SEPTEMBER REARVIEW

CPCO EFFORTS SAVE HALFWAY HOUSE
SANFORD, FLA. — Members of the Certified Pest Control Operators Association (CPCO) of Florida spent Independence Day fumigating the First Step Adolescent Services House, a non-profit halfway house for troubled adolescent girls. The fumigation was needed in the 33,000-cubic-foot structure after extensive termite damage was discovered. It was critical that the house be fumigated immediately because Florida was in its rainy season and the termites were threatening to damage the roof.

The “First on the Fourth” project was led by CPCO’s Ron Quails, Quik-Kill Termite and Pest Control, Apopka, Fla. Quails informed CPCO representatives  that First Step did not have the money for a fumigation project so the association stepped in to help.

Dow AgroSciences donated Vikane fumigant and members of the association (seen above) volunteered their labor and equipment.

MOUNT VERNON PRESERVED AGAINST DESTRUCTIVE TERMITES
MOUNT VERNON, VA. – Even Mount Vernon, George Washington’s Estate, is susceptible to termites. With termite swarming season in full swing, Mount Vernon is now protected by the Sentri-con Termite Colony Elimination System (trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC). “The termite problem at Mount Vernon is non-threatening right now, but in the past there has been plenty of evidence of termites. That’s why we’re taking many safeguards to make sure termites do not infest the property in the future,” says Dennis Pogue, director of preservation at Mount Vernon.

The Sentricon System is used to protect many historic properties, including the Statue of Liberty, the White House and Independence Hall.

HISTORIC CHURCH STANDS TALL
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA. — Throughout the past three centuries, the historic Old Donation Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach has experienced its share of adversity in the face of natural disasters. A fire destroyed everything but the walls in 1882, but the church’s followers held yearly services in the roofless ruin to keep the spirit alive until its restoration in 1916.

Even today, Old Donation Church continues its battle against the elements. Last fall, Sexton Jack Begley noticed mud tubes on an old wooden column inside the building. Upon his discovery, Begley immediately knew that the church had met its next challenge: termites.

“The termites came up through the door jam of the church and across the choir loft. They were attempting to build tunnels down the column to a source of moisture,” said Begley. “I knew that we had a problem on our hands as soon as I saw the tubes.”

A new staff member, Jack didn’t realize that Old Donation Church had problems with swarming termites in the past. The church had played host to swarmers almost every year and the termites were back for another visit.

Begley contacted Walter O’Shea, a PCO from Western Pest Services, to help him solve this problem. Because the termites had not been effectively controlled in the past, O’Shea and Western’s regional entomologist, Dr. Kathy Heinsohn, decided to try something new.

Heinsohn called Mark Coffelt, professional products field development and technical services manager for Aventis Environmental Science, who recommended Termidor. “I had heard about the promising results of Termidor at a professional meeting, but Western was not using Termidor at the time,” Heinsohn said. “Mark had supplied us with a small stock of Termidor to evaluate and I decided to give it a try at Old Donation.” Western and Aventis donated the labor and product involved in the treatment, which was completed in November 2000.

Since the application, Heinsohn and O’Shea have seen positive results from Termidor. They revisited the church in January and April to conduct three-month and six-month inspections. The wooden column and the rest of the church showed no signs of termite activity, even at the height of swarm season.

IN OCTOBER

• America’s Finest Pest Control Company
• New Termite Discovered in Florida
• Updated Formulations Poster