundreds of thousands and would eat only a section of a wooden beam before moving on. Formosans, which number in the millions, would hollow the beam out completely.

Unlike the common termite, Formosans often build “aerial” nests which means they can move around without coming in contact with the ground, Puckett said. The typical “mud tubing” on walls that indicate the termites’ presence may not be seen.

They also attack live trees, creating hazards around homes and other buildings, he said.

“You’re left with a hollow cylinder before you know that the Formosans are there,” he said. “The next thing you know, trees will begin falling on houses and businesses. Formosans are much more voracious,” Puckett said.

The Formosan is an Asian species that was transported to the U.S. aboard trade ships, according to AgriLife Extension literature on the insect. They were first reported in Houston in 1956. They are named after Formosa, the former name of the island of Taiwan.

The termites are most often spread by railroad ties used to support backyard walls and as borders in landscaping, Puckett said. They have been found in 29 Texas counties and every large metropolitan area. The insects have also been found in nine other states with temperate climates.

“Formosan termites have a long association with structures in the region affected by Hurricane Ike,” he said. “Thus, this an excellent time to initiate control of this species in earnest.”

Ensystex to Test New Termite Control Treatment in International Markets

BRISBANE, Queensland — BioProspect Limited has entered into an evaluation agreement with Ensystex for field testing of its termite solution Termilone in major international markets.

Ensystex will carry out an extensive testing program at its own cost during the next two years in countries including Australia, the United States and Japan, supporting product registration and future commercialization of the termite control and timber treatment. The program starts this year in Australia, with the aim of testing Termilone under commercial conditions in a range of situations and locations. Buildings will be treated with Termilone in a number of ways, including under slab, perimeter trenching and application through reticulation systems.

BioProspect CEO Peter May said testing will aim to confirm the field efficacy of Termilone through commercial application equipment and systems and under the range of environmental conditions experienced around Australia.

“The program will complement testing by research collaborators such as the CSIRO (Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization) and University of Western Sydney and provide additional data to support registration of Termilone in Australia, as well as in the termite control markets of the United States and Japan,” May said. “Following the conclusion of a successful program, BioProspect and Ensystex will have the option of entering into a commercial agreement for the supply and distribution of Termilone to the pest control market in selected countries, giving us a direct pathway to market.”

As a research-based international company, Ensystex uses active ingredient synthesis and product formulation facilities in 14 locations: two in the United States, two in Australia, one in Thailand, seven in China, one in Germany and one in Russia. Research facilities are located in North Carolina and in Victoria and New South Wales in Australia.

“Where products require compliance to GreenSmart, Codemark, environmental or other product standards, Ensystex is committed to maintaining and improving upon those requirements,” said David R. Nimocks, III, president of Ensystex.

Termilone is based on eremophilone oil, extracted from the native Australian tree species Eremophila mitchellii (false sandalwood). The product is being developed by BioProspect as a natural and environmentally friendly termite control and timber treatment product.

BioProspect has recently submitted an application to the Australian Pesticides & Veterinary Medicines Authority for registration of eremophilone oil in Australia. Toxicity studies undertaken in support of this submission have demonstrated the benign nature of Termilone, with no adverse effects shown from exposure to the natural oil compound, according to the company.

Electro-Gun is an Alternative Tool for Defeating Drywood Termites

MOJAVE, Calif. — In the ongoing war against termites and other wood-destroying insects, many pest management professionals have been seeking alternative solutions — weapons that include non-chemical and low-toxicity products.

According to Susan Fortuna, president of Etex Ltd., Mojave, Calif., the choice and availability of alternative technology is growing and each has its merit. In 1979, Etex developed and introduced the Electro-Gun to the termite marketplace. “It’s an innovative, multi-patented device that literally zaps drywood termites and other wood boring insects,” Fortuna said.

A hand-held device with a 90,000-volt electric current, the gun penetrates wood to electrocute termites that have invaded a space. The device’s technology combines high frequency, high voltage and very low current to overcome wood’s natural resistance to electrical current flow. The electric current penetrates wood and flows into the galleries and nests of drywood termites.

It can be used as a stand-alone treatment or in conjunction with one or more non-chemical treatments, borates or localized chemical treatments. Furthermore, it works in harmony with all current detection devices, and fits into IPM treatment programs, according to Fortuna.

“The Electro-Gun technician will target the known infestation and then pan out from that area using a zigzag motion, watching and listening to the equipment. The electricity coming from the end of the probe literally dances on the wood until it reaches a termite gallery. Then the pitch, or hum, of the gun will change and intensify as the electricity forms a straight line into the infestation. Electricity follows the path of least resistance, which, in this case, is the termite. Most of the insects are killed instantly; however, there can be a 30- to 40-day delayed mortality to those that don’t get a direct hit,” Fortuna said.

According to Paul Hardy, senior technical director for Atlanta-based Orkin, the Electro-Gun’s hand-held electronic system has been continually improved over the years. It has been a proven, economical alternative to tent fumigations, Hardy said. “In keeping with today’s ‘green’ movement, it’s one of the most economical termite control products to use and is a significant source of revenue for pest control companies licensed to use it,” he said.

The first gun Hardy used in 1980 was the prototype, a large box with many cords and electronic components. “It’s been modified and improved over the years and we’ve found it to be effective for wood-infesting beetles, wood borers and carpenter ants as well,” says Hardy. “We’ve had about 18 years of success with it as a weapon in our arsenal for wood-infesting organisms other than subterranean and Formosan termites.” — Jordan Fox

Truly Nolen of America Offers New Total Termite Protection Plan

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. — Truly Nolen of America has created a Total Termite Protection Program.

“Most companies require separate contracts and treatment plans for each type of termite, which can prove to be time-consuming and expensive for a homeowner,” said Barry Murray, spokesperson for Truly Nolen of America. “Our TTP Program is the ‘gold standard’ in termite protection, combining a variety of control techniques into a single, comprehensive and effective treatment program.”

The TTP Program combines multiple treatment methods for maximum protection against termites. Material re-application is done in critical areas every five years, when appropriate, so a homeowner’s investment is protected well into the future, according to Murray.

“We put everything in writing, and we back up our TTP Program with a $1 million guarantee,” Murray added. “For qualifying homes, we cover up to $1 million in damage caused by termite infestation that occurred after the initial treatment.”

New Whitmire Micro-Gen Product Allows Extended Service Intervals

ST. LOUIS — Whitmire Micro-Gen recently announced the launch of Advance Compressed Ter-mite Bait II, a larger bait load product for the Advance Termite Bait System (ATBS). Available this spring, the new bait features a 124-gram load — 33 percent greater than in the existing Advance 93-gram bait cartridge, along with a new four-month service interval option for monitoring stations.

Thanks to advances in manufacturing technology, the Advance Compressed Termite Bait II bait cartridge has the same dimensions as the 93-gram bait product, meaning it fits in all existing ATBS stations. By optimizing the compression of the bait tablets, Whitmire Micro-Gen scientists were able to fit four bait tablets into the same size container that previously held only three.

“We’ve listened closely to the needs of our ATBS users since we launched in 2003 and we knew that customers would not want to have a re-designed station,” says Marketing Manager Jeff Vannoy. “Therefore, ATBS users will find that the Advance Compressed Termite Bait II cartridge housing is the same dimensions as the previous 93-gram Advance Compressed Termite Bait cartridge.”

The 124-gram bait label allows professionals to monitor the Advance Termite Bait Stations three times per year or, if preferred, to continue the current quarterly monitoring interval. The new bait load and label offers several advantages to pest professionals, according to Whitmire Micro-Gen:

More Killing Power — 33 percent more bait per cartridge to eliminate termite colonies.

More Service Interval Options — Pest management professionals can choose to maintain their current quarterly service interval or move to the new tri-annual service interval.

More Savings — Pest management professionals now have the ability to reduce labor and gas savings by 25 percent per year when moving to the tri-annual service option.

“As the economy continues to tighten in 2009, this is a great new way for ATBS users to save money and support their business moving forward,” Vannoy added.

For more information about the new bait cartridge, visit www.advancetbs.com.