Pest Management Professional, May 2014
fact vs fiction TERMITES Kate Jeff McGovern Contributors Photo courtesy of and copyrighted by Gene White pmimages@ earthlink net Fiction Subterranean termites only eat wood Fact The bulk of their diet is cellulose but they get it from eating plant materials and fungi as well as wood To break this down in their gut they need microorganisms which they get mostly from eating one anothers poop Fiction Swarmers are a sure sign the structure is infested Fact Swarmers are an indication a large mature nest is in the vicinity Their origination is usually in nearby trees timber structures or freestanding poles The swarmers will take a while to reproduce and cause damage Theres time enough to professionally evaluate their activity Fiction The only way to deal with swarmers is fog them as soon as you see them Fact Alates can be eliminated quickly and effectively without chemicals with a thorough vacuuming Fiction A house doesnt need termite treatment because it was treated once with chlordane less than 40 years ago Fact Chlordane has a long half life and can persist in treated soil and timbers for as long as 40 years after application It was banned for all uses in the United States in 1988 Despite this fact chlordanes effectiveness as a termite treatment diminishes over time and is gone after 20 years Fiction My granddad swore by treating the soil around the foundation with used motor oil to treat subterranean termites Fact Believe it or not there are sites on the Internet which recommend this highly illegal technique The soil and water contamination from this shouldnt be brushed aside lightly Considering the runoff from roads and commercial and industrial activities do you think you should contribute to the contamination of drinking water and the destruction of property You also risk killing local wildlife especially aquatic species with this needless practice Proper treatment with approved termiticides is far more cost effective in the long run PMP You can reach the McGoverns at jeffreymcgovern@ mindspring com BIRD CONTROL GUARANTEED TO RUFFLE SOME FEATHERS Since 1950 Nixalite has developed bird management solutions that have fl ustered birds and competitors alike Working with you to understand your needs we do the upfront planning that ensures an exact answer for your pest problem From netting and spikes to fogging and repellents each product is precisely engineered and manufactured to the highest quality standards PREPARE TO RUFFLE SOME FEATHERS CHOOSE NIXALITE NIXALITE OF AMERICA INC 800 624 1189 nixalite com 34 May 2014 Pest Management Professional www mypmp net
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