EASTVALE, Calif. – A shipping container originating from China that had made its way to Eastvale, Calif. (after docking in the San Pedro port) was fumigated Aug. 17, following the discovery of Formosan subterranean termites (FSTs).
The initial discovery was made by Matt Cromwell, technical account manager at Ecolab Pest Elimination, Los Angeles, who alerted Lee Whitmore, president of Anaheim, Calif.-based Quality Pest Services (which Ecolab subcontracted with for this job). Whitmore recognized that the soldiers looked “abnormal” and that they might be FSTs. He sent photos to Dr. Chow-Yang Lee, professor at the University of California, Riverside, and Matt Fabry, business development manager at Douglas Products, manufacturer of Vikane gas fumigant.
Lee and his team, along with Cromwell, Whitmore and Fabry, visited the site on Aug. 14, and brought back samples to the UCR lab, where Lee confirmed they were Formosan subterranean termites.
Latest from Pest Control Technology
- Asian Cockroach vs. German Cockroach Identification Tips
- Pest Index Increased 12 Percent YOY in October
- Winter Insects are Cool
- Nancy Troyano on Pi Chi Omega's Jr. Entomology Program Bringing Applied Science to Youth
- Tick-Killing Fungus Research Underway at Nova Scotia University
- VAGA Hosts 8th Annual Veterans Thanksgiving Appreciation Dinner
- Happy Holidays from PCT Media Group!
- Rentokil Terminix Expanded in Key Markets with 2024 Acquisitions