BS: Termites - what now?

Subject: BS: Termites - what now?
From: Goose Gander
Date: 31 Mar 10 - 10:31 PM

Found termites in an old apricot tree in my yard, called an inspector and it seems they've set up housekeeping in my attic and crawlspace, too. So what now? I've had the house treated twice in the last 8 years and they keep coming back (if they were ever gone in the first place). Lots of options: fumigation, local treatments, orange oil, soil treatments, etc. Can anyone give me the unvarnished truth about getting rid of the damn things?

Subject: RE: BS: Termites - what now?
From: Bill D
Date: 31 Mar 10 - 11:12 PM

Find the location of the queen, and treat that area. (No, I didn't say it was an easy solution.) Took me 5 years chasing them around from one location to another until I happened by chance to hit the base colony as it was moving...

Professionals spray every conceivable hiding place and entry point....and make their living coming back to do it again when the little bugs find an INconceivable place.

Subject: RE: BS: Termites - what now?
From: katlaughing
Date: 31 Mar 10 - 11:17 PM

Not a practical suggestion as i don't really know what to do, BUT I learned about a stress reducer game from a Mudcatter, years ago, and still use it, plus my grandson loves it.

The reason I mention it is, it has termites you can click on, then each time you click your mouse another termite starts crawling across your desktop screen. THEN, you can choose a flame thrower, a chain saw, a power washer, a paint gun, or a stamping tool to destroy them all! The program is called StressReducer2005 and you may download it HERE, though there are several other sites, too. The sound effects are great!

I hope you find a way to be done with the real ones, once and for all.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Termites - what now?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 31 Mar 10 - 11:35 PM

Friends of mine in Oahu had that termite problem. They moved out while treatment and wood replacement was going on. Very expensive, but they did have partial coverage via some kind of insurance.
Luckily, too cold for them here in Alberta.

Subject: RE: BS: Termites - what now?
From: Ebbie
Date: 31 Mar 10 - 11:37 PM

In moist (well, wet) southeastern Alaska our problem is with carpenter ants, rather than termites. Just like described above, you can knock them back but they seem to always return. The exterminator told me that this climate is perfect for them and that they are out in the woods too in every old stump they can find.

Just like with termites carpenter ants can eat up a house until practically the only thing keeping it standing is the paint.

Subject: RE: BS: Termites - what now?
From: Sawzaw
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 12:59 AM

Do you live near a Tractor Supply?

I bought a professional strength termite killer there called Talstar.

Or you can buy it on the net.

Don't termite treatment professionals have a guarantee on their work?

Subject: RE: BS: Termites - what now?
From: Ebbie
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 02:02 AM

I was living at a house museum when we became aware that a sun porch was infested with carpenter ants. The exterminator claimed that the ones he didn't kill outright would die anyway because they would have to cross the paths he had laid down.

A month or so later I notified the State that there were fresh munchings and they told me to call the exterminator. He came, but insisted they would all die.

A couple of weeks ago they had to replace the entire sun porch.

Subject: RE: BS: Termites - what now?
From: gnomad
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 04:13 AM

Termites are not native to Britain, so our one infestation is proving troublesome (and expensive) to eradicate. These links will doubtless amuse the statesiders.

earnest story from 2000

ten years later

Sounds like an enterprising person with relevant expertise might make a living (or at least finance a swift visit or three) out of this one colony, we're clearly not coping.

"Consultancy: If you aren't part of the solution, you can make good money prolonging the problem."

Subject: RE: BS: Termites - what now?
From: pdq
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 11:07 AM

"Just like with termites carpenter ants can eat up a house until practically the only thing keeping it standing is the paint."

Actually, termites work rather slowly, and serious damage ususally comes from an infestation going untreated for years.

Termites actually ingest and break down wood for food. Carpenter ants carve out galleries and use the wood for a place to live. Termites limit their wood damage to what they can eat, carpenter ants have no limit to what they can do, sometimes hollowing-out structural lumber in a matter of weeks.

Pest control professionals have the incentive to use as little chemical as they can get away with. This is due to extreme cost and also the possibility of law suits.

The most effective chemical of the past are mostly banned, and new "green" techniques are sometimes ineffective, approaching silly. Electric shock, ultra sound, plant oils.

Have fun.

Subject: RE: BS: Termites - what now?
From: Goose Gander
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 11:38 AM

Alright, I'll just ask: has anyone tried self-treatment with successful results? I am getting tired of paying money to professionals who chase the bugs away only to have them return.

One significant thing I have noticed: my house is 87 years old, with an addition tacked on 15 or so years ago. Most of the recent damage seems confined to the new construction. Do the termites simply prefer 'fresh' food, or is something else going on?

Subject: RE: BS: Termites - what now?
From: pdq
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 11:48 AM

How tall is the foundation of the original house?

In the U.S. an 87 year old house will likely have a very high crawl space, large enough to move around under the house easily. Often even a stand-up area for water heater and space heater. The new addition may be poor quality, use more 2nd growth wood (mostly sap wood), be closer to the ground or have a moisture problem. Maybe all of the above.

Subject: RE: BS: Termites - what now?
From: Goose Gander
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 12:12 PM

The crawlspace is about 3 feet tall. I do think the problem might be the wood - soft, white pine while the original structure is hardwood. I'm starting to think this is major problem in new construction - going cheap on the wood, or maybe the hardwoods aren't available?

Subject: RE: BS: Termites - what now?
From: Ebbie
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 12:16 PM

The house museum itself is evidently still free of the insects. The infestation is confined at this point to the sun porch which indeed is much younger than the house (1967 versus 1898).

Subject: RE: BS: Termites - what now?
From: pdq
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 12:49 PM

It sounds like the newer construction is the main problem. In the western U.S. we have a unique tree called Douglass Fir which is hard (when dry), stable dimentionally and reasonably resistant to insects and fungus. Much better than soft pine.

Here are some ideas:

                Have all dead wood including tree stumps removed from yard.

                Completely clear an area 3-4' away from all building foundations.

                Spray cleared area regularly with general insecticides such as Sevin and
                         Malathion. Also weedkiller to keep area clear.

                Replace all screen vents with small mesh size units. Increase size to allow
                         enough air circulation to keep sub-area dry.

                Perhaps spray Sevin on old house foundation from under house.
                         It has no unhealthy vapor action to worry about when you are spraying.

Subject: RE: BS: Termites - what now?
From: Ebbie
Date: 02 Apr 10 - 12:39 AM

The State of Alaska is planning to create a 'gravel apron' around the entire house foundation. I understand it has been shown to discourage the varmints.

Subject: RE: BS: Termites - what now?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 02 Apr 10 - 08:28 AM

There are 'traps' that have 'attractor wood' in, and are inspected regularly to detect termite presence.

Subject: RE: BS: Termites - what now?
From: Goose Gander
Date: 02 Apr 10 - 12:44 PM

Thanks for the advice pdq, now I have a couple more questions:

First of all, I've heard that Chlordane was a very effective preventive product but that it was taken off the market 'due to misuse' . . . anyone know about this?

Secondly, I'm going to have to remove an old apricot tree that full of termites. What should I do to the area around it? Should I use something to kill the termites as I cut into the branches, trunk, etc.? (I already cut into a couple of branches, and it's full of the damn things).

Thanks, again.

Subject: RE: BS: Termites - what now?
From: pdq
Date: 02 Apr 10 - 01:20 PM

Chlordane was banned completely from use in the U.S. in 1988, although it was restricted mostly to termite control for years before that.

We still produce some of it for export, probably to Third Word Countries.

Its cousin Lindane, benzene hexachloride (gamma isomer), was used for a long time but is also banned. In fact, the whole family of chloronated hydrocarbons was targeted because they were "persistant" and had some vague claims of cancer is laboratory rats.

Sevin does a good job on just about all insects. It is the basic ingrediant in ant spray, flea spray and rose dust. Combine it with the very mild Malathion and the Enviromentalists and your neighbors should be happy with you.

Th termite-infested tree? Does the idea of a nice bonfire work? There is no built-up immunity to being roasted.

Subject: RE: BS: Termites - what now?
From: Goose Gander
Date: 02 Apr 10 - 02:40 PM

A bonfire sounds nice, I actually have a method - dig a trench around stump, fill with charcoal and fire it up. I could even place a grill over some bricks and do some BBQing. One problem - the tree is three feet from my house. Not sure if I want to risk burning the house down.