News and Notes from the Termite World

Historic Island Chapel Treated For Termites

KINNELON, N.J. — St. Hubert’s Chapel, a historic church on a small island on Lake Kinnelon, Kinnelon, N.J., is under attack.

Built in 1886, the chapel incorporated rough stones and massive oak to be in harmony with its rural environment. Recently, a committee charged with renovating the chapel to its original condition, discovered live termites invading the newly restored oak entry door.

The team found additional damage in the oak rafters and window frames throughout the structure. Committee chairman Chris Albrecht called on Jan TenHoeve at Sentry Termite to eliminate the termite infestation. TenHoeve, a 35-year pest control veteran, says the site was one of the most challenging he has ever seen.

"This property was particularly difficult due to its lack of space and remote location," TenHoeve said. "First off, it is located on an island and is only accessible by boat. Furthermore, the chapel takes up nearly the entire island. In certain spots, there is only a foot or two of land separating the structure from the water."

St. Hubert’s Chapel was constructed on a 5,000-acre estate by the late Francis S. Kinney, a millionaire and director of the American Tobacco Company.

Due to the circumstances of the site, Albrecht knew when he called Sentry Termite that soil treatment was not an option. After discussing options with TenHoeve, Albrecht chose the Sentricon Termite Colony Elimination System. TenHoeve could not install Sentricon stations into the ground due to lack of land at this unique structure. However, Recruit AG above-ground stations could be installed to eliminate the colony.

Three weeks after the stations were installed, TenHoeve returned to ensure that termites were actively feeding on the bait. Some of the bait stations were almost completely consumed and had to be replaced. The team at Sentry Termite will continue to check the Recruit AG stations until colony elimination is achieved and then will monitor afterward in case a new termite colony appears.

"Jan and his team at Sentry Termite really pulled through for us," Albrecht said. "With their help in fighting the termite infestation, we are one step closer to restoring the magnificent chapel to its original beauty."

Optigard Flex Offers Non-Repellent Termite Control

GREENSBORO, N.C. — When used as a foam treatment for drywood termite control, Optigard Flex, by Syngenta, delivers non-repellent control and transfers readily throughout the colony, the company said.

Because a drywood termite colony is located where damage is present within the wood being attacked, it is possible to treat the colony locally by injecting a foam mix of Optigard Flex into the gallery. The use of foam application allows the product to penetrate deeply into the colony. And, since Optigard Flex is not repellent to termites, the product is easily transferred through the normal habits of this social insect. Optigard Flex is also approved for use as a sprayable liquid or a foam for indoor and outdoor general pest control. For more information, visit www.SyngentaPMP.com.

New Whitmire Micro-Gen Product Allows Extended Service Intervals

ST. LOUIS — Whitmire Micro-Gen recently announced the launch of Advance Compressed Termite 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.

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," said 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 pest 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, 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 keep 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.

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

HUD Approves New Revised Construction Forms

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced that the revised new construction forms, the HUD-NPMA 99a and HUD-NPMA 99b, have been approved and are effective immediately. Use is authorized at any time and supplies of the old form may be used until supplies are exhausted at the discretion of the lenders. The new forms are approved through February 2012. The forms delineate builder responsibility and also include the four major termite prevention methods so that the 99b can be used for soil, baits, wood treatment and physical barriers.

Pest management professionals can order forms through the NPMA Resource Center at www.npmapestworld.org.

New Orkin Web Site Works to Educate Consumers

ATLANTA — Termites101.org is a learning tool Orkin has developed to help inform students, homeowners and the general public about termite control and prevention.

Visitors can learn about termites through information and articles written by members of the Consumer Education Council on Termites, as well as images, other detailed descriptions of termite behavior and activity, and interactive features.

The site offers commentary and analysis from industry experts, including: Gary W. Bennett, Ph.D., Purdue University; Brian T. Forschler, Ph.D., University of Georgia; Roger Gold, Ph.D., Texas A&M University; Ron Harrison, Ph.D., B.C.E, Orkin; Dini M. Miller, Ph.D., Virginia Tech; William H. Robinson, Ph.D., Urban Pest Control Research Center; and Daniel R. Suiter, Ph.D., University of Georgia.

Find more at www.termites101.org/about-termites101/.

Su establishes scholarship at University of Hawaii

HONOLULU — Dr. Nan-Yao Su and his wife Jill have established the Nan-Yao and Jill Su Endowed Fund for Entomology. This fund will assist graduate and undergraduate students studying entomology in the Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences at the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR).

Their gift will support students at CTAHR with scholarships, awards, research, travel to conferences and other related expenses as deemed appropriate by the department. The Sus provided $35,000 to create an endowed scholarship and established a Charitable Lead Annuity Trust that, UHF officials say, will generate an additional $90,000 for the endowed scholarship during the next 15 years.

Su is a UH alumnus and a professor of entomology at the University of Florida. He invented the Sentricon termite management system, and advises the United Nations Environmental Program.

Born in Taiwan, Su moved to Japan in his youth. He completed bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the Kyoto Institute of Technology before coming to the University of Hawaii where he earned a doctorate in entomology under the tutelage of emeritus professor Minoru Tamashiro.

While working with Dr. Tamashiro, he formulated the Integrated Pest Management approach to subterranean termite control on which the Sentricon system is based.

"We are deeply honored Dr. Su has established this gift to benefit our entomology students," said Andy Hashimoto, Dean and Director of CTAHR. "His pioneering work shows our students that science can profoundly improve our environment and our lives."