TERMITE CONTROL Category 10B A Guide For Commercial Applicators April 2007 - The Ohio Department of Agriculture - Pesticide Regulation - Certification and Training Section Termite Control A Guide for Commercial Applicators Category 10b Editor: Carolyn J. Randall Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Author : Diana Roll Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Editor: Diana Roll Academic Specialist Pesticide Education Program Michigan State University This manual has been adapted from the Michigan State University extension bulletin E-2047 for use in the Ohio Department of Agriculture Pesticide Regulation Program. Acknowledgements We would like to express our thanks for the advice and Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service. 1998. technical assistance of the following reviewers: Mark Structural Pest Control. Oklahoma State University. Sheperdigian, Rose Exterminator Co.; Val Smitter, Smitter Sanders, D. 1987. Termite Pest Control, Including Other Pest Control; Jeffrey Zimmer, Michigan Department of Wood-damaging Pests. Manual 96. University Extension, Agriculture; Mel Poplar, Michigan Department of University of Missouri, Columbia. Agriculture; and John Haslem, former pest management supervisor at Michigan State University. We also thank Smith, J.A. and N.R. Ehmann. Pest Control Library, Vol. Rick Spencer of Master Pest Control and Bob Stoddard of IX: Wood-destroying Organisms (Other than Termites). Van EnviroSafe for sending in their comments. Waters & Rogers, Inc., San Jose, California. We acknowledge the main sources of text and illustra- Verrall, A.F., and T.L. Amburgey. 1979. Prevention and tions for this manual: the Texas Agricultural Extension Control of Decay in Homes. U.S. Department of Agriculture Service manual, Control of Termites and Other Wood Pests, Forest Service anNd the Department of Housing and B-5075, Texas A&M University, 1999, and Truman’s Urban Development: IAA-25-75. Scientific Guide to Pest Control Operations (fifth edition), We also acknowledge illustrations from slides obtained G.W. Bennett, J.M. Owens and R.M. Corrigan, Purdue from the Dow Chemical Corporation3 and the West 1 University/ Advantsar Communications Project, 1997. Virginia Cooperative Extension Service.4 Other publications that were helpful in producing this manual include: 1The following illustrations were reproduced from Truman’s Cutten, G.M. 1988. Termite Control in Ontario. Ministry Scientific Guide to Pest Control, 5th ed., copyright by Advanstar of the Environment, Ottawa, Ontario. Communications, Inc: Figures: (some original drawings by Arwin Provonsha, Purdue University): Figures 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, Koehler, P.G., and W.H. Kern, Jr. 1994. General Household 2.6, 2.9, 2.13, 2.17. 2.18, 2.19, 3.1, 4.2, 4.3., 4.4, 5.3, 5.7, 5.8 and 6.1. Pest Control, Applicator Training Manual. University of 2The following illustrations were reproduced from A Guide to the Florida, Florida Cooperative Extension Service. Inspection of Existing Homes for Wood-inhabiting Fungi and Insects. Levy, M.P. 1975. A Guide to the Inspection of Existing U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and the Homes for Wood-inhabiting Fungi and Insects. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (IAA-25-75): Department of Agriculture Forest Service and the 2.15, 2.16, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, and 7.8 Department of Housing and Urban Development (IAA- 3The following illustrations were reproduced from slides from 25-75). the Dow Chemical Corporation: Figures 2.7, 2.8, 2.10, 2.11, 2.12, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.10, 3.11, 3.13, 4.7, 5.1, 5.4, 5.5. Mallis, A. 1990. Handbook of Pest Control, 7th Edition. 4 Franzak & Foster Co., Cleveland, Ohio. The following illustrations were reproduced from the slide set Subterranean Termites—The Unwelcome Guests, 1981, West Virginia Moore, H. 1979. Wood-inhabiting Insects in Houses: Their Cooperative Extension Service in Cooperation with USDA and Identification, Biology, Prevention and Control. U.S. Department USEPA: Figures 2.14, 3.9, 3.12 and 3.14. of Agriculture Forest Service and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (IAA-25-75). New York State Cooperative Extension. 1987. Preservation and Treatment of Lumber and Wood Products. Pesticide Applicator Training Manual, Category 7. New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell, University, Ithaca, N.Y. Contents vi Management of Wood-destroying Pests Management of Wood-destroying Pests INTRODUCTION vi Termite Application Equipment 22 CHAPTER 1: LAWS CONCERNING CONTROL OF Sprayer Components 22 WOOD-DESTROYING PESTS 8 Tanks. 23 Protection: The Applicator’s Responsibility 8 Pumps. 23 More Than Just Pesticide Application 8 Hoses. 24 State and Federal Laws 9 Applicators 24 Federal Laws 9 Drills 25 FIFRA 9 Calibration of Sprayers 25 Endangered Species Act 9 Preventing Contamination of Drinking OSHA. 9 Water Systems 25 State Laws 9 Inspection of Wells 26 The Ohio Law 9 Methods 27 The State Certification Plan 9 Inspection 27 Pesticide License Information 10 The Inspection Report 29 The Application Process 10 Prevention 29 Exams 10 Sanitation 29 OSUE New School 10 Structural and Construction Defects 29 Commercial Renewal and Recertification Barriers 30 Information 10 Products Used in Termite Control 30 Summary 11 Pyrethroids 30 CHAPTER 2: THE BIOLOGY OF TERMITES AND Borates 30 OTHER WOOD-DESTROYING PESTS 1 2 Organophosphates and Carbamates 31 The Biology of Insects and their Relatives 12 Insect Growth Regulators 31 Other Divisions Used in Classification 13 Biotermiticides 31 Growth and Development 13 Foaming Agents 31 Growth. 13 Fumigation 32 Development 13 Advantages of Fumigation 32 The Biology of Termites 14 Disadvantages of Fumigation 32 Termite Distribution 14 Bait Technology and Application Subterranean Termites 15 Bait Placement 32 Eastern Subterranean Termites 15 Commercial Baiting Products 33 Colony Formation 16 Advantages and Disadvantages 33 The Termite and its Environment 17 Summary 33 Communication in the Colony 18 Other Termites 18 Drywood Termites 18 CHAPTER 4: SOIL TREATMENT FOR Dampwood Termites 19 SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES 34 Other Wood-destroying Insects and Pests 19 Foundation Types 34 Powderpost Beetles 19 Slab-on-ground 35 Longhorned Beetles 19 Crawl Space Construction 35 Black Carpenter Ants 20 Basement Construction 35 Carpenter Bees 20 Soil and Foundation Treating 35 Key to Insect Damage of Wood-destroying Pests 21 Summary 21 CHAPTER 3: EQUIPMENT and METHODS 22 Contents vi Management of Wood-destroying Pests Exterior Soil Treatment 36 Wood-boring Weevils 56 Exterior Slab Treatment 36 Longhorned Beetles 56 Construction 36 Control and Management of Longhorned Beetles 57 Treatment of Brick or Stone Veneer 37 Inspection 57 Interior Treatment Methods 37 Habitat Modification 57 Vertical Drilling 37 Pesticide Application 57 Short Rodding 37 Follow-up 57 Long Rodding 38 Carpenter Ants 57 Treatment Guidelines—Slab Construction Black Carpenter Ants 57 Special Cases 38 Ant and Termite Swarmers 58 Floating Slab Construction with Concrete Block Control and Management of Carpenter Ants 59 Foundation and Walls 38 Inspection 59 Floating Slab Construction with Concrete Habitat Modification 59 Foundation and Brick Veneer on Wood Frame 38 Pesticide Application 59 Monolithic Slab with Tile or Terrazzo Follow-up 59 Finished Floor 39 Carpenter Bees 59 Wood Over Slab 40 Control and Management of Carpenter Bees 60 Treatment Guidelines for Crawl Space Construction 40 Summary 60 Treatment Guidelines for Basement Construction 41 Special Considerations—Basements 41 Appendix A Glossary 61 Retreatments for Soil-applied Termiticides 41 Appendix B Wood-Boring Insects 68 Termite Calculation Problems and Solutions 41 Summary 42 Appendix C Structural and Housing Terms 69 Appendix D Convenient Conversion Factors 70 Appendix E Bibilography 73 CHAPTER 5: OTHER TREATMENTS FOR SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES 45 Plenum and Non-plenum Crawl Spaces 45 Subslab Heating Ducts 46 Special Considerations for Treating Basements 47 Dirt-filled Concrete Porch on a Frame House 48 Wooden Porches 48 Hollow Block, Tile, and Rubble Foundations 49 Wells, Cisterns, and Other Water Sources 49 Rigid Foam Insulation Board 49 Wood Treatment 49 Borates 50 Wood Injection 50 Summary 50 CHAPTER 6: OTHER WOOD -DESTROYING INSECTS 51 Prevention of Wood-boring Beetles 51 Powderpost Beetles 52 True Powderpost Beetles 52 False Powderpost Beetles 53 Furniture and Deathwatch Beetles 53 Control and Management of Powderpost Beetles 54 Inspection 54 Habitat Modification 55 Pesticide Application 55 Follow-up 56 Contents vi Management of Wood-destroying Pests INTRODUCTION How to Use This Manual The appendices and glossary, at the end of this manual provide supplemental information that will help you This manual contains the information needed to understand the topics covered in the chapters. Terms become a certified commercial applicator in Category 10b, throughout the manual text that are bold and italicized can Wood-destroying Pests. This manual is intended for use also be found in the glossary. in combination with the ApplyingPesticides Correctly (Extension Bulletin 825), available through the Ohio State This certification manual benefits the applicator and University Publication Office. However, this manual the general public. By learning how to handle pesticides would also be useful to anyone interested in learning correctly, applicators will be able to protect themselves, more about the management of Termite control. others, and the environment from pesticide misuse. For more specific information on how to become a certified Category