Re: termite & mulch hoax --consider the facts of life

**j*@aol.com**

The spread, or not, of the Formosan termite is determined by its 
biology.

Spread is indeed likely if intact infested wood is moved from one place 
to another.

However, converting infested wood into mulch exerts numerous pressures 
on the termites. This is explained in the Mulch and Soil Council?s 
special advisory which you can read at 
http://www.mulchandsoilcouncil.org/Membersonly/advisory.html.

Then, too, if you consider the biology of termites, you know that they 
are social insects. Thus, the good news is that a termite can?t survive 
on its own, even if it is a fertile queen. It must have three castes 
among its companions: reproductives (queen and king) to produce eggs; 
workers to forage, feed and groom the others, also to care for the 
queen; and soldiers to protect the colony against invaders.

So, even if one or several workers does survive in a bag of mulch ? no 
reproductives; no eggs; no hatch; no future colony.

Jean in Portland, OR
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