Necessary Pestilence continued...

The U.S. is home to many species of termites. The most common ones are the subterranean, drywood and Formosan termites. Most termites fall into the subterranean category and are able to tunnel in the soil. This ability allows them to find many separate pieces of wood on which to feed. This mobility also allows them to create much bigger colonies than those of wood-inhabiting species. A subterranean termite colony can have hundreds of thousands to several million members. Subterranean termites are difficult to spot. The best clue for a subterranean termite infestation is the presence of mud tubes on the walls. Soil-inhabiting termites can also be problems for rangeland, tropical forestry and tropical agriculture. "An ongoing detection and prevention program is essential, since a colony can be established and growing for several years before you will see swarms," Murray said. "By that time, there could be thousands of dollars in damage." Drywood termites can be very serious pests of houses and furniture. These termites are a bit easier to spot - they produce fecal pellets. "If you have drywood termites in your house you are likely to see the coarse sand-like pellets long before you discover the termites themselves," Murray said. "Waiting until you see swarms, mud tubes or actual damage to wood is very dangerous and expensive." "Preventing termites is as important as exterminating them," he said. Murray offers these tips for controlling termites: Check for termite clues, even if you live in a stucco or CBS home. These structures are not immune from termites, even though there is no wood near the ground. Termites build mud tunnels that can extend for 50-60 feet. Termites can also enter a home through expansion joints in concrete slabs, or where utilities enter the house.

At-a-glance : Termites are Built for Destruction. Termites cause over $5 billion in damage to U.S. homes each year. One small termite colony of approximately 60,000 termites can eat a linear foot of a common 2" x 4" in just five months. In some regions of the United States, Formosan subterranean termite colonies typically number in the millions, and forage over 100-meter distances. Subterranean termites cause over 90 percent of termite damage in the U.S. Swarming can begin in January in the South, May or June in the North. Colonies can contain from several thousand to several million foragers. Some termites can chew through lead, asphalt, plaster or mortar to find wood. Almost 4 million U.S. homes are infested by termites each year. Termites can be found in every state except for Alaska. Termites on Earth outweigh humans on Earth. Termite queens live for 15 to 25 years, and can lay an egg every 15 seconds.

Good news for those of you who love Alaska, and choose to live there. Don’t worry, you are the lucky ones. Termites do not seem to thrive in your state, in fact, Alaska is the only state in the Union where termites don’t live. You just have to put up with those man-eating mosquitoes of yours, and of course, some snow. In Tucson, we do have mosquitoes, but only at certain times of the year. Termites are just something we who choose to dwell in the Sonora Desert regions must learn to deal with. Small price to pay for the entrancing vistas and enviable weather.

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http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7415.html

http://www.desertmuseum.org/books/nhsd_grasshoppers.html

http://www.termite.com/termites/arizona.html

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7415.html

http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/insects/az1232/

http://new.trulynolen.com/AboutUs/2-28-2002.html?c=press_release.html

http://www.dowagro.com/hexpro/termites.html

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