I am not an entomologist (?) [bug expert] but do know that there are several categories (species?) of termite. The most common is the subterranean one which inhabits the colder climates and is the major one in the northeast. It builds its colonies in the ground (probably below the frost line) and likes the damp, warm end of the building [often under a patio near the basement furnace or chimney]. This termite needs contact with the ground (and moisture) and is the one that builds the mud tubes up the footing or basement of the building and up to the food supply - wood or cellulose. These termites are controlled by trenching around the foundation and/or boring holes in the patio and basement floors and soaking the ground with a toxic chemical to provide a chemical barrier between the termite's nest (colony) and the protected structure. Chlordane (now outlawed) was the best chemical, since it breaks down very slowly, and thus created a long lasting chemical barrier. This slow breakdown (the key feature of chlordane for termite protection) is what drove the environmental types crazy. Obviously, intelligent use of this pesticide includes containing it so it doesn't wash away and poison adjacent areas. The current crop of subterranean termite pesticides are not as long lasting and need to be reapplied much more frequently. (every five to ten years vs 35 - 50 years for chlordane) In California, we have the airborne termite which does not need contact with the ground. When these termites swarm they frequently go for the attic or roof rafters. To exterminate these termites requires tenting the dwelling and gassing with a toxic gas. The bad news with this kind of termite is that a swarm could set up a new colony the same day the exterminator removed the tent ! The nastiest termite is the Formosan variety which came to the US during the Korean war. It is an airborne dry wood termite (doesn't need contact with the ground) and is very resistant to fumigating agents, especially the eggs, which later hatch and continue the infestation. I believe all of the above information is correct, however, If there are any exterminators out there, please feel free to correct any mistakes I may have made. Oliver Filippi ----- Original Message ----- From: "Weimers" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Multiple recipients of VACList" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, April 27, 2001 7:36 PM Subject: [VAC] Re: Trouble with termites? > I thought termites lived in the ground. The only way they could get into a > trailer would be to create some mud tubes from the ground up to the > Airstream. That's how they get into the houses around here in Pennsylvania > anyway. If you move the trailer, you'd break their little mud tubes and they > would lose their communication with the ground. > > If you fix the floor with liquid epoxy or polyester resin, if there are > still bugs in there they would at least become structural members of your > Airstream! They wouldn't chew through it again, anyway! That would protect > the tank too! > > MARC WEIMER > Punxsutawney, PA - Home of the Groundhog > #15767 > 1963 Globe Trotter > 1971 Globe Trotter > http://users.penn.com/~mweimer/weimer.html > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Steve Boyd" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > There under the tank was > > the unmistakeable droppings of some sort of wood boring > > insect, presumably termites > > > > > > To unsubscribe or to change to a daily Digest, please go to > http://www.airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html > > If replying back to this message, please delete all the unnecessary original > text from your reply. > > To unsubscribe or to change to a daily Digest, please go to http://www.airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html If replying back to this message, please delete all the unnecessary original text from your reply.
