Termite Warning

A new(?) concern associated with the Gulf Coast hurricanes.

We have been informed by email from a family member in Oklahoma that warnings are being circulated regarding the use of "bargain priced" mulch during the coming season.

Agriculture and Forestry authorities in several states apparently have issued bulletins warning that the large number of trees destroyed in the hurricane(s) have been converted to massive amounts of mulch, and is beginning to appear, or is expected soon to appear, on the open market for spring gardening at bargain prices.

The difficulty is that the Gulf Coast area is significantly infested by the Formosan Termite, which is an imported species much more damaging and much more difficult to eradicate than domestic termites. The Formosan Termite is known to be capable of being spread in mulch, hence concern that the exporting of large quantities of mulch from the cleanup of the Gulf Coast hurricanes may result in significant spreading of this pest.

An older info bulletin from Texas A&M, AgNews gives some general information on the Formosan critter. This article does not appear to have been updated to reflect the current concern.

Additional information, including identification help, is at Texas A&M Dept of Entomology.

At the first link above, the opinion is offered that many commercial exterminators refuse to attempt to treat for this pest, because of the extreme difficulty of eradication once an infestation occurs. It should also be noted that, unlike demestic subterannean termits that infest only "dead wood," this pest can attack living trees.

Be very careful about buying mulch this spring, and be especially wary of any that is offered at "spectacular bargain" prices. The message we received indicated that the Gulf Coast mulch may be offered by major retailers such as Home Depot etc., although identification of any specific outlets at this point is pretty tentative.

John