Re: Termites, cheap mulch and hurricanes

**j*@aol.com**

This info has been circulating locally via emails.  I sent this reply 
to a friend.
--
If you go to the LSU site and read the article you'll see that the 
warning is against spreading the termites via wood -- as in re-using 
wood to build new structures.

Thus, the info refers to intact "wood" or other such "intact" material 
but not to mulch.

When mulch is made, the wood pieces are ground up. In order for the 
termites to survive and thrive, a queen must be present. That won't 
occur in mulch made from infested wood.

Bags of mulch, if allowed to sit around for a time, could be infested. 
So, I continued looking through that extensive web site and found 
further info.

The good news is that wood, etc, is under quarantine. Thus a 
responsible shipper, etc., is unlikely to send infested goods 
elsewhere. But, as we know, not everyone is reliable and/or 
responsible.

Here's an excerpt from a different page at LSU
http://www.agctr.lsu.edu/en/environment/insects/Termites/Landscapers+may+

help+Prevent+the+Spread+of+the+Formosan+Subterranean+Termite.htm

Note: If that link doesn't work, go to 
http://www.agctr.lsu.edu/termites/
Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on "more"
On the page that comes up, again scroll to the bottom of the page but 
this time, click on 4 (in the series 1234)
The story is the top one: Landscapers may help Prevent the Spread of 
the Formosan Subterranean Termite

- - - The exerpt - - -
... "This termite hitches a ride to new areas in infested cellulose. At 
the time of this writing, the number one method of spreading the 
Formosan subterranean termite is infested railroad ties. The second 
most important method of spreading the Formosan subterranean termite is 
infested utility poles. Other methods of spreading the termite include: 
wood from structures, lumber, pallets, landscape timbers, wood used in 
the oil industry, firewood, trees, woody plants, sawdust, mulch, wood 
in boats, potted plants, mobile homes, homes and paper.

Do NOT move cellulose from infested areas unless you are sure the 
material is not infested. EVERYONE has a responsibility to prevent the 
spread of termites! If there is a doubt about whether or not material 
is infested, either do NOT move the material or treat it properly 
before moving it. The Formosan subterranean termite is known to infest 
parts of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, 
Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

To determine if material is infested, make a thorough inspection 
looking for termites, damaged wood, soil, mud tubes and carton nest. 
Infrared photography may be used to help determine if the inside of 
wood is infested. ..."
- - -

Bottom line as I see it: The risk is very low. Even so, be an aware 
consumer.

Jean
in Portland, OR

-----Original Message-----
Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2006 10:51:10 -0500
From: "DGreen" <dgreen@kingston.net>
Subject: [GWL] Termites, cheap mulch and hurricanes

You might want to peruse this article at LSU on termites (see the 
bottom of
this page for relevant articles). With cheap mulch on the way this 
spring,
there is apparently a very real danger of spreading some pretty vicious
critters in that mulch. Can you say "special" on mulch this spring? You
may want to warn your readers.

http://www.agctr.lsu.edu/termites/

Doug

Doug Green SGF Communications: e-publishing content
Home: http://www.simplegiftsfarm.com

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