Wood Destroying Pest Control
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PESTICIDE APPLICATION TRAINING Category 7A Wood Destroying Pest Control K-State Research and Extension Manhattan, Kansas 2 Table of Contents Introduction 4 Biology of Termites 5 Colony Structure Colony Formation Termite Identification Termite Detection Other Wood Destroying Organisms 10 Drywood termites Powderpost beetles Longhorned beetles Carpenter ants Carpenter bees Wood decay fungi Key to insect damage of wood Chemicals Applied for Termite Control 16 Pyrethroids Borates Organophosphates/Carbamates Insect Growth Regulators (IGR's) Biological Agents Structural and Treatment Considerations 19 Diagrams of basic structural members and forms Soil Treatment for Subterranean Termites 22 Preconstruction Treatment Post Construction Treatment Exterior Treatment Methods Interior Treatment Methods Treatment Guidelines Avoiding Contamination 29 Spill Control Special Tools and Techniques Special Treatments 33 Directions for Using this Crawl Spaces Sub-Slab Heating Ducts Manual Basements This is a self-teaching manual. At Veneers the end of each major section is a list Hollow block, tile, and rubble foundations of study questions to check your Wells, Cisterns, and other water sources understanding of the subject matter. Rigid foam insulation By each question in parenthesis is the Wood Treatment page number on which the answer to that question can be found. This will Baiting Technology 37 help you in checking your answers. Fumigation 40 These study questions are repre- sentative of the type which are on the Selection of Fumigants certification examination. By reading Types of Fumigation this manual and answering the study Precautions and Protective Equipment questions, you should be able to gain Respiratory Protection Devices sufficient knowledge to pass the Safe Use of Fumigants Kansas Commercial Pesticide Appli- cators Certification and Recertifica- tion examination. 3 Introduction References for Your Library There are a number of good Several species of insects damage references on fumigation and pests wood in buildings in Kansas. There controlled by fumigation. The also are wood decaying fungi in Manual of Fumigation for Insect Kansas. It is important that the Control published by the Food and commercial pest control operator can Agriculture Organization (available distinguish between damage caused from UNIPUB, Incorporated, 650 by fungi and insects. Correct pest First Avenue, P.O. Box 433, New identification and extent of infesta- York, New York 10016) has a very tion is essential before any control thorough coverage of fumigants and measures are applied. fumigation. Handbook of Pest Control, by Arnold Mallis, MacNair- Required Records or Dorland Company has a good section Statement of Services on fumigation. Urban Entomology, by Walter Ebeling, University of The records required by commer- California, Division of Agriculture, cial applicators are outlined in the Berkeley, California Science. 1975. An Laws and Regulations section in the excellent reference to wood-destroy- General Manual. Questions on ing pests is Truman’s Scientific Guide required records will be included in to Pest Control Operations by Purdue the 7A examination, especially those University (Edgall Communications, requirements that are for wood- Duluth, MN). destroying organisms. A diagram of the structure is absolutely essential for all wood-destroying organisms. Applicators are responsible for following the termite control applica- tion procedures specified in the Kansas Pesticide Law (K.A.R. 4-13-7). 4 Biology of food and feces placed by the termites in the passages also assist in moisture Termites Termites belong to the insect order regulation. Isoptera. In nature, termites are Occasionally, subterranean ter- considered beneficial because they mites can be found above ground, break down dead and dying plant isolated from the soil. This can occur material. It is when termites feed on if moisture is available from a source wooden structures that they become other than the soil. Common sources pests. Three types of termites occur include condensation, and leaking in the United States; dampwood, pipes and roofs. drywood and subterranean termites. Wood is made up primarily of Subterranean termites of the cellulose, a large complex chain of family Rhinotermitidae occur relatively simple chemical molecules. throughout Kansas and are the kind Few animals have the necessary body most commonly encountered. chemistry to break down cellulose Subterranean termites nest in the soil into smaller, more usable nutrients. from which they obtain their mois- Termites accomplish this by the ture. They may attack any wood in presence of protozoa in their hindgut. contact with the soil. If there is no These protozoa break down the direct wood to soil contact, the cellulose into products that the termites may build mud tubes or termites can digest. If these protozoa tunnels within the cracks of founda- are removed, the termites will Termite Map tions or over the outside of concrete eventually die of starvation. to reach wood several feet above the ground. To a limited extent, termites are capable of regulating temperature conditions in the colony. Their galleries often are situated so some run above ground and some below. Therefore, during extremes of hot and cold weather, the termites will be found below the ground where the conditions are more equitable. Subterranean termites need a Slight constant, ample supply of moisture. Part of this moisture is procured from Moderate the products of their own metabolism Heavy and part from soil moisture which Very Heavy diffuses throughout their tunnels or tubes. Since the subterranean termite colony usually obtains its moisture Four Ways to Tell Termites From Ants Termite Ant from the soil, they are generally Compare These Features 1. dependent on soil types. Moisture in 1. Eyes absent 1. Eyes present 2. clay soils is tightly bound to the 1. particles and not readily available to 2. Waist thick 2. Waist thin the termite. Sandy soils allow more 2. 3. Antenne not elbowed 3. Antenne elbowed moisture to be available and, conse- 4. Two pair wings of 4. Two pair wings quently, these termites are more equal length of unequal length 3. 3. prevalent and able to survive in sandy soils. 4. Fungi, when present in the wood, 4. will serve as another source of moisture. These fungi aid in the regulation of humidity in the galler- ies. The plugs of partially chewed Termite identification 5 Biology of The most important and most The workers maintain the shelter Termites prevalent subterranean termite in tubes and close any breaks in the Kansas is the Eastern Subterranean surface of the wood they are infesting Termite Reticulitermes flavipes with the same material. Termites (Kollar). This species also occurs in must have this closed system to Mexico and in the Mediterranean maintain the necessary high level of area of Europe. It attacks wooden humidity. The tubes also serve as a structures and also has been known protective barrier against their to infest telephone poles, fence posts natural enemies, especially ants. and occasionally living trees, shrub- Occasionally, a colony may find a bery, flowers and crops. source of moisture in the wood from a leaking pipe or roof, for example, Termite Identification so contact with the soil is no longer It is the primary reproductives necessary. which are most often discovered by Termite workers are sometimes the homeowner. Many people misnamed “white ants” and can be confuse this winged form with flying found in large numbers in forest logs, ants which also can be found swarm- wood lying in contact with the Winged ing near structures. Termites can be ground, or in the lumber in build- Adult distinguished from ants by compar- ings. Workers mature within a year Queen ing their physical characteristics. and live three to five years. Winged termites (alates) have straight antennae, thick waists, and Soldiers four, long fragile wings of equal size Soldiers have greatly enlarged, and shape. Winged ants have a wasp- dark, reddish-brown heads and like body shape, narrow waists and sword-like mandibles. There are a King two forewings which are larger than relatively small number of soldiers. the two rear wings. The soldier’s job is to guard the colony against predators, primarily Colony Structure ants. The soldiers are so specialized Subterranean termites live in that they cannot feed themselves, so colonies below ground. The subterra- they are fed by the workers. Both the nean termite colony is made up of workers and soldiers are sterile. various types or castes. Each caste is Soldiers mature within one year and specialized for certain jobs or func- live three to five years. tions. The three castes of subterra- Reproductive nean termites are: (1) worker, There are two types of reproduc- Worker Soldier (2) soldier and (3) reproductive. tive termites: primary and secondary. Workers The primary reproductives have Colony structure Worker termites are creamy-white, wings (alate) and are produced in wingless, eyeless insects and they are mature colonies (3 to 5 years and by far the most numerous in the older). They have dark-colored, colony. They are very soft-bodied flattened bodies, and large eyes. and subject to drying out (desicca- Their two pairs of wings are equal in tion). Their primary moisture (hu- length and narrow. The wings are midity) source comes from the soil. used for a single, usually short, flight Their primary function is to perform after which they break off near the the actual work of the colony. They base. There are both males and build the shelter tubes from bits of females. The queens may lay over soil and excretions as passageways 60,000 eggs during her 25-year life from the nest to the food source. time. They find and eat wood, maintain Secondary reproductives develop galleries within the wood, groom and under certain conditions in growing feed the king, queen, and feed the colonies. There are both males and soldiers. females and they are wingless. Worker termite 6 Biology of Female secondary reproductives one central nest containing one supplement the egg production of the queen.