Termitas En El Sistema Comercial

November 16, 2017

Termitas En El Sistema Comercial

Las termitas en el sistema comercial

A menudo, la prensa anuncia que el consenso sobre la conveniencia del libre comercio entre economistas ha desaparecido. Pero en cada caso, han sido refutadas.

Hoy en día, el argumento más potente es que el libre comercio puede aumentar los ingresos y la riqueza, pero que suprime los salarios de los trabajadores e incluso perjudica a la clase media. Casi todas las investigaciones demuestran que esta afirmación también es errónea.

Mi propia investigación demuestra que el comercio incluso puede haber moderado la caída de los salarios que produce el cambio técnico que ahorra mano de obra. No hay duda de que, en esta cuestión, el senador McCain tiene el mejor argumento sobre el senador Obama.

Pero McCain, como muchos otros en América, se equivoca al pensar que liberar el comercio a través de los Acuerdos de Libre Comercio es una buena idea. Los TLC, que se describen mejor como Acuerdos Comerciales Preferenciales, o PTA, ya que el libre comercio para los miembros solamente, es como liberar el comercio sobre una base discriminatoria. Como argumento en mi libro, "Las termitas en el sistema comercial", los TLC tienen varios inconvenientes que deben ser reconocidos.

Primero, a menudo desviarán el comercio de fuentes no miembros más baratas a fuentes de miembros más caras, trayendo daño en lugar de bien. Además, el enorme crecimiento de estos TLC, ahora más de 350 y aún creciendo, ha llevado a un efecto sistémico: crear un "cuenco de espagueti" de preferencias y caos en el sistema comercial mundial.

En las negociaciones individuales entre los Estados Unidos y los socios débiles y más pequeños del TLC, varios grupos de presión han impuesto demandas no relacionadas con el comercio de estas naciones, aumentando los resentimientos en el extranjero. En Seúl, hubo una manifestación callejera contra el TLC entre Estados Unidos y Corea del Sur propuesto. Estos grupos de presión incluyen sindicatos que buscan elevar los estándares y los costos de producción de firmas rivales en el extranjero, financieros que buscan la ausencia de controles de capital y empresas que desean una mayor protección por patentes.

Hay muchas razones para creer que estos acuerdos comerciales preferenciales han frenado nuestros avances en la liberalización multilateral del comercio, como sucedió con la Ronda de Doha de negociaciones comerciales multilaterales. El éxito de la Ronda de Doha es esencial para fortalecer el sistema multilateral de comercio, que es beneficioso para todos.

Pero la doctrina estadounidense de inducir la liberalización del comercio multilateral al firmar acuerdos de libre comercio ha demostrado ser una quimera. Mucha atención y cabildeo ha sido desviado a acuerdos sin importancia. Así que tenemos que poner una moratoria en más ALC, mientras que el tratamiento de los ya ratificados como agua bajo el puente.

Los comerciantes libres que son partidarios apasionados de estos TLC están socavando todo lo que hemos trabajado para producir y fortalecer un sistema de comercio no discriminatorio. No hay mejor ejemplo de locura forjada por las buenas intenciones.

Los siguientes son extractos de "Las termitas en el sistema de comercio: cómo los acuerdos preferenciales socavan el libre comercio":

Proliferación de acuerdos comerciales preferenciales

Quizás el flirteo histórico más llamativo con las preferencias en el comercio vino de John Maynard Keynes, discutible el economista más influyente del vigésimo siglo. Al final de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, los británicos se mostraban escépticos respecto a la no discriminación como lo implicaba la cláusula de nación más favorecida, o NMF, que automáticamente extendería a cada país miembro de la institución comercial propuesta el arancel más bajo extendido a cualquier miembro. También deseaban mantener su preferencia imperial, que extendía la protección británica a sus colonias y dominios. Por otra parte, los norteamericanos apoyaron vigorosamente la cláusula de la NMF y favorecieron la no discriminación en los arreglos comerciales que se contemplaban después de la conclusión de la guerra. Ellos fueron dirigidos por Cordell Hull, el Secretario de Estado entre 1933 y 1944 y un ganador del Premio Nobel de la Paz; Creía, no sin sustancia, que el libre comercio también conduciría a la paz, no sólo a la prosperidad. Keynes se puso de parte de los suyos, e hizo la siguiente declaración característicamente extravagante:

"Mi fuerte reacción contra la palabra" discriminación "es el resultado de mi sentimiento tan apasionadamente que nuestras manos deben ser libres. La palabra llama y debe invocar toda la vieja madera, la cláusula de la nación más favorecida y todo lo demás que Fue un fracaso notorio y hecho tal hash del viejo mundo. También sabemos que no funcionará. Es el embrague de los muertos, o al menos la mano moribunda ".

Sin embargo, Keynes y otros economistas británicos que participaron en las negociaciones con los Estados Unidos y que dieron lugar al acuerdo final en las Propuestas para la Expansión del Comercio Mundial y el Empleo habían llegado a aceptar la opinión de Cordell Hull de que La no discriminación era un principio clave que debía prevalecer en el nuevo régimen propuesto para el comercio internacional. Keynes, que pensaba que la inflexibilidad intelectual era una marca de las mentes inferiores, entonces habló en la Cámara de los Lores cuáles son sus palabras más elocuentes:

"Las políticas propuestas apuntan sobre todo a la restauración del comercio multilateral, la base de las políticas ante ustedes es contra el trueque bilateral y toda clase de prácticas discriminatorias. Los bloques separados y toda la fricción y pérdida de amistad que deben traer Con ellos son expedientes a los que uno puede ser conducido en un mundo hostil, donde el comercio ha cesado en amplias áreas para ser cooperativo y pacífico y donde se olvidan las reglas saludables de la ventaja mutua y la igualdad de trato.

Mientras que sucede, Keynes estaba volviendo a una opinión de la contra-discriminación que había comenzado a hacer el sentido cada vez mayor a economistas durante los años 30. El comercio mundial se había ido desplazando paulatinamente hacia un régimen multilateral no discriminatorio mediante una creciente aceptación del principio NMF, según el cual todo miembro de un tratado comercial, más tarde el GATT, recibiría el mismo arancel más bajo que cualquier otro signatario del tratado Disfruta. Pero el comercio mundial pronto se convertiría desastrosamente en bilateralismo y preferencias en el comercio.

Lea casi todos los espléndidos relatos del comercio mundial en la década de 1930 y encontrará relatos fulminantes y fulminantes de cómo el proteccionismo tit-for-tat y las depreciaciones competitivas de la moneda, que estaban destinados a desviar la limitada demanda mundial a los propios bienes Reinflar la economía, llevó a un uso extensivo de cuotas, que son necesariamente discriminatorias. También condujeron a tratados bilaterales explícitos destinados a equilibrar los flujos comerciales bilateralmente donde sea posible.

Era evidente que el proteccionismo, cada nación comercial que actuaba por su cuenta, había dañado el sistema comercial mundial: cada nación siguió lo que el economista de Cambridge Joan Robinson llamó famosamente "mendigar las políticas de mi vecino", y muchos fueron mendigados al final. Por el contrario, una acción coordinada, evitando la protección y acordando aumentar la demanda agregada mundial (en lugar de buscar desviar a sí mismo una cantidad dada, insuficiente de la demanda mundial), habría producido un mejor resultado.

La Pandemia de PTAs

Hay otra ironía. La proliferación de preferencias entre guerras fue el resultado de una búsqueda descoordinada de proteccionismo, ayudada por el colapso de la estabilidad financiera y el equilibrio macroeconómico en la economía mundial. Pero la actual corriente de preferencias ha sido el resultado de que los políticos erróneamente, y de manera no coordinada, persiguen acuerdos de libre comercio porque piensan (erróneamente) que están persiguiendo una agenda de libre comercio.

Así que hoy tenemos un total acumulado de más de 350 PTA reportados a la OMC. Incluso si sólo se contabilizan PTAs activos, el total estimado sigue siendo grande. En cualquiera de las dos cuentas, los PTAs están aumentando evidentemente continuamente.

Entre los economistas, fui el primero en advertir contra los PTA, a partir de 1990 cuando sentí que estábamos enfrentando una amenaza sistémica al principio de no discriminación en el comercio mundial. Yo estaba entonces en una minoría de uno, incluso entre economistas, muchos de los cuales pensaban que yo era un "fanático multilateralista". En el otro lado estaban economistas verdaderamente eminentes, entre ellos Larry Summers, que se convirtió en el Secretario del Tesoro de los Estados Unidos, y el notable Paul Krugman, mi antiguo estudiante del MIT y ahora columnista del New York Times.

Pero ahora que la proliferación y sus muchas desventajas se han hecho evidentes, y cada vez más amenazantes, me atrevo a decir que la profesión se ha movido como un rebaño en mi rincón. Pascal Lamy, actualmente Director General de la OMC, señaló una vez que la mitad de los economistas del mundo se oponían ahora a los TLC. Respondí maliciosamente que esto era una subestimación inglesa de un distinguido francés; De hecho, casi todos lo eran.

Descubrí que la Unión Europea que comenzó la pandemia mientras los Estados Unidos la había agravado enormemente, aplicó su arancel NMF a sólo seis países - Australia, Nueva Zelanda, Canadá, Japón, Taiwán y Estados Unidos - con todas las demás naciones disfrutando de más Tarifas favorables. Le pregunté a Pascal Lamy, que era entonces el E. U. Comisario de Comercio, ¿Por qué no llamarlo la tarifa LFN (nación menos favorecida)?

En resumen, ahora tenemos una vez más un mundo enturbiado por el comercio discriminatorio, como lo hicimos en los años treinta. Y sabemos cómo resultó eso.

El Sr. Bhagwati, profesor de economía internacional en el Consejo de Relaciones Exteriores, publicó recientemente su libro más reciente, "Las termitas en el sistema comercial".

Las termitas en el sistema de comercio: cómo los acuerdos preferenciales socavan el libre comercio

Jagdish Bhagwati, economista de renombre internacional que combina singularmente una reputación como el principal estudioso del comercio internacional con una presencia sustancial en la política pública sobre los temas importantes del día, brilla aquí una luz crítica sobreMore Jagdish Bhagwati, el economista de renombre internacional que combina de forma única Una reputación como el principal estudioso del comercio internacional con una presencia sustancial en la política pública sobre las cuestiones importantes del día, brilla aquí una luz crítica sobre los acuerdos comerciales preferenciales, revelando cómo la rápida propagación de las PTA pone en peligro el sistema mundial de comercio. Los acuerdos preferenciales de comercio, muchos de los cuales adoptan la forma de acuerdos de libre comercio, han vuelto a crear la situación desafortunada de los años treinta, cuando el comercio mundial se vio socavado por prácticas discriminatorias. Mientras que esto fue el resultado del proteccionismo en aquellos días, irónicamente es el resultado de una búsqueda equivocada del libre comercio a través de las PTAs de hoy. El sistema mundial de comercio está de nuevo en riesgo, sostiene el autor, y el peligro es palpable. Bhagwati, escribiendo con su ingenio, brillo y elegancia habituales, documenta el crecimiento de estos PTA, las razones de su proliferación y sus consecuencias deplorables, que incluyen la casi destrucción de la no discriminación que estaba en el corazón de la arquitectura comercial de posguerra y Su reemplazo por lo que él ha llamado el cuenco de espaguetis de un laberinto de preferencias. Bhagwati también documenta cómo las PTA han socavado las perspectivas de la liberalización multilateral del comercio, sirviendo de piedra de tropiezo, en vez de bloques de construcción, para el objetivo de alcanzar el libre comercio multilateral. En resumen, Bhagwati demuestra convincentemente por qué las PTA son termitas en el sistema de comercio. Menos

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Rahul ha calificado que le ha gustado mucho

Hace aproximadamente 7 años

Este libro alimentó mi deseo de sacar y hacer más lectura académica. Mientras que un libro pequeño, Bhagwati embala este libro lleno de análisis sobre el sistema actual de comercio global.

Él hace valiosas penetraciones en la premisa falsa que los acuerdos de libre comercio (TLC) están promoviendo de libre. Leer reseña completa

Alex le ha gustado mucho

Hace más de 7 años

Lo recomienda para: Cualquier persona curiosa acerca de los acuerdos comerciales

No es mi taza de té, pero este es un resumen complejo (pero fácil de leer) sobre los beneficios del libre comercio, cómo el comercio libre hoy en realidad no lo es, y qué hacer al respecto. Este libro fue hecho para el everyman, así que compruébalo si estás interesado en este tema; es pequeño.

Aastha le ha gustado mucho

Hace mas de 7 años

Libro bastante fácil de entender sobre el sistema de comercio mundial. Bhagwati escribe de una manera que hace el libro interesante, que está diciendo mucho para un economista :)

Aaron lo añadió

Hace más de 7 años

Las termitas en el sistema de comercio

Fecha de publicación impresa: 2011

ISBN: 9780195331653

Editor: Oxford University Press

Abstracto

Este libro brilla una luz crítica sobre los acuerdos comerciales preferenciales (PTA), revelando cómo la rápida propagación de las PTA pone en peligro el sistema comercial mundial. Los acuerdos preferenciales de comercio, muchos de los cuales adoptan la forma de acuerdos de libre comercio, han vuelto a crear la situación desafortunada de los años treinta, cuando el comercio mundial se vio socavado por prácticas discriminatorias. Mientras que esto fue el resultado del proteccionismo en aquellos días, irónicamente es el resultado de una búsqueda equivocada del libre comercio a través de las PTAs de hoy. El sistema mundial de comercio está de nuevo en riesgo, sostiene el autor, y el peligro es palpable. Escribiendo con su ingenio, brillo y elegancia, el autor documenta el crecimiento de estos PTA, las razones de su proliferación y sus consecuencias deplorables que incluyen la casi destrucción de la no discriminación que estaba en el corazón de la arquitectura comercial de posguerra Y su sustitución por lo que ha llamado el plato de espaguetis de un laberinto de preferencias. El autor también documenta cómo las PTA han socavado las perspectivas de la liberalización multilateral del comercio, sirviendo de piedra de tropiezo, en vez de bloques, para el objetivo de alcanzar el libre comercio multilateral. En resumen, el autor demuestra convincentemente por qué las PTA son "termitas en el sistema de comercio".

Tabla de contenido

materia delantera

Las termitas en el sistema de comercio

Jagdish Bhagwati

Descripción

Jagdish Bhagwati, un economista de renombre internacional conocido por sus análisis perspicaces y escritura elegante, aquí brilla una luz crítica sobre los acuerdos comerciales preferenciales, revelando cómo la rápida propagación de PTAs pone en peligro el sistema mundial de comercio. Los acuerdos comerciales preferenciales, muchos de los cuales adoptan la forma de acuerdos de libre comercio, ahora son más de 300 y están aumentando rápidamente. Bhagwati revela cómo estos acuerdos han recreado la desdichada situación de los años 1930 proteccionistas, cuando el comercio mundial fue socavado por prácticas discriminatorias (hoy, irónicamente, como resultado de una búsqueda equivocada del libre comercio). El sistema de comercio mundial está definitivamente en riesgo de nuevo, sostiene el autor, y el peligro es palpable. De hecho, los PTA han creado un sistema de preferencias caótico que ha destruido el principio de no discriminación en el comercio. El sistema de comercio de hoy se caracteriza por una tormenta de barreras discriminatorias, cada una diseñada para favorecer a algún socio comercial específico, de modo que tenemos lo que Bhagwati ha llamado el problema de "cuenco de espagueti". Y mientras que las grandes empresas de los grandes países pueden hacer frente al caos, aunque a un costo, el autor muestra que los pequeños países y los pequeños exportadores están seriamente discapacitados. También examina cómo los TLC suelen estar ligados a cuestiones extrañas como la apertura a los flujos de capital y las normas laborales inapropiadas, de modo que las naciones más débiles, negociando uno a uno con naciones más fuertes, se ven obligadas a aceptar demandas no relacionadas con el comercio. Finalmente, el libro advierte que llegar al libre comercio multilateral desde el pantano de las PTAs será casi una tarea imposible, como construir una mansión de ladrillos de diferentes tamaños. Los acuerdos comerciales preferenciales, concluye Bhagwati, no son bloques de construcción, sino que constituyen obstáculos en el camino del libre comercio. En las termitas en el sistema comercial. Ilumina esta creciente amenaza para el sistema mundial de comercio.

Acclaim for En Defensa de la Globalización:

"Si el Sr. Bhagwati no recibe un merecido Premio Nobel de Economía, debe conseguir uno para la literatura, su escritura resplandece con anécdotas y encantadoras imágenes verbales". - Nueva York

"Uno de los principales teóricos del comercio internacional del mundo, accesible y claramente argumentado, hay, se podría decir, una riqueza de material en cada página". - El periodico de Wall Street

"Un libro excepcionalmente eficaz, hasta que se tome nota de que en Defence of Globalization se convierte en la referencia estándar de interés general, el manual inteligente de los laicos, sobre la integración económica mundial". - El economista

Las termitas en el sistema de comercio

Cómo los acuerdos preferenciales socavan el libre comercio

Jagdish Bhagwati

Tabla de contenido

1: Proliferating PTAs 2: ¿Por qué la epidemia? 3: ¿Por qué los PTA son una Pox en el Sistema Mundial de Comercio? 4: ¿Qué podemos hacer? Apéndice: Desarrollos Analíticos en la Teoría de los Acuerdos Comerciales Preferenciales en el período de posguerra: Un Primer Simple Glosario: Siglas, Frases y Conceptos

Las termitas en el sistema de comercio

Las termitas en el sistema comercial

En el actual debate político sobre el libre comercio para América hay que distinguir dos cuestiones: ¿Debemos tener libre comercio? Si estamos de acuerdo en que deberíamos, ¿cómo deberíamos comerciar libremente?

A menudo, la prensa anuncia que el consenso sobre la conveniencia del libre comercio entre economistas ha desaparecido. Pero en cada caso, han sido refutadas.

Hoy, el argumento más potente es que el libre comercio puede aumentar los ingresos y la riqueza, pero que suprime a los trabajadores. Salarios e incluso perjudica a la clase media. Casi todas las investigaciones demuestran que esta afirmación también es errónea.

Pero McCain, como muchos otros en América, se equivoca al pensar que liberar el comercio a través de los Acuerdos de Libre Comercio es una buena idea. Los TLC, que se describen mejor como Acuerdos Comerciales Preferenciales, o PTA, ya que el libre comercio para los miembros solamente, es como liberar el comercio sobre una base discriminatoria. Como argumento en mi libro, "Las termitas en el sistema de comercio, & # 8221; Los TLC tienen varios inconvenientes que deben ser reconocidos.

Primero, a menudo desviarán el comercio de fuentes no miembros más baratas a fuentes de miembros más caras, trayendo daño en lugar de bien. Además, el enorme crecimiento de estos TLC, ahora más de 350 y aún creciendo, ha llevado a un efecto sistémico: la creación de un cuenco de espaguetis & # 8221; De las preferencias y el caos en el sistema comercial mundial.

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Las termitas en el sistema de comercio

Compre este libro en Amazon.

Jagdish Bhagwati, el economista de renombre internacional que combina singularmente una reputación como el principal estudioso del comercio internacional con una presencia sustancial en la política pública sobre los temas importantes del día, brilla aquí una luz crítica sobre los acuerdos comerciales preferenciales, revelando cómo la rápida propagación de PTA pone en peligro el sistema mundial de comercio.

Los acuerdos preferenciales de comercio, muchos de los cuales adoptan la forma de acuerdos de libre comercio, han vuelto a crear la situación desafortunada de los años treinta, cuando el comercio mundial se vio socavado por prácticas discriminatorias. Mientras que esto fue el resultado del proteccionismo en aquellos días, irónicamente es el resultado de una búsqueda equivocada del libre comercio a través de las PTAs de hoy. El sistema mundial de comercio está de nuevo en riesgo, sostiene el autor, y el peligro es palpable.

Bhagwati, escribiendo con su ingenio, brillo y elegancia habituales, documenta el crecimiento de estos PTA, las razones de su proliferación y sus consecuencias deplorables, que incluyen la casi destrucción de la no discriminación que estaba en el corazón de la arquitectura comercial de posguerra y Su reemplazo por lo que él ha llamado el cuenco de espaguetis & # 8221; De un laberinto de preferencias. Bhagwati también documenta cómo las PTA han socavado las perspectivas de la liberalización multilateral del comercio, sirviendo de piedra de tropiezo, en vez de bloques de construcción, para el objetivo de alcanzar el libre comercio multilateral.

Jagdish Bhagwati es un estudioso adjunto en AEI.

Elogios para las termitas en el sistema comercial

& # 8220; El principal experto en política comercial del mundo explica por qué lo que él llama "acuerdos comerciales preferenciales & # 8217; No son un camino hacia el libre comercio global, sino un paso peligroso lejos de él. Jagdish Bhagwati, un oponente de larga data y valiente de estos arreglos y particularmente de aquellos entre las potencias hegemónicas y los países en desarrollo, explica cómo promueven la costosa desviación del comercio, interfieren con el funcionamiento eficiente de los negocios globales y permiten a las grandes potencias extraer concesiones injustificadas de los países más débiles . Este libro subraya la constante sabiduría de la no discriminación, el ahora casi completamente olvidado principio fundador del sistema comercial mundial, y concluye que la única manera de volver a la cordura es el movimiento hacia el libre acceso a los mercados para todos.

& # 8211; Martin Wolf, comentarista jefe de economía, Financial Times

Los padres fundadores del sistema comercial de la posguerra eligieron sabiamente la no discriminación como su principio central. Pero los últimos quince años han sido testigos de su erosión debido a la proliferación de Acuerdos Comerciales Preferenciales. Jagdish Bhagwati, el principal economista de nuestro tiempo, tocó primero las campanas de alarma sobre el cuenco de espaguetis resultante & # 8217; Discriminatorias. Ahora, con su habitual mezcla de brillantez, ingenio y franqueza, describe el surgimiento de las PTAs y analiza por qué ha ocurrido y cómo amenaza el sistema comercial multilateral. Este libro es una lectura esencial no sólo para economistas y diplomáticos de comercio, sino para cualquier persona preocupada por el diseño de las instituciones que son centrales para nuestra prosperidad.

André Sapir, profesor de economía de la Universidad Libre de Bruselas, ex asesor económico del presidente de la Comisión Europea Romano Prodi (2001-2004)

Discusión: (0 comentarios)

Las termitas en el sistema comercial

A menudo, la prensa anuncia que el consenso sobre la conveniencia del libre comercio entre economistas ha desaparecido. Pero en cada caso, han sido refutadas.

La doctrina estadounidense de inducir la liberalización del comercio multilateral mediante la firma de acuerdos de libre comercio ha demostrado ser una quimera.

Pero McCain, como muchos otros en América, se equivoca al pensar que liberar el comercio a través de los Acuerdos de Libre Comercio es una buena idea. Los TLC, que se describen mejor como Acuerdos Comerciales Preferenciales, o PTA, ya que el libre comercio para los miembros solamente, es como liberar el comercio sobre una base discriminatoria. Como argumento en mi libro, las termitas en el sistema de comercio. Los TLC tienen varios inconvenientes que deben ser reconocidos.

Primero, a menudo desviarán el comercio de fuentes no miembros más baratas a fuentes de miembros más caras, trayendo daño en lugar de bien. Además, el enorme crecimiento de estos TLC, ahora más de 350 y aún creciendo, ha llevado a un efecto sistémico: la creación de un cuenco de espaguetis & # 8221; De las preferencias y el caos en el sistema comercial mundial.

Proliferación de acuerdos comerciales preferenciales

Mi fuerte reacción contra la palabra "discriminación" Es el resultado de mi sentimiento tan apasionadamente que nuestras manos deben ser libres. La palabra llama y debe llamar a & # 8230; Toda la madera vieja, la cláusula de la nación más favorecida y todo el resto que fue un fracaso notorio y que hizo tal hash del viejo mundo. Sabemos también que no funcionará. Es el embrague de los muertos, o al menos la mano moribunda.

[Las políticas propuestas] apuntan, sobre todo, al restablecimiento del comercio multilateral; La base de las políticas ante usted es contra el trueque bilateral y toda clase de prácticas discriminatorias. Los bloques separados y toda la fricción y pérdida de amistad que deben traer consigo son expedientes a los cuales uno puede ser conducido en un mundo hostil donde el comercio ha cesado en áreas extensas para ser cooperativo y pacífico y donde se olvidan las reglas sanas de la ventaja mutua Y la igualdad de trato. Pero seguramente es una locura preferir eso.

Lea casi todos los espléndidos relatos del comercio mundial en la década de 1930 y encontrará relatos fulminantes y fulminantes de cómo el proteccionismo tit-for-tat y las depreciaciones competitivas de la moneda, que tenían la intención de desviar la limitada demanda mundial a uno & # 8217; Para reinflar la economía de uno, condujo al uso extensivo de cuotas, que son necesariamente discriminatorias. También condujeron a tratados bilaterales explícitos destinados a equilibrar los flujos comerciales bilateralmente donde sea posible.

Era evidente que el proteccionismo, cada nación comercial que actuaba por su cuenta, había dañado el sistema mundial de comercio: cada nación siguió lo que el economista de Cambridge Joan Robinson llamó famosamente a "mendigar las políticas de mi vecino", & # 82221; Y muchos fueron mendigados al final. Por el contrario, una acción coordinada, evitando la protección y acordando aumentar la demanda agregada mundial (en lugar de buscar desviar a sí mismo una cantidad dada, insuficiente de la demanda mundial), habría producido un mejor resultado.

La Pandemia de PTAs

Hay otra ironía. La proliferación de preferencias entre guerras fue el resultado de una búsqueda descoordinada de proteccionismo, ayudada por el colapso de la estabilidad financiera y el equilibrio macroeconómico en la economía mundial. But the current tide of preferences has been a result of politicians mistakenly, and in an uncoordinated fashion, pursuing free trade agreements because they think (erroneously) that they are pursuing a free trade agenda.

So today we have a cumulative total of over 350 PTAs reported to the WTO. Even if only active PTAs are counted, the estimated total is still large. By either count, the PTAs are evidently increasing continually.

Among economists, I was the earliest to warn against PTAs, starting in 1990 when I sensed that we were facing a systemic threat to the principle of nondiscrimination in world trade. I was then in a minority of one, even among economists, many of whom thought I was a “multilateralist freak.” Arrayed on the other side were truly eminent economists, among them Larry Summers, who became the U. S. Treasury Secretary, and the remarkable Paul Krugman, my former MIT student and now New York Times columnist.

But now that the proliferation and its many downsides have become evident, and ever more threatening, I daresay that the profession has moved like a herd into my corner. Pascal Lamy, currently the Director General of the WTO, once remarked that half the economists in the world were now opposed to FTAs. I retorted mischievously that this was an English understatement by a distinguished Frenchman; in fact, nearly all were.

I discovered that the European Union which started the pandemic while the United States had grossly aggravated it, applied its MFN tariff to only six countries–Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Taiwan, and the United States–with all other nations enjoying more favorable tariffs. I asked Pascal Lamy, who was then the E. U. Trade Commissioner, Why not call it the LFN (least favored nation) tariff?

In short, we now have once again a world marred by discriminatory trade, much as we had in the 1930s. And we know how that turned out.

Jagdish Bhagwati is an adjunct scholar at AEI.

Discussion: (0 comments)

How Free Is Free Trade. Bhagwati's 'Termites in the Trading System'

Termites in the Trading System by Jagdish Bhagwati

Jagdish Bhagwati is one of the world's most distinguished economists. Currently a university professor at Columbia, Mr. Bhagwati is a rare academic who has the great ability to communicate his ideas to a more general audience. In works such as his recent book, "In Defense of Globalization," Mr. Bhagwati has become famous as a persuasive and articulate proponent of expanding world trade to help improve the lot of the poor. In "Termites in the Trading System," Mr. Bhagwati argues that not all trade deserves our equal support, however, and mounts a brisk and spirited attack on preferential, so-called "free trade" agreements that are, in his view, leading the world trading system astray.

Wait a minute: Aren't these agreements — such as NAFTA — almost invariably opposed by anti-trade groups precisely because they open up markets? Why is one of the world's staunchest supporters of free trade protesting so passionately against this method of reducing trade barriers?

The problem, Mr. Bhagwati shows, is that not all trade agreements are created equal. The right way to reduce trade barriers, he explains, is on a multilateral basis and in a nondiscriminatory way. After World War II, America led the world in creating the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which did just that, by encouraging the reduction of tariffs and liberalization of other import restrictions. In recent years, however, countries have increasingly bypassed this system. Now, it is common for two or more countries to agree to eliminate tariffs and reduce other trade barriers for each other, but not for others, as is the case with NAFTA. Such agreements have been in vogue around the world, particularly with the current Bush administration: Under Bush, America has concluded a major trade agreement with Central American countries (CAFTA) and a series of bilateral agreements with countries ranging from Oman to Australia, and — most recently and controversially — Colombia.

The main problem with these bilateral and regional agreements is that they exclude other countries. In Mr. Bhagwati's view, they are more accurately called "preferential" trade agreements because they discriminate against non-participating countries. This is a violation, Mr. Bhagwati suggests, of the principle of nondiscriminatory trade liberalization that served as the cornerstone of the tremendously successful post-World War II trading system under the GATT (and now the WTO).

By introducing discriminatory treatment into the trading system, the movement toward preferential trade agreements sacrifices economic efficiency and, perhaps more troublingly, throws the carefully constructed postwar system into disorder. Instead of having one common multilateral system, we now have a bewildering array of complex and overlapping bilateral and regional agreements, each with conflicting and contradictory provisions regarding trade in goods and services. Mr. Bhagwati, always quick with an illuminating metaphor, has referred to this as the "spaghetti bowl" system, in which these agreements create a tangled mess of restrictions and regulations, ultimately disrupting rather than promoting free trade.

Thus, Mr. Bhagwati is by no means anti-trade or anti-trade agreements; instead, he makes a strong case for opening trade much more aggressively at the multilateral level — with all-inclusive and nondiscriminatory agreements. (Curiously, however, he says little about unilateral moves toward freer trade, a topic of great importance on which he has written elsewhere. After all, if free trade is so good, countries should be willing to move in that direction by themselves without waiting for international cooperation.)

There is little doubt that Mr. Bhagwati is right in his preference for multilateral and universal agreements, but he does not resolve the problem faced by those who support free trade but lack his sophisticated and nuanced understanding of economics — and who may need to take a position on bilateral agreements that serve to promote certain kinds of trade but only by discriminating against others. For example, how should one think about the America-Colombia Free Trade Agreement that is currently being held in the House of Representatives? Mr. Bhagwati would presumably oppose this preferential trade agreement on the principled grounds that it will have a small but corrosive effect on the multilateral WTO system. But the main opponents object to it simply because they object to almost any measure to reduce trade barriers. Should one join with the anti-trade left and oppose the agreement on the basis of Mr. Bhagwati's arguments? Or should one support the agreement as a way of helping President Alvaro Uribe in his government's efforts to strengthen the economy and fight the corrupting influence of drug lords and meddling by Venezuela's Hugo Chavez?

As the Colombian example suggests, many "free trade" agreements are motivated by foreign policy considerations. Mr. Bhagwati writes that countries continue to pursue preferential trade agreements because there is "widespread intellectual failure to understand the critical distinction between freeing trade in discriminatory and nondiscriminatory ways," and because politicians, he says, have an "imperviousness to reason." An alternative hypothesis is that politicians are not seeking to enhance economic efficiency or improve the world trading system, but have other, political objectives in mind.

In the end, Mr. Bhagwati concedes that "halting the formation of [preferential trade agreements] is no longer a possibility." He pins his hopes on mitigating their adverse effects on trade by reducing overall trade barriers to such an extent that preferences and discrimination do not matter all that much. That in turn depends upon future unilateral efforts at trade liberalization and further progress at the WTO.

Mr. Bhagwati's concise book of just 100 pages of text should be read by all who care about the world trading system today. "Termites" may be a bit challenging for those new to the trade policy debate, but it is written with a light touch, with many amusing stories, examples, and effective argumentation that make it, above and beyond its policy significance, a genuine pleasure to read.

Mr. Irwin is professor of economics at Dartmouth College and author of "Free Trade Under Fire."

Termites in the Trading System: How Preferential Agreements Undermine Free Trade

Jagdish Bhagwati, an internationally renowned economist known for his insightful analyses and elegant writing, here shines a critical light on Preferential Trade Agreements, revealing how the rapid spread of PTAs endangers the world trading system. Preferential Trade Agreements, many taking the form of Free Trade Agreements, now number over 300 and are rapidly increasing. Bhagwati reveals how these agreements have recreated the unhappy situation of the protectionist 1930s, when world trade was undermined by discriminatory practices (today, ironically, as a result of a misdirected pursuit of free trade). The world trading system is definitely at risk again, the author argues, and the danger is palpable. Indeed, PTAs have created a chaotic system of preferences that has destroyed the principle of non-discrimination in trade. The trading system today is characterized by a blizzard of discriminatory barriers, each designed to favor some specific trading partner, so that we have what Bhagwati has called the "spaghetti bowl" problema. And while the big firms in the big countries can cope with the chaos, though at a cost, the author shows that small countries and small exporters are seriously handicapped. He also examines how FTAs are typically tied to extraneous issues such as openness to capital flows and inappropriate labor standards, so that the weaker nations, negotiating one-on-one with stronger nations, are forced to accept harmful demands unrelated to trade. Finally, the book warns that getting to multilateral free trade from the morass of PTAs will be almost an impossible task--like building a mansion from different-sized bricks. Preferential trade agreements, Bhagwati concludes, are not building blocks but stumbling blocks on the road of free trade. In Termites in the Trading System, he illuminates this growing threat to the world trading system. Acclaim for In Defense of Globalization: "If Mr. Bhagwati doesn't get a much deserved Nobel Prize for economics, he should get one for literature. His writing sparkles with anecdotes and delightful verbal pictures." --New York Sun "One of the world's leading international trade theorists. Accessible and clearly argued. There is, one might say, a wealth of material on every page." --The Wall Street Journal "An outstandingly effective book. Until further notice In Defense of Globalization becomes the standard general-interest reference, the intelligent layman's handbook, on global economic integration." --The Economist Available in OSO: http://www. oxfordscholarship. com/oso/public/content/economicsfinance/9780195331653/toc. html

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Termites in the Trading System: How Preferential Agreements Undermine Free Trade (Council of Foreign Relations)

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Review

Bhagwati is widely acknowledged as one of the world's foremost experts of trade policy generally. His analytical strengths lie in his ability to convey relatively complex ideas and theories on trade policy in a readable, insightful, and lively manner, and this text is an illustrative example of this. ( World Trade Review )

Descripción del producto

Sobre el Autor

Jagdish Bhagwati is University Professor of Economics and Law at Columbia University and is Senior Fellow in International Economics at the Council on Foreign Relations. His books include In Defense of Globalization . which Barrons and Businessweek named one of the best business books of 2004.

Acerca de este artículo

Termites in the Trading System: How Preferential Agreements Undermine Free Trade

Jagdish Bhagwati, the internationally renowned economist who uniquely combines a reputation as the leading scholar of international trade with a substantial presence in public policy on the important issues of the day, shines here a critical light on Preferential Trade Agreements, revealing how the rapid spread of PTAs endangers the world trading system. Numbering by now well over 300, and rapidly increasing, these preferential trade agreements, many taking the form of Free Trade Agreements, have re-created the unhappy situation of the 1930s, when world trade was undermined by discriminatory practices. Whereas this was the result of protectionism in those days, ironically it is a result of misdirected pursuit of free trade via PTAs today. The world trading system is at risk again, the author argues, and the danger is palpable. Writing with his customary wit, panache and elegance, Bhagwati documents the growth of these PTAs, the reasons for their proliferation, and their deplorable consequences which include the near-destruction of the non-discrimination which was at the heart of the postwar trade architecture and its replacement by what he has called the spaghetti bowl of a maze of preferences. Bhagwati also documents how PTAs have undermined the prospects for multilateral freeing of trade, serving as stumbling blocks, instead of building blocks, for the objective of reaching multilateral free trade. In short, Bhagwati cogently demonstrates why PTAs are Termites in the Trading System. Leer menos

Jagdish Bhagwati, free trade advocate extraordinaire, says John McCain "is mistaken in thinking that freeing trade through Free Trade Agreements is a good idea":

Termites in the Trade System, by Jagdish Bhagwati, Commentary, NY Sun. Two different questions must be distinguished in the current political debate on free trade for America: Should we have free trade? If we agree that we should, how should we trade freely.

Today, the most potent argument [against free trade] is that free trade may increase income and wealth, but that it suppresses workers' wages ands even harms the middle class. Casi todas las investigaciones demuestran que esta afirmación también es errónea. There is little doubt that, on this issue, Senator McCain has the better of the argument over Senator Obama.

But Mr. McCain, like many others in America, is mistaken in thinking that freeing trade through Free Trade Agreements is a good idea. FTAs, which are better described as Preferential Trade Agreements, or PTAs, since they free trade for members only, is like freeing trade on a discriminatory basis. As I argue in my book, "Termites in the Trading System," FTAs have several crippling downsides that must be recognized.

First, they will often divert trade from cheaper nonmember sources to more expensive member sources, bringing harm rather than good. Also, the enormous growth of such FTAs, now more than 350 and still growing, has led to a systemic effect: creating a "spaghetti bowl" of preferences and chaos in the world trading system.

In one-on-one negotiations between America and weak, smaller FTA partners, several lobbies have imposed demands unrelated to trade on these nations, increasing resentments abroad. In Seoul, there was a street demonstration against the proposed U. S.-South Korea FTA. These lobbies include labor unions seeking to raise standards and production costs of rival firms abroad, financiers seeking absence of capital controls, and firms wanting higher patent protection.

There are plenty of reasons to believe that these preferential trade agreements have slowed down our progress on the multilateral freeing of trade, as with the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations.

The free traders who are passionate supporters of these FTAs are undermining everything that we have worked for to produce and strengthen a non-discriminatory trading system. There is no better example of folly wrought by good intentions.

[T]he current tide of preferences has been a result of politicians mistakenly, and in an uncoordinated fashion, pursuing free trade agreements because they think (erroneously) that they are pursuing a free trade agenda.

So today we have a cumulative total of over 350 PTAs reported to the WTO. In short, we now have once again a world marred by discriminatory trade, much as we had in the 1930s. And we know how that turned out.

"Termites in the Trade System"

Jagdish Bhagwati, free trade advocate extraordinaire, says John McCain "is mistaken in thinking that freeing trade through Free Trade Agreements is a good idea":

Termites in the Trading System

Descripción

Review

"The world's foremost trade policy scholar explains why what he calls 'preferential trade arrangements' are not a path towards global free trade, but a dangerous step away from it. A long-standing and brave opponent of these arrangements and particularly of those between hegemonic powers and developing countries, Jagdish Bhagwati explains how they promote costly trade diversion, interfere with the efficient operation of global business and allow great powers to extract unjustified concessions from weaker countries. This book underlines the abiding wisdom of non-discrimination, the now almost completely forgotten founding principle of the world trading system, and concludes that the only way to return to sanity is by movement towards free market access for all." --Martin Wolf, Chief Economics Commentator, Financial Times "Highly recommended."--CHOICE "Jagdish Bhagwati is one of the world's most distinguished economists. a rare academic who has the great ability to communicate his ideas to a more general audience. written with a light touch, with many amusing stories, examples, and effective argumentation that make it, above and beyond its policy significance, a genuine pleasure to read. Mr. Bhagwati's concise book of just 100 pages of text should be read by all who care about the world trading system today."--The New York Sun "With layoffs in the auto sector and bailouts in the housing sector, exports are one of the few bright spots in the American economy. Begging the question: How can we sell even more? Columbia University economics professor Jagdish Bhagwati, for decades a leading international scholar on trade theory and practice, has someideas."--New York Post "Termites is a slim volume, but there is a lifetime of economic learning in it, expressed in clear, often witty, language that is accessible to interested lay readers. likely to be widely read."--Far Eastern Economic Review "The founding fathers of the postwar trading system wisely chose non-discrimination as its central principle. Pero los últimos quince años han sido testigos de su erosión debido a la proliferación de Acuerdos Comerciales Preferenciales. Jagdish Bhagwati, the leading trade economist of our time, rang first the alarm bells about the resulting spaghetti bowl of discriminatory rules and regulations. Now, with his usual blend of brilliance, wit and bluntness, he describes the rise of PTAs and analyzes why it has occurred and how it threatens the multilateral trading system. This book is essential reading not only for economists and trade diplomats, but for anyone concerned with the design of the institutions that are central to our prosperity. --Andre Sapir, Professor of Economics, Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Former economic adviser to European Commission president Romano Prodi (2001-2004)

"Jagdish Bhagwati is one of the world's most distinguished economists. a rare academic who has the great ability to communicate his ideas to a more general audience. written with a light touch, with many amusing stories, examples, and effective argumentation that make it, above and beyond its policy significance, a genuine pleasure to read. Mr. Bhagwati's concise book of just 100 pages of text should be read by all who care about the world trading system today."--The New York Sun

"With layoffs in the auto sector and bailouts in the housing sector, exports are one of the few bright spots in the American economy. Begging the question: How can we sell even more? Columbia University economics professor Jagdish Bhagwati, for decades a leading international scholar on trade theory and practice, has some ideas."--New York Post

"Termites is a slim volume, but there is a lifetime of economic learning in it, expressed in clear, often witty, language that is accessible to interested lay readers. likely to be widely read."--Far Eastern Economic Review

"The founding fathers of the postwar trading system wisely chose non-discrimination as its central principle. Pero los últimos quince años han sido testigos de su erosión debido a la proliferación de Acuerdos Comerciales Preferenciales. Jagdish Bhagwati, the leading trade economist of our time, rang first the alarm bells about the resulting spaghetti bowl of discriminatory rules and regulations. Now, with his usual blend of brilliance, wit and bluntness, he describes the rise of PTAs and analyzes why it has occurred and how it threatens the multilateral trading system. This book is essential reading not only for economists and trade diplomats, but for anyone concerned with the design of the institutions that are central to our prosperity. --Andre Sapir, Professor of Economics, Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Former economic adviser to European Commission president Romano Prodi (2001-2004)

Sobre el Autor

Jagdish Bhagwati is University Professor of Economics and Law at Columbia University and is Senior Fellow in International Economics at the Council on Foreign Relations. His books include In Defense of Globalization, which Barrons and Businessweek named one of the best business books of 2004.

Acerca de este artículo

Termites in the Trading System: How Preferential Agreements Undermine Free Trade

Synopsis

Jagdish Bhagwati, an internationally renowned economist known for his insightful analyses and elegant writing, here shines a critical light on Preferential Trade Agreements, revealing how the rapid spread of PTAs endangers the world trading system. Preferential Trade Agreements, many taking the form of Free Trade Agreements, now number over 300 and are rapidly increasing. Bhagwati reveals how these agreements have recreated the unhappy situation of the protectionist 1930s, when worldtrade was undermined by discriminatory practices (today, ironically, as a result of a misdirected pursuit of free trade). The world trading system is definitely at risk again, the author argues, and the danger is palpable. Indeed, PTAs have created a chaotic system of preferences that has destroyed the principle of non-discrimination in trade. The trading system today is characterized by a blizzard of discriminatory barriers, each designed to favor some specific trading partner, so that we have what Bhagwati has called the "spaghetti bowl" problem. And while the big firms in the big countries can cope with the chaos, though at a cost, the author shows that small countries and small exporters are seriously handicapped. He also examines how FTAs are typically tied to extraneous issues such as openness to capital flows and inappropriate labor standards, so that the weaker nations, negotiating one-on-one with stronger nations, are forced to accept harmful demands unrelated to trade. Finally, the book warns that getting to multilateral free trade from the morass of PTAs will be almost an impossible task--like building a mansion from different-sized bricks. Preferential trade agreements, Bhagwati concludes, are not building blocks but stumbling blocks on the road of free trade. In Termites in the Trading System, he illuminates this growing threat to the world trading system. Acclaim for In Defense of Globalization: "If Mr. Bhagwati doesn't get a much deserved Nobel Prize for economics, he should get one for literature. His writing sparkles with anecdotes and delightful verbal pictures." --New York Sun "One of the world's leading international trade theorists. Accessible and clearly argued. There is, one might say, a wealth of material on every page." --The Wall Street Journal "An outstandingly effective book. Until further notice In Defense of Globalization becomes the standard general-interest reference, the intelligent layman's handbook, on global economic integration." --The Economist

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Book details

Termites in the Trading System: How Preferential Agreements Undermine Free Trade

Jagdish Bhagwati. “Termites in the Trading System: How Preferential Agreements Undermine Free Trade” Oxford University Press | 2008 | ISBN: 0195331656 | 160 pages | PDF | 1 MB

"The world's foremost trade policy scholar explains why what he calls 'preferential trade arrangements' are not a path towards global free trade, but a dangerous step away from it. A long-standing and brave opponent of these arrangements and particularly of those between hegemonic powers and developing countries, Jagdish Bhagwati explains how they promote costly trade diversion, interfere with the efficient operation of global business and allow great powers to extract unjustified concessions from weaker countries. This book underlines the abiding wisdom of non-discrimination, the now almost completely forgotten founding principle of the world trading system, and concludes that the only way to return to sanity is by movement towards free market access for all." –Martin Wolf, Chief Economics Commentator, Financial Times "Highly recommended."–CHOICE "Jagdish Bhagwati is one of the world's most distinguished economists. …a rare academic who has the great ability to communicate his ideas to a more general audience. …written with a light touch, with many amusing stories, examples, and effective argumentation that make it, above and beyond its policy significance, a genuine pleasure to read. & # 8230; Mr. Bhagwati's concise book of just 100 pages of text should be read by all who care about the world trading system today."–The New York Sun "With layoffs in the auto sector and bailouts in the housing sector, exports are one of the few bright spots in the American economy. & # 8230; Begging the question: How can we sell even more? Columbia University economics professor Jagdish Bhagwati, for decades a leading international scholar on trade theory and practice, has someideas."–New York Post "Termites is a slim volume, but there is a lifetime of economic learning in it, expressed in clear, often witty, language that is accessible to interested lay readers. …likely to be widely read."–Far Eastern Economic Review "The founding fathers of the postwar trading system wisely chose non-discrimination as its central principle. Pero los últimos quince años han sido testigos de su erosión debido a la proliferación de Acuerdos Comerciales Preferenciales. Jagdish Bhagwati, the leading trade economist of our time, rang first the alarm bells about the resulting spaghetti bowl of discriminatory rules and regulations. Now, with his usual blend of brilliance, wit and bluntness, he describes the rise of PTAs and analyzes why it has occurred and how it threatens the multilateral trading system. This book is essential reading not only for economists and trade diplomats, but for anyone concerned with the design of the institutions that are central to our prosperity.

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9780195331653

Numbering by now well over 300, and rapidly increasing, these preferential trade agreements, many taking the form of Free Trade Agreements, have re-created the unhappy situation of the 1930s, when world trade was undermined by discriminatory practices. Whereas this was the result of protectionism in those days, ironically it is a result of misdirected pursuit of free trade via PTAs today. The world trading system is at risk again, the author argues, and the danger is palpable.

Writing with his customary wit, panache and elegance, Bhagwati documents the growth of these PTAs, the reasons for their proliferation, and their deplorable consequences which include the near-destruction of the non-discrimination which was at the heart of the postwar trade architecture and its replacement by what he has called the spaghetti bowl of a maze of preferences. Bhagwati also documents how PTAs have undermined the prospects for multilateral freeing of trade, serving as stumbling blocks, instead of building blocks, for the objective of reaching multilateral free trade. In short, Bhagwati cogently demonstrates why PTAs are Termites in the Trading System.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Sobre el Autor .

Jagdish Bhagwati is University Professor, Economics and Law, at Columbia University and Senior Fellow in International Economics at the Council on Foreign Relations. He has been uniquely celebrated with six festschrifts in his honor. His latest book, In Defense of Globalization (Oxford, 2004), a huge success worldwide, has just been reissued with an Afterword. He has received several honorary degrees and awards, among them the Freedom Prize (Switzerland), the Bernhard Harms Prize (Germany) and recently the Thomas Schelling Award (Kennedy School, Harvard). He is on Wired Magazine's Smart List 2008, naming "15 People the Next President Should Listen To".

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

I have in previous posts supported the government when it successfully negotiated a free trade agreement. Now I'm not so sure. The reason for a possible change of hart is a reading of Jagdish Bhagwati's latest book Termites in the Trading System: How Preferential Agreements Undermine Free Trade .

Bhagwati is University Professor at Columbia University and Senior Fellow in International Economics at the Council on Foreign Relations. He is one of the world's leading trade economists and a long time fighter for free trade - see, for example, his books Free Trade Today and In Defense of Globalization. So when I saw he had written a book arguing that Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) are bad for free trade I had to read it. This is relevant for New Zealand since most PTAs are in the form of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), a number of which New Zealand has signed in recent years.

The standard objection to PTAs, due to Jacob Viner, is simply that they could divert trade from the cost-efficient nonmember countries to the relatively inefficient member countries. The reason, of course, is that the nonmembers continue to pay the pre-PTA tariffs, whereas the higher cost member countries no longer have to. It is obvious that shifting production away from a low cost country towards a high cost country must sabotage the efficient allocation among countries and thus reduce total welfare. This process is known as trade diversion. Viner was the first economist to note the possibility of trade diversion arising with discriminatory reductions in trade barriers via PTAs. But the negative effects of trade diversion can go further. The liberalising country itself may also be hurt. How so? Because when a country (call it the "home" country) shifts to a higher cost within-the-PTA supplier it is buying its imports more expensively, incurring what economists call a "terms of trade" loss. The terms of trade is the ratio of export prices to import prices. As import prices increase the terms of trade decrease which implies that the volume of imports that can be bought with one unit of exports decreases.

Bhagwati notes, however, that Trade diversion is not a slam-dunk argument against PTAs, for offsetting the loss from trade diversion can be a gain if trade creation takes place. Trade may grow because consumers in the home country now pay lower prices in their own markets; the higher cost supply from the member country is still cheaper than what the domestic consumers had to pay before the PTA was formed. Again, the import competing producers in the home country will reduce their own inefficient production as the domestic price of imports falls after the PTA comes into operation; this also leads to welfare-enhancing trade creation. Therefore, whether a specific trade-diverting PTA brings loss or gain to a country depends on the relative strengths of the trade diversion and trade creation effects. (p. 50) The important point about trade diversion is that we can no longer assume that it does not matter how we liberalise trade. The use of PTAs is a two-edged sword in which we could end up impaled. It can matter whether we liberalise via bilateral or multilateral agreements.

Bhagwati goes on to argue that proponents of PTAs are too complacent about trade diversion. He considers seven arguments (p.52-7):

There is evidence of fierce competition in many products and sectors today, with few managing to escape with "thick" margins of competitive advantage that provide comforting buffers against loss of comparative advantage. Thus, even small tariffs are compatible with trade diversion as tariffs are removed from members of a PTA while they remain in place on nonmembers.

The thinness of comparative advantage also implies that today we have what I have called kaleidoscopic comparative advantage, or what in jargon we economists call "knife-edge" comparative advantage. Countries can easily lose comparative advantage to some "close" rivals, who may be from any number of foreign suppliers. So even if preferences today do not lead to trade diversion, the menu of products where you develop comparative advantage in a world of volatility and rapidly shifting comparative advantage will be forever changing, and any given preferences may lead to trade diversion in the near future, if not today.

While Article 24 requires that the external tariffs not be raised when the PTA is formed so as not to harm nonmembers, the fact is that they can be raised when the external (MFN) tariffs are bound at higher levels than the actual tariffs. In these cases, a member of the PTA is free to raise the external MFN tariffs up to the bound levels, whereas typically the scheduled tariff reductions in the PTA, when a hegemonic power is involved, will be hard to suspend. This is in fact what happened during the Mexican peso crisis of 1994, when external tariffs were raised on 502 items from 20 percent or less to as much as 35 percent, while the NAFTA defined reductions in Mexican tariffs on U. S. and Canadian goods continued. So the prospect of trade diversion actually increased, despite the intent of those who drafted Article 24.

Article 24 freezes only external tariffs when the PTA is formed, with no increase in the external tariff allowed. But it does not address the modern reality that "administered protection" (i. e. antidumping and other actions by the executive) is both elastic and can be used and abused more or less freely in practice. Once you take into account the fact that trade barriers can take the form of antidumping measures, which are arbitrary in their design and protectionist in their practice, there is a real danger that initially welfare-enhancing trade creation can be transformed into harmful trade diversion through antidumping actions taken against nonmembers. Thus, if a member country is gaining a market in the member "home" country, creating trade by replacing inefficient home country production with less inefficient production and imports from another member country, that pressure could be accommodated, not by allowing domestic industry to yield to these imports from a member country, but by discouraging imports from the nonmember countries by using antidumping actions against them. Thus trade-creating imports from member countries could be replaced by trade-diverting restrictions on imports from nonmember countries. Such an "endogenous" response of the external trade barriers, typically in the shape of antidumping actions, violates the spirit of Article 24, which explicitly prohibits trade barriers on non-members from being raised but is confined to tariffs and does not extend to "administered protection."

There is plenty of evidence that trade diversion can occur through content requirements placed on member countries to establish "origin" so as to qualify for the preferential duties. Thus, typically, to qualify for the preferential tariffs in PTAs that include the United States, one must satisfy requirements such as that the imports of raw materials and components must come from the United States. For example, if apparel exports to the United States are accorded preferential tariffs, they must be made with U. S. textiles. This naturally diverts trade in textiles from efficient nonmember suppliers to inefficient U. S. textile producers.

Many analysts do not understand the distinction between trade diversion and trade creation and simply take all trade increase as welfare-enhancing. However, some recent analysts who are familiar with the phenomenon of trade diversion have tried to estimate it using what is called the "gravity model." Dating back some decades, this equation simply explains trade between two countries as a function of income and distance. Adapting this simple equation to their use, the economists Jeffrey Frankel and Shang-Jin Wei, who pioneered the use of gravity analysis to estimate trade creation and trade diversion, estimated total bilateral trade between any pair of countries as a function of their income and per capita incomes, with bilateral distance accounted for by statistical procedures. If the countries belonged to, say, the Western hemisphere and they traded more with each other than with a random pair of countries located outside the region, that would mean that the PTA between countries in the Western hemisphere had led to trade creation. But it is clear that even if one disregards other objections, the real problem with the analysis is that more trade between partners in a PTA can take place with both trade creation and trade diversion, so that one simply cannot infer trade creation alone from this procedure. Hence, the recent estimates based on gravity equation, which are improved variations on the original Frankel-Wei approach and which sometimes (but not always) suggest that PTAs in practice have led to more trade creation than diversion, cannot be treated as reliable guides to the problem of determining whether or not a PTA has led to trade diversion.

Several economists have suggested that we need not worry about trade diversion and that beneficial effects will prevail if PTAs are undertaken with "natural trading partners." The initial proponents of this idea, Paul Wonnacott and Mark Lutz, declared, "Trade creation is likely to be great and trade diversion small if the prospective members of an FTA are natural trading partners." One criterion proposed for saying that PTA partners are natural trading partners is the volume of trade already between them; the other is geographic proximity. Neither really works. At the outset, note that though some writers, including Paul Krugman and Larry Summers, both heavy hitters, have occasionally argued as if the two criteria go together, they do not. There is no evidence that pairs of contiguous countries or countries with common borders have larger volumes of trade with each other than do pairs that are not so situated, or that trade volumes of pairs of countries arranged by distance: between the countries in the pair will also show distance to be inversely related to trade volumes. This is evident from Table 3.1 [on p.58], which contains destination-related trade volume for major regions in 1980, 1985, and 1990. There are some compelling examples. Chile shares a common border with Argentina, but in 1993 it shipped only 6.2 percent of exports to and received only 5 percent of imports from Argentina. By contrast, the United States does not share a common border with Chile. nor are the two countries close geographically. Yet in 1993, the United States accounted for 16.2 percent of Chilean exports and 24.9 percent of its imports. The volume-of-trade criterion would thus make the United States, not Argentina, Chile's natural trading partner, clearly contradicting the claim that the volume-of-trade criterion translates into the regional criterion, even in a broad-brush sense. The two criteria, and their inappropriateness in ensuring that trade diversion will be minimized and beneficial effects of the PTA guaranteed, must therefore be assessed separately, as immediately below. [This is done on p.57-60.]

The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) was designed to reduce trade barriers via multilateral trade negotiations. Exceptions to the multilateral nature of negotiations had to be explicitly provided for, Article 24 - referred to above - is such an exception for free trade areas and customs unions: Article 24 --Territorial Application; Frontier Traffic; Customs Unions and Free Trade Areas

Customs unions and free trade ease (FTAs) are exempted from the MFN clause, but such an arrangement must not increase existing levels of trade restrictions affecting nonmember countries. If existing trade barriers are raised to outsiders, compensation may be required. The arrangement must lead to significant liberalization --in particular, it must cover "substantially all" trade between participating countries --and interim arrangements should lead to formation of Ff As or customs unions within a reasonable period of time. Article 24 also provides that, regardless of political status, any area that maintains its own tariffs and commercial regulations may be treated as a contracting party. Another problem with the ever increasing number of PTAs is the "Spaghetti Bowl" that they give rise to. There are two basic problem here. The first is that when a country enters into a number of FTAs, a given commodity will be subject to different tariff rates if the trajectories of tariff reductions vary across FTAs. This is normally the case. The second issue is the fact that tariffs on specific goods must depend on where a product is supposed to originate which gives rise to inherently arbitrary "rules of origin". Bhagwati writes With PTAs proliferating, the trading system can then be expected to become chaotic. Crisscrossing PTAs, where a nation had multiple PTAs with other nations, each of which then had its own PTAs with yet other nations, was inevitable. Indeed, if one only mapped the phenomenon, it would remind one of a child scrawling a number of chaotic lines on a sketch pad. (p.61) Rules of origin are there to determine which product is made by whom. But in this globalised world where multinational firms source components from all around the world trying to determine the origin of a given good is in Bhagwati's description "a mug's game". It is virtually impossible to say which product is whose. This gives rise to endless problems. As Bhagwati explains There are in fact numerous cases where such questions have led to disputes that come for resolution before arbitration and bilateral dispute settlement panels. In a classic case, the U. S. Customs Service refused to certify Hondas produced in Ontario, Canada, as "North American," and hence eligible for duty-free exports from Canada to the United States, on the grounds that, in its own estimation, Canadian Hondas did not meet the local content requirement of more than 50 percent imposed by the Canada-U. S. Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA). Honda countered that its estimates showed that they did. There is no surefire, analytically respectable way to determine the truth in such a case: it all boils down to who has greater stamina and whether Honda is willing to put moneys into legal costs. (p.68) Such problems so not arise if there is a multilateral agreement which imposes the same tariff on goods from all countries. Bhagwati quotes Hong Kong businessman Victor Fung, from the Financial Times, on the distortions and costs imposed on business by the spaghetti bowls, Bilateralism distorts the flow of goods, throws up barriers, creates friction, reduces flexibility and raises prices. In structuring the supply chain, every country of origin rule and every bilateral deal has to be tacked on as an additional consideration, thus constraining companies in optimizing production globally. In each new bilateral agreement, considerations relating to "rules of origin" multiply and become more complex. This phenomenon is what trade experts call the "spaghetti bowl effect." While larger companies have a hard time keeping track, for small groups it is impossible. Bilateral agreements cause the business community to work below its potential. In economic terms, bilateral agreements destroy value. If left unchecked, their continued growth has the potential to hinder the development of the global production system. (p.70) Additional problems enter the picture when "trade-unrelated" demands are placed on an FTA. Such issues are easier to put in PTAs than multilateral agreements where the possible number of parties who will oppose the move is much greater. Issues such as intellectual property protection, which has more to do with collecting royalties than with trade, is an obvious example. Other examples would be "values-based" demands on things such as labour standards and environmental standards. In many cases demands to harmonise such standards are just a form of protectionism for oneself against foreign rivals.

So the issue of New Zealand's FTAs just got a whole lot more complicated. How we deal with these issues will determine just how beneficial our FTAs turnout to be. If there is anything to the arguments above it would suggest we may need to rethink a position with regard to bilateral v's multilateral trade agreements.

1 comment:

Bhagwati's comments on rules of origin are flawed. These rules, which exist in some form in all PTAs, are not designed to say "which product is whose." They are designed to ensure that some production occurs in the country that is receiving the preferential treatment established under the PTA. Rules of origin are not perfect, but they basically work - as evidenced by the fact that the Honda example Bhagwati consistently refers to as evidence of their failure, is over a decade old. If there were as many problems with rules of origin as Bhagwati claims, surely he could point to more examples from more recent examples. He never does.

Termites in the Trading System: How Preferential Agreements Undermine Free Trade (Council of Foreign Relations) (Inglés) Tapa dura – 10 jul 2008

Jagdish Bhagwati, an internationally renowned economist known for his insightful analyses and elegant writing, here shines a critical light on Preferential Trade Agreements, revealing how the rapid spread of PTAs endangers the world trading system. Preferential Trade Agreements, many taking the form of Free Trade Agreements, now number over 300 and are rapidly increasing. Bhagwati reveals how these agreements have recreated the unhappy situation of the protectionist 1930s, when world trade was undermined by discriminatory practices (today, ironically, as a result of a misdirected pursuit of free trade). The world trading system is definitely at risk again, the author argues, and the danger is palpable. Indeed, PTAs have created a chaotic system of preferences that has destroyed the principle of non-discrimination in trade. The trading system today is characterized by a blizzard of discriminatory barriers, each designed to favor some specific trading partner, so that we have what Bhagwati has called the "spaghetti bowl" problem. And while the big firms in the big countries can cope with the chaos, though at a cost, the author shows that small countries and small exporters are seriously handicapped. He also examines how FTAs are typically tied to extraneous issues such as openness to capital flows and inappropriate labor standards, so that the weaker nations, negotiating one-on-one with stronger nations, are forced to accept harmful demands unrelated to trade. Finally, the book warns that getting to multilateral free trade from the morass of PTAs will be almost an impossible task―like building a mansion from different-sized bricks. Preferential trade agreements, Bhagwati concludes, are not building blocks but stumbling blocks on the road of free trade. In Termites in the Trading System . he illuminates this growing threat to the world trading system.

Acclaim for In Defense of Globalization .

"If Mr. Bhagwati doesn't get a much deserved Nobel Prize for economics, he should get one for literature. His writing sparkles with anecdotes and delightful verbal pictures." ― New York Sun

"One of the world's leading international trade theorists. Accessible and clearly argued. There is, one might say, a wealth of material on every page." ― El periodico de Wall Street

"An outstandingly effective book. Until further notice In Defense of Globalization becomes the standard general-interest reference, the intelligent layman's handbook, on global economic integration." ― El economista

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Jagdish Bhagwati, an internationally renowned economist known for his insightful analyses and elegant writing, here shines a critical light on Preferential Trade Agreements, revealing how the rapid spread of PTAs endangers the world trading system. Preferential Trade Agreements, many taking the form of Free Trade Agreements, now number over 300 and are rapidly increasing. Bhagwati reveals how these agreements have recreated the unhappy situation of the protectionist 1930s, when world trade was undermined by discriminatory practices (today, ironically, as a result of a misdirected pursuit of free trade). The world trading system is definitely at risk again, the author argues, and the danger is palpable. Indeed, PTAs have created a chaotic system of preferences that has destroyed the principle of non-discrimination in trade. The trading system today is characterized by a blizzard of discriminatory barriers, each designed to favor some specific trading partner, so that we have what Bhagwati has called the "spaghetti bowl" problem. And while the big firms in the big countries can cope with the chaos, though at a cost, the author shows that small countries and small exporters are seriously handicapped. He also examines how FTAs are typically tied to extraneous issues such as openness to capital flows and inappropriate labor standards, so that the weaker nations, negotiating one-on-one with stronger nations, are forced to accept harmful demands unrelated to trade. Finally, the book warns that getting to multilateral free trade from the morass of PTAs will be almost an impossible task―like building a mansion from different-sized bricks. Preferential trade agreements, Bhagwati concludes, are not building blocks but stumbling blocks on the road of free trade. In Termites in the Trading System . he illuminates this growing threat to the world trading system.

Acclaim for In Defense of Globalization .

"If Mr. Bhagwati doesn't get a much deserved Nobel Prize for economics, he should get one for literature. His writing sparkles with anecdotes and delightful verbal pictures." ― New York Sun

"One of the world's leading international trade theorists. Accessible and clearly argued. There is, one might say, a wealth of material on every page." ― El periodico de Wall Street

Termites in the trading system. How preferential agreements undermine free trade

Abstracto:

Jagdish Bhagwati, an internationally renowned economist known for his insightful analyses and elegant writing, here shines a critical light on Preferential Trade Agreements, revealing how the rapid spread of PTAs endangers the world trading system. Preferential Trade Agreements, many taking the form of Free Trade Agreements, now number over 300 and are rapidly increasing. Bhagwati reveals how these agreements have recreated the unhappy situation of the protectionist 1930s, when world trade was undermined by discriminatory practices (today, ironically, as a result of a misdirected pursuit of free trade). The world trading system is definitely at risk again, the author argues, and the danger is palpable. Indeed, PTAs have created a chaotic system of preferences that has destroyed the principle of non-discrimination in trade. The trading system today is characterized by a blizzard of discriminatory barriers, each designed to favor some specific trading partner, so that we have what Bhagwati has called the spaghetti bowl problem. And while the big firms in the big countries can cope with the chaos, though at a cost, the author shows that small countries and small exporters are seriously handicapped. He also examines how FTAs are typically tied to extraneous issues such as openness to capital flows and inappropriate labor standards, so that the weaker nations, negotiating one-on-one with stronger nations, are forced to accept harmful demands unrelated to trade. Finally, the book warns that getting to multilateral free trade from the morass of PTAs will be almost an impossible task--like building a mansion from different-sized bricks. Preferential trade agreements, Bhagwati concludes, are not building blocks but stumbling blocks on the road of free trade. In Termites in the Trading System, he illuminates this growing threat to the world trading system. Acclaim for In Defense of Globalization: If Mr. Bhagwati doesn't get a much deserved Nobel Prize for economics, he s

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The rotting of multilateral trade system: an analysis of Bhagwati's ''Termites in the trading system''

by: Samara Hutton, Guillaume Lagacé & Richard Ramsahoye

Introducción

During the past few decades, a resurgence of interest in regionalism and, in particular, preferential trade agreements (PTAs) have occurred on the part of economists, policy makers, business executives and scholars. The advent of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the ongoing process of economic integration in Europe and the prospect of a Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union (EU) have led to lively and widespread debates concerning the advantages, disadvantages, costs and effects of the proliferation of PTAs.

In his book Termites in the Trading System . internationally renowned trade economist Jagdish Bhagwati, argues that these agreements have undermined the prospects for multilateral trade negotiations (MTNs), serving as stumbling blocks, instead of building blocks. In his own words, his book is an attempt to “provide every scholar and policymaker with a comprehensive and analytically coherent, if brief, overview of the arguments that must be confronted if we are to cut through the fog that surrounds this important and, in [his] view, pernicious development” of proliferating PTAs (Bhagwati, 2008). Arguing that a free and fair multilateral trading system serves best the interests of any liberalizing economy, Bhagwati makes known that the proliferation of such agreements has been fatally undermining global efforts to advance free trade.

Currently numbering approximately 355, and rapidly increasing, these PTAs, many under the guise of free trade agreements (FTAs), have recreated the unhappy situation of the 1930s, when world trade was undermined by discriminatory practices (Bhagwati, 2008). Esto, como resultado, ha llevado a las ineficiencias y desigualdades globales agregadas. In order to succinctly highlight Bhagwati’s main arguments against the continued propagation of PTAs, the authors will attempt to provide a brief summary of his work and offer an analysis of his recommendations. It must be noted that while the opinions and policy options available to economists in regard to PTAs are numerous and varied, a comprehensive analysis of PTAs and its effects are outside the scope of this paper given the limited space. Part I provides the necessary historical context needed to understand the true impact of PTAs. Part II briefly explains Bhagwati’s main claims while the subsequent, and the final section discusses his recommendations.

THE HISTORICAL RETRACING OF PTAs

While Adam Smith, followed by David Ricardo provided the rationale of free trade two centuries ago through their monumental work on gains from trade, it was not until the early 90s that multilateral trade liberalization became firmly established as evidenced by the successful conclusion of the Uruguay round of trade talks resulting in the establishment of the WTO in 1995.

While the United States (US) unveiled its grand design to establish an orderly multilateral framework for trade relations – the International Trade Organization (ITO) – through the Havana Charter after World War II, events transpired that ultimately resulted in the shelving of the Charter. It is important to note here that the proposed system was intended to be based on ideas of non-discrimination and reciprocity (Bhagwati, 2008). The breakdown of discussions on the establishment of the ITO led to disastrous “beggar thy neighbour” trade policies in which the global economy was fragmented into competing trading blocs and preferential arrangements. The US and 22 other major trading nations, however, sought to undo the damage by creating the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in 1948. The GATT not only sponsored reciprocal reductions in tariffs but required that they be applied according to the “most favoured nation” (MFN) principle. That is, tariff reductions must be applied in a non-discriminatory manner to all signatories of the agreement. While the MFN principle was a cornerstone of the GATT, Bhagwati states that exceptions were granted from its inception. For instance, in the 50s six European countries were allowed to form a common market under the exception granted by Article XXIV of the GATT charter. In the 70s, less developed members were allowed to sign PTAs with each other that were riddled with loopholes and exceptions, while developed countries eliminated duties on a selective basis to imports from certain poor countries.

The explosion of the number of PTAs in the early 90s can be attributed to several explanations according to Bhagwati. One is that free trade became more fashionable among politicians after the demise of the Soviet Union, and politicians in favour of free trade naturally sign “free trade” agreements. Another reason was the bad example set by the US, which until recently had resisted any deviation from the MFN principle it fought so hard to enshrine in the GATT. But when the US government failed to persuade GATT members to launch a new round of negotiations in 1982, it embarked on a series of bilateral negotiations itself, first with Israel, then with Canada. Even after the Uruguay Round was successfully launched in 1986, the United States joined with Canada and Mexico to sign NAFTA in 1992. Although other countries have signed more PTAs, the US continued along the path under the ‘competitive liberalization’ agenda of former U. S. trade representative Robert Zoellick. He argued that PTAs could be pursued simultaneously with MTNs, that one could walk on two legs and that PTAs could even serve to accelerate the MTNs. As will be seen in the next section, however, Bhagwati refutes this claim stating that the “attempt to walk on two legs resulted in walking on all fours [has led to] a chaotic discriminatory world” (Bhagwati, 2008).

PTAs AS STUMBLING BLOCKS

In his third chapter Bhagwati outlines his arguments in an attempt to justify why PTAs are detrimental to the world trading system, or in his words, why they are a “pox on the world trading system” (Bhagwati, 2008). He identifies trade diversion as the fundamental concern but also addresses systemic concerns arising from the proliferation of PTAs as well as the insertion of “trade-unrelated” issues in these agreements. From his analysis Bhagwati concludes that PTAs are stumbling blocks rather than building blocks for the multilateral trading system (Bhagwati, 2008). The following sections briefly summarize and offer an analysis of his arguments and conclusions regarding these concerns.

Trade diversion & creación

Trade diversion is the traditional objection to PTAs, resulting in the shifting of trade from a country that is not part of the PTA to a country that is a member. Trade diversion arises from the fact that higher cost PTA members are exempt from paying the pre-PTA tariffs that remain applicable to cost-efficient nonmembers, and thus PTA members are able to gain advantage from discriminatory reductions in tariffs and barriers. Two types of problems may arise from trade diversion: a loss of welfare for the world economy and a reduction in terms of trade to the liberalizing country. Inefficiencies are created in the world trading system as trade is diverted from cost-efficient countries that are not part of the PTA to those who are members but are relatively inefficient. These inefficiencies created from the discriminatory reduction of trade barriers diminish world welfare. The same shift towards the higher-cost PTA member results in a reduction in the ‘terms of trade’ for the liberalizing country as the costs of buying its imports are now relatively more expensive (Bhagwati, 2008).

While trade diversion clearly has negative impacts for both cosmopolitan advantage and terms of trade, it does not necessarily mean that a PTA is bad in and of itself. If trade creation occurs, defined as the growth in trade caused by a reduction in prices in the home country market from what they were before the PTA was implemented, the costs of trade diversion may be offset and a gain may even arise. Facing lower prices of imports within the PTA, inefficient domestic producers will reduce their production resulting in efficiency gains while consumers will increase their welfare in benefitting from lower prices (Bhagwati, 2008).

Some economists, such as Fred Bergsten, have supported PTAs and pay little notice to the issues raised by the impact of trade diversion arguing that trade creation generally exceeds diversion and that such trade agreements promote global liberalization. In fact, Larry Summers claims that “any ‘ism’ (bilateralism, regionalism and multilateralism) is good as long as its ultimate objective is trade liberalization” (Kelegama & Adhikari, 2005). Bhagwati, however, refutes this, claiming that the negative impact resulting from trade diversion cannot be ignored as even the smallest discriminatory reduction in tariffs creates trade diversion. He adds that if trade diversion does not occur immediately the “thinness of comparative advantage” leaves an opportunity for it to occur in the future (Bhagwati, 2008). Article XXVI is insufficient to protect nonmembers in the event that actual tariffs are lower than the bound levels of MFN external tariffs. When this occurs a PTA member is able to raise MFN tariffs toward the bound levels that affect nonmembers. At the same time, however members of the PTA are able to continue benefiting from the scheduled tariff reductions in the PTA. In this scenario it is evident that the intent of Article XXVI is circumvented and the prospect of trade diversion is heightened.

Moreover, Article XXVI fails to address “administered protection” such as antidumping as it only focuses on freezing tariffs when a PTA is introduced. Trade diverting restrictions such as anti-dumping rules towards nonmember countries may be used to accommodate the domestic pressures caused by the trade creation of member country imports. Bhagwati notes that because of this situations may arise where trade is diverted from efficient nonmember suppliers of components to inefficient members in efforts to meet content requirements of PTAs. (Bhagwati, 2008).

The ''natural trading partners'' argumento

Supporters of PTAs, including Paul Krugman, are not concerned, however, with trade diversion as they say that benefits will prevail if PTAs occur between “natural trading partners” based on either volumes of trade or geographical proximity. The logic is that natural trading partners will trade disproportionately between themselves even without a preferential agreement, and thus a PTA is unlikely to divert more trade than it creates. (Krugman, 1991) Bhagwati rejects both of these arguments. The former, volumes of trade criteria, is rejected for intransivity – one PTA member may trade large volumes with another that is not reciprocated – and that high volumes may be the unnatural creations of carve-outs or one-way preferences rather than natural outcomes.

The argument of geographical proximity is rejected based on a hypothetical counterexample developed by Bhagwati and Panagariya whereby a PTA between country A and its further partner provided more gains to country A than a PTA with a closer partner (Bhagwati, 2008). Further, despite his support for PTAs, Fred Bergsten also questions this viewpoint, arguing that the geographical impact on trade is not as strong as it once was in earlier decades, and that there are no “natural trading areas” in the world economy (Bergsten, 1991).

It is clear, then, that the strength of trade diversion and creation acquired from a specific PTA are thus determinants of a country’s net benefit or similarly, net loss. The relevance of the trade diversion argument to the study of PTAs is that it indicates that the manner in which liberalization occurs does indeed matter. In other words, all trade liberalization is not made equal as some agreements create trade and others divert (Bhagwati, 2008)

The spaghetti bowl of PTAs

Bhagwati also addresses the systemic problems of crisscrossing PTAs whereby a commodity will be exposed to differing tariff rates, and where rules of origin complicate determining which tariffs are applied (Bhagwati, 2008). As each country develops multiple PTAs, each one with a partner that also various numbers of PTAs with still other countries, the system becomes a chaotic mess of crisscrossing linkages. This led Bhagwati to coin the system a “spaghetti bowl” that it reminded him of, with others coining their own adaptations such as the “noodle bowl” in the context of Asian PTAs (Bhagwati, 2008).

The crisscrossing spaghetti bowl makes it impossible to analyze the effects of a PTA in isolation, as impacts reverberate throughout the system through the multitude of links. This is further compounded since Article XXVI was developed under the context of a system with the assumption of a limited number of PTAs and as such is unable to appropriately cope in the current context.

There are two factors contributing to the systemic concerns: different tariff rates and reduction trajectories applied to the same commodity in a country by the partners of each different PTA. This means that in addition to the problems caused by PTA countries having different rates than non-PTA countries, there are also problems from each PTA offering different rates. Also, differing tariff reduction timelines mean that the discriminatory advantage of each preferential tariff is subject to change depending on the timelines of other PTAs. As a further complication, arbitrary rules of origin determine the tariff that a commodity is subject to (Bhagwati, 2008).

The underlying problem with rules of origin lies in the ambiguities and arbitrariness of determining the exact meaning of “substantial transformation”. For instance, are steel ingots imported into Canada considered to be Japanese, where they are imported from, or American, where the iron ore was from, or Canada, where the chemicals used in the process were from? With multinational corporations using sources from around the world in their production, this becomes a very complicated issue. Further to the complexities of making a decision on rules of origin, is the problem that rules vary between countries and PTAs, and in particular, by product. Rules of origin provide countries with a tool to offset the liberalizing of trade by using “made to measure” rules to impose cost increases on imports.

The disturbing problem with these concerns is that they allow countries to “take away with one hand what they give with the other” (Bhagwati, 2008). The spaghetti bowl also creates distortions in trade and investment, as resources are used up trying to calculate optimal component sources and minimize costs of transporting, manufacturing, tariffs and levies. Navigating the system is difficult for small businesses, and particularly challenging for poorer countries. “Bilateral agreements cause the business community to work below its potential. In economic terms, bilateral agreements destroy value” (Bhagwati, 2008).

The third area of discussion for Bhagwati as to why PTAs are a pox on the world trading system, and in particular for poorer countries, relates to the insistence by hegemonic countries that “trade-unrelated” issues be inserted into PTA agreements. In the eyes of Bhagwati, the pretense under which this is presented to poor countries – that it is in their best interests – is false, and “when the phrase ‘trade-related’ is used, you can be sure that the issue is trade-unrelated”. For example, in the case of intellectual property right protection, the hegemony’s concern is about the collection of royalties and not about the interest to liberalize trade. Bhagwati’s view on this extends as far as the WTO, as he considers the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) to be illegitimate. This issue is particularly salient in the proliferation of PTAs as hegemons are able to exert both power and pressure on PTA members to adopt the agenda. This is especially true given that developing countries are in a weaker position politically and otherwise in negotiating PTAs than in multilateral negotiations where there are a greater number of developing countries who are better able to resist self-serving interests of the hegemony. It is not surprising that countries fortunate enough to possess hegemonic powers find this approach useful since once these agendas are incorporated as part of PTAs, adoption in multilateral negotiations can go beyond what was previously possible. Bhagwati refers to this as the ‘divide and conquer’ strategy (Bhagwati, 2008).

Such “trade-unrelated” issues are seen as values-related demands for harmonization in areas such as environmental and labour standards before trade is freed (Bhagwati, 2008). However, the imposition of identical standards and burdens do not take into account the different resource endowments and preferences of the countries involved. Rather than simply liberalizing, these measures aim to increase the production costs for poorer countries and can even be seen as export protectionism that, as economic theory states, creates inefficiencies in the world economy (Bhagwati, 2008).

PTAs: Stumbling blocks or building blocks?

Bhagwati’s analysis of the effects of PTAs leads him to discuss whether they are stumbling blocks or building blocks for multilateral free trade. Upon closer examination it becomes clear that there are two competing schools of thought in this regard. While Bhagwati views PTAs as stumbling blocks, other scholars including Bergsten and Krugman view PTAs in-line with competitive liberalization where PTAs are complementary to, and building blocks for, multilateral trade agreements. Krugman argues that because hegemons use PTAs to advance trade-unrelated agendas with a small number of countries, others will follow suit and want to liberalize their trade via PTAs at the outset and eventually through multilateral channels through the WTO. Bhagwati, however, argues that such rational is faulty since countries are, in a sense, coerced into joining PTAs – either they join a PTA and blindly accept the agenda of the hegemonic country or face a relative increase in barriers while other countries benefit from discriminatory reductions that cannot be prevented by Article XXVI (Bhagwati, 2008).

As a result of this, Bhagwati says that PTAs fail to advance WTO negotiations and are thus stumbling blocks to multilateral free trade and a pox on the world trading system. He provides a number of explanations to support his view. First, there is the issue of resources. That is, the financial value of lobbying is higher in a PTA than at the multilateral level since the former offers an economic environment in which the lobbying interest gains from the opening of the market whereas opening the same market on an MFN basis will allow rivals to free-ride, and benefit without sharing the costs. Lobbying interests are, therefore, expected to shift from multilateral negotiations and tread closer to PTAs.

Resources in terms of the skilled knowledge of bureaucrats are also of concern as simultaneous negotiations of both PTAs and MTAs divide the attention and time of bureaucrats to effectively address negotiations. Bhagwati sugiere que, dado que las PTA proporcionan una plantilla para que los países poderosos hagan valer sus agendas no relacionadas con el comercio, los grupos tienden a concentrar su tiempo y dinero en PTAs en lugar de avanzar en acuerdos multilaterales. The continuous negotiations of PTAs also lead to trade fatigue which then affects multilateral negotiations because of the lack of political capital (Bhagwati, 2008).

Finally, Bhagwati refers to empirical evidence, originally given by Nuno Limao, that PTAs provide a direct incentive for multilateral negotiations to fail in further reducing MFN tariffs. That is, the higher the MFN tariffs on the rest of the world, the more value a PTA offers to its members. In this context, then, how can PTAs be a multilateral building block when its inherent value lies in discriminatory member advantages that successful multilateral liberalization would eliminate (Bhagwati, 2008)? The simple answer is that they cannot. With an increase in the proliferation of PTAs, Bhagwati proceeds to offer three options designed with the intent to effectively deal with the discriminatory nature of PTAs.

CURBING THE EFFECTS OF PTAs: AN ANALYSIS OF BHAGWATI’S RECOMMENDATIONS

In the final chapter Bhagwati provides three options to counter the emergence of PTAs. To properly discuss and analyze each one, this section has been further subdivided into various sections. Each option will be explained in order to better understand Bhagwati’s reasoning as to how the offered solutions may correct the problems in international trade caused by PTAs. More emphasis, however, will be placed on the third recommendation as this is the preferred option by Bhagwati himself. In an effort to deepen the analysis of the recommended option, we will also summarize suggestions made by other economists who share Bhagwati’s concern of PTAs as it provides an interesting insight into the trading system. To provide a more balanced analysis we will then include opposing views in order to present the proper context for Bhagwati’s recommendations.

Bhagwati’s first recommendation is the halting of the “formation of new PTAs and eliminating the preferences in existing PTAs through built-in reductions of the differentials between MNF tariffs on non-members and the preferential tariffs on members” (Bhagwati, 2008). While Bhagwati states that this option could have been a possibility during the launch of the Uruguay Round, he concedes the impracticality of this option being implemented now stating that “halting the formation of PTAs is no longer a possibility” (Bhagwati, 2008). He attributes the implausibility of this option to the US and its failed ability to exercise its hegemonic power in denouncing the usage of Article XXVI by the EU. More specifically, he states that instead of acting to prevent the further propagation of PTAs, the US, instead, adopted a “monkey see, monkey do” approach claiming that “everybody was doing it” and in order to not fall behind, they, too, had to adopt PTAs (Bhagwati, 2008).

The second option Bhagwati outlines is an attempt to build a scenario in which the current chaos caused by the “spaghetti bowl” would be minimized through coordinated action to harmonize rules of origin. In effect, this would c onsolidate PTAs into less discriminatory regional blocs and encourage PTA members to lower their external barriers. Here, then, bilateral PTAs would have the potential to be seen as building blocks for multilateralism despite its inherent discriminatory nature (Bhagwati, 2008). Using Bhagwati’s ongoing analogy, this would effectively turn the “spaghetti bowl” into a “lasagne”.

While one can hardly disagree with the merit of this idea, Bhagwati points out that it is difficult to make a lasagne from spaghetti noodles. In other words, establishing multilateral building blocks (lasagne) upon stumbling blocks (noodles) is not as simplistic as it sounds given the sheer number of PTAs (noodles), the number of actors and costs involved – both politically, economically and other.

Therefore, while Bhagwati’s first two options are “well-meaning palliatives that require addressing the PTAs themselves directly” it is precisely for this reason that their practicality is limited (Bhagwati, 2008). As a result, only “one partial and indirect solution remains” (Bhagwati, 2008).

In an effort to curb the growing menace that are PTAs, Bhagwati claims that the only realistic solution is to reduce global MFN tariffs to such negligible levels that PTAs no longer matter via multilateral negotiations sponsored by the WTO (Bhagwati, 2008). Further, he states that it is possible to mitigate adverse effects caused by trade and the reduction of overall trade barriers to such an extent that preferential treatment and discrimination practices are negligible. This, however, is dependent upon future unilateral efforts at trade liberalization and further progress within the WTO. While no supporter of free trade would quibble with such a proposal, it is much easier said than done. As Bhagwati wittily expresses, “it is now too late to put the genie back in the bottle” (Bhagwati, 2008). As such, new ways of containing the threats of PTAs must be put forward to help to ease the growing level of concern regarding the consequences of PTA proliferation.

While t he final chapter outlines possible attempts in implementing this option, Bhagwati fails to fully develop his argument. Thus, to better understand the third option it is important to look at both his earlier works as well as other economists who offer different and unique perspectives from which we can draw upon.

Bhagwati and his contemporaries: The need for change

In another article entitled ‘Reshaping the WTO’, while restating his preference for the third option, Bhagwati advocates that the first step in the process would be to conclude the Doha Round and establish a new MTN with an explicit objective of lowering MFN tariffs virtually down to zero (Bhagwati, 2005).

Pascal Lamy, Director-General of the WTO, echoes this argument. During a speech made at the WTO in 2007 he stated that the proliferation of PTAs is breeding concern since it brings incoherence, confusion, exponential increases of costs for business, unpredictability and unfairness in trade relations (Pascal Lamy, 2007). Moreover, he acknowledges that while PTAs are useful to a certain degree it would, however, be much more beneficial to focus on global agreements within the WTO framework such as the negotiations of the current Doha round.

Like Bhagwati, Lamy argues that a successful ending of the Doha Round would help to refocus governments' attention on their broader global trade interests. It would also further reduce the scope of discriminatory trade policy, thereby giving rise to other benefits from trade cooperation that induce governments to enter into MTNs (Lamy, 2007). Lamy proposes that the implementation of a transparent decision-making process would be a successful start in gaining support for the suspension of the Doha Round since the documentation of the true implications, costs and impacts of PTAs would shock the international community into action.

Arvind Panagariya is another economist supporting Bhagwati’s views by claiming that a preferential tariff by a country is likely to hurt itself and benefit its union partner. He references the fact that crisscrossing PTAs would systematically destroy the clean tariff regime that the GATT had created by requiring each member country to adopt a single tariff rate vis-à-vis all members. PTAs have different starting dates and transition periods, creating different tariff rates for different trading partners during the transition to full free trade within the PTAs. Moreover, the rules of origin that differ across PTA partners continue to discriminate among various trading partners even after the full implementation of the PTAs (Panagariya, 1999). Bhagwati’s recommendation to lower MFN tariffs to effectively zero would address these problems.

Nuno Limão expresses the not-so-surprising sentiment that PTAs create stumbling blocks harming the multilateral trade liberalization (MTL). As mentioned earlier, relatively larger countries have an incentive to maintain a high preference margin to exchange for cooperation in non-trade issues. According to Limão, even agreements with smaller countries from a trade perspective can affect MTL of larger countries. This, as a result, greatly expands the harmful effects of PTAs that were thought to affect MTL (Limão, 2005). In another study, recent theoretical and empirical evidence indicated that PTAs significantly slow down MTL, even in cases where unilateral preferences that developed countries provided to smaller less-developed countries.

In an attempt to reach the objective of the third option, other economists suggest that the solution to avoid the ‘stumbling block effect’ is to replace unilateral preferences with a fixed import subsidy. According to Limão and Olarreaga, this option would “reduce the drag of preferences on multilateral liberalization and generate a Pareto improvement” (Limão and Olarreaga, 2005). Their study concludes that “for a given threat tariff, neither PTA policy in…depends on the MFN tariff directly. But the threat tariff itself is a positive function of the MFN tariff and this is the source of the interaction between these PTAs and MTL” (Limão and Olarreaga, 2005).

It must be said, however, that some scholars claim that PTAs are more likely to increase the welfare of its members if it includes the lowest cost suppliers of the goods being traded, as this eliminates the possibility of trade diversion (Ludema, 2000). If one accepts the ‘national trade partner’ argument, PTAs between neighbouring countries are more likely to raise the welfare of its members than a PTA between geographically distant countries (Ludema, 2000).

Richard Baldwin argues, quite interestingly, that a “messier” trading system is in some ways more hopeful. While the ‘stumbling-block’ argument suggests that regionalism hinders MFN tariff cutting, Baldwin argues that if this was a significant effect it would be possible to notice a negative relationship between the level of MFN and preferential tariffs over the last few decades (Baldwin and Seghezza, 2007). In theory, then, these results would suggest that MFN and PTA tariffs should be substitutes. However according to his research, “MFN and PTA tariffs seem to be complements, not substitutes since margins of preferences tend to be low or zero for products where nations apply high MFN tariffs” (Baldwin and Seghezza, 2007). Thus, Baldwin refuses to define the issue simply as a stumbling block versus building block approach (Baldwin and Seghezza, 2007). For example, Panagariya notes that Mexico, Mercosur and Israel raised their external tariffs after entering PTAs (Panagariya, 1999). However, Baldwin would argue that it is hard to establish causality based on timing alone because in the case of Mexico, the e fallout of the 1994 peso crisis, inefficient state monopolies, inflexible unions and a weak judicial system which all coincided with NAFTA could help to explain the rise in external tariffs. Thus, despite the growth of PTAs and the ambiguous results from theoretical research, until recently, there was no systematic evidence of a causal effect on MTL.

CONCLUSION: THE FUTURE OF THE MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM

The increased proliferation of PTAs over the last few decades has raised many concerns, particularly in regard to the questions of discriminatory practices, hegemonic power and the future of multilateral trade liberalization. Clearly, then, in an increasingly complex and interdependent globalized society, trade cannot be seen as the only motivation behind the increase in the number of PTAs. In fact, cooperation in issues not directly related to trade is often just as important as seen above.

While Bhagwati’s warnings found in Termites in the Trading System have merit in the abstract, his fears do not seem to be playing out in practice. The “pandemic” of PTAs since the early 90s has coincided with the dramatic expansion of global trade, cross-border investment, and output. While global supply chains are more complex than ever as regional integration in North America, the EU and Asia continue to deepen some critics say that while PTAs may be a poor substitute for multilateral trade liberalization, they do not appear to be an obstacle.

For supporters of a more open global economy, Bhagwati’s book is a healthy reminder that one should not submissively support every agreement with “free trade” in the title. He is correct in his assumption that many of the approximate 355 PTAs in the world today are modestly contributing to the global trading system. Besides this, as markets and countries continue to integrate, an integrated global economy requires global economic governance through institutions like the WTO, and not fragmented institutional structures of regional bodies or agreements.

Bibliography

Baldwin, Richard and Elena Seghezza. 2007. “Are trade blocs building or stumbling blocks? New evidence.” OMC; 30 November 2007, available online: http://www. wto. org/english/res_e/reser_e/gtdw_e/wkshop08_e/baldwin_spring_e. pdf

Bergsten, C. Fred. "Commentary: The Move Toward Free Trade Zones." Economic Review (1991): 27-35.

Bhagwati, Jagdish. 2005. “Reshaping the WTO.” Far Eastern Economic Review; Jan/Feb 2005, 168, 2; ABI/INFORM Global, pg. 25-30.

Kelegama, Saman and Ratnakar Adhikari. "Regionalism Debate: Re-positioning SAFTA." South Asia Journal 7 (2005).

Krugman, Paul. "The Move Toward Free Trade Zones." Economic Review (1991): 5-25.

Lamy, Pascal. 2007. “La prolifération des accords commerciaux régionaux est “source de préoccupation.” OMC Allocutions; 10 septembre 2007, available online. http://www. wto. org/french/news_f/sppl_f/sppl67_f. htm

Ludema, Rodney D. 2000. “Increasing returns, multinationals and geography of preferential trade agreements.” Department of Economics and School of Foreign Service; Georgetown University, Washington, USA, September 2000, 41 pg.

Limão, Nuno. 2005. “The Clash of Liberalizations: Preferential Trade Agreements as a Stumbling Block to Multilateral Liberalization.” University of Maryland and CEPR, August 2005, available online: http://www. columbia. edu/

Limão, Nuno and Marcelo Olarreaga. 2005. “Trade Preferences to Small Developing Countries and the Welfare Costs of Lost Multilateral Liberalization.” University of Maryland and CEPR, 2005, available online: http://www. ycsg. yale. edu/focus/gta/trade_preferences_small. pdf.

Panagariya, Arvind. 1999. “The Regionalism Debate: An Overview.” The World Economy, 22(4): 477-511.

Termites in the Trading System: How Preferential Agreements Undermine Free Trade (Council of Foreign Relations) Versión Kindle

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Amazon. com: HASH(0xa71be39c) su 5 stelle 3 recensioni

4 di 5 persone hanno trovato utile la seguente recensione

HASH(0xa72459c0) su 5 stelle Termites have fun 28 febbraio 2009

Di Dr. Andrew L. Elek - Pubblicato su Amazon. com

Formato: Copertina rigida

This is not Bhagwati at his best. A lot of anecdotes, but more advocacy than analysis. I agree with his view, but the book lacks gravitas.

4 di 6 persone hanno trovato utile la seguente recensione

HASH(0xa76c69c0) su 5 stelle Intellectual arrogance at its worst 17 gennaio 2011

Di K G R - Pubblicato su Amazon. com

Formato: Copertina rigida

Bhagwati, a well-known proponent of unconditional free trade, wrote this book to critique the numerous bilateral or plurilateral free-trade agreements ( a/k/a preferential trade agreements or PTA's). As always, Bhagwati expounds his view that all States should eliminate tariffs and any restrictions on trade.

Bhagwati's intellectual arrogance shines throughout. Cita a sus propias obras anteriores en casi cada segunda página del libro. Humorously, he repeatedly lauds his own publications and efforts. Then he arrogantly derides and insults those who dare to disagree with him and his free trade mantra, but offers little in the way of serious replies. I suspect that most reading this book are proponents of free trade and that therefore most of the book amounts to preaching to the converted. But if you are not an unconditional fan of the WTO I suspect that you'll find this book comically inadequate.

The author argues that PTA's are a "danger" because they serve to undermine universal most favored nation (MFN) status. This means that rather than relying solely on the WTO GATT system, whereby each country accords each other's products the same tariffs, countries with PTA's provide each other with more preferential tariff rates. Bhagwati mocks countries for entering into PTA's based on geography or cultural reasons, rather than for pure economic benefit. But the author, like all too many economists, seems to fail to grasp the concept that profits and economic utility are not the only considerations in our decisions. Bhagwati is obviously correct that the US trades a great deal with many countries with which the US does not PTA's, and that some coutries with which the US does have PTA's (e. g. Israel, Jordan) account for a relatively small portion of US trade. But so what?

The author does not attempt to address the point that there may be cultural, religious, geographical, national security, or any reason other than pure economic benefit as to why a country may wish to encourage trade with certain nations and not others. Bhagwati, like many scholars from developing countries, argues that the inclusion of labor, environmental, or other conditions in PTA's is an unfair method for wealthier countries to reduce advantages (like lower labor costs or lack of ) that are enjoyed by poorer countries. But he never attempts to explain why wealthier, more developed countries should not want these conditions, or how they may be bad for all in the long run. Proponents of unconditional free trade argue that the citizens of wealthier countries benefit from cheaper goods, and that ultimately (when/how is never specified) conditions will improve for workers and the environment in developing countries. Facts and history have not proven this.

Bhagwati does not address the fact that labor unrest or pollution from one country can easily lead to effects in others, or why those in the developed world should want to compete with workers making a fraction of ther wages in far less agreeable conditions. Proponents of free trade almost universally argue that lossed jobs in, for example, manufacturing in a developed country will be replaced by "better" jobs in the service sector or elsewhere. Bhagwati and his like do not seem able to addres the fact that this has not been the experience of many millions of workers. One could obviously argue about cause and effect, or what the net benefit or loss is to a country's citizens, but Bhagwati does not seriously try to offer anything other than to not so subtly imply that if you do not agree with him that unconditional free trade is the best policy for countries to follow, than you must be an idiot.

Ultimately, the simple fact that countries with accountable officials are seeking PTA's seems to belie Bhagwati's point that they are counterproductive or even dangerous. At only 100 pages long, the book's size should make it obvious that this is really just a long, glorified pro-WTO pamphlet.

HASH(0xa7938978) su 5 stelle Decent Book 17 settembre 2012

Di Steve Bornell - Pubblicato su Amazon. com

Formato: Copertina rigida Acquisto verificato

This book contains some good information about international trade and brings up some strong points about prefferential trade agreements. It is troubling when prefferential trade agreements are used to promote trade unrelated issues and when politicians promote them without full knowledge of the impacts on both sides.

Review

The American Economist

Description: The American Economist is a leading refereed journal published by the International Honor Society in Economics – Omicron Delta Epsilon – for the enhancement of research in economics. It publishes articles in all areas of economics, particularly in economic education. The Journal publishes a combination of theoretical and empirical articles as well as shorter notes, book reviews and comments on published papers.

Coverage: 1960-2012 (Vol. 4, No. 1 - Vol. 57, No. 2)

The "moving wall" represents the time period between the last issue available in JSTOR and the most recently published issue of a journal. Las paredes móviles se representan generalmente en años. In rare instances, a publisher has elected to have a "zero" moving wall, so their current issues are available in JSTOR shortly after publication. Nota: Al calcular la pared móvil, no se cuenta el año actual. Por ejemplo, si el año actual es 2008 y una revista tiene un móvil de 5 años, los artículos del año 2002 están disponibles.

Términos relacionados con la pared móvil Paredes fijas: revistas sin nuevos volúmenes que se agreguen al archivo. Absorbido: Diarios que se combinan con otro título. Complete: Diarios que ya no se publican o que han sido combinados con otro título.

Subjects: Business & Economics, Business, Economics

Termites in the Trading System: How Preferential Agreements Undermine Free Trade

The Columbia University economist Bhagwati takes strong exception to the proliferation of so-called free-trade areas (which are mostly really preferential trade areas since they contain significant exemptions) in recent years through the efforts of many parties, especially the United States and the European Union. His perspective is markedly different, however, from that of most American opponents of these areas, who often object to their trade-liberalizing features. Bhagwati fears that free-trade areas will lead to a significant diversion of trade from its lowest-cost channels, that they divert policymakers' attention and political attention more generally from the much more important multilateral trade liberalization, and that they force unrelated issues into the trade agenda, such as labor rights and environmental issues. In this short book, which draws heavily on his more technical work and that of his former students, Bhagwati explains in nontechnical terms why the United States' emphasis on free-trade areas -- which started under Ronald Reagan and continued under subsequent presidents, and has included much more explicitly unrelated political criteria under George W. Bush -- will contribute to an irrational "spaghetti bowl" of bilateral trade agreements. This concern heightens the importance of a successful conclusion to the now-stalled Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations.

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Termites in the Trading System

Preferential Trade Agreements, many taking the form of Free Trade Agreements, now number over 300 and are rapidly increasing. In this new book, leading economist Jagdish Bhagwati reveals how these agreements have recreated the unhappy situation of the protectionist 1930s, when world trade was undermined by discriminatory practices (today, ironically, as a result of a misdirected pursuit of free trade). The world trading system is definitely at risk again, the author argues, and the danger is palpable. Indeed, PTAs have created a chaotic system of preferences that has destroyed the principle of non-discrimination in trade.

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1. Proliferating PTAs; 2. Why the Epidemic?; 3. Why PTAs are a Pox on the World Trading System; 4. What can we do?; APPENDIX: ANALYTICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE THEORY OF PREFERENTIAL TRADE AGREEMENTS IN POST-WAR PERIOD: A SIMPLE PRIMER; GLOSSARY: ACRONYMS, PHRASES AND CONCEPTS

Stockholm School Special Lecture on My Forthcoming Book: "Termites in the Trading System: How Preferential Trading Agreements Are Undermining Free Trade"

Title: Stockholm School Special Lecture on My Forthcoming Book: "Termites in the Trading System: How Preferential Trading Agreements Are Undermining Free Trade" Author(s): Bhagwati, Jagdish N. Date: 2008 Type: Presentations Department: Economics Permanent URL: http://hdl. handle. net/10022/AC:P:8105 Notes: Presented at Stockholm School of Economics, April 10, 2008. Abstract: An outline of a lecture on the forthcoming book "Termites in the Trading System: How Preferential Trading Agreements are Undermining Free Trade." Subject(s): Economics Item views: 170 Metadata: text | xml Suggested Citation: Jagdish N. Bhagwati. 2008, Stockholm School Special Lecture on My Forthcoming Book: "Termites in the Trading System: How Preferential Trading Agreements Are Undermining Free Trade", Columbia University Academic Commons, http://hdl. handle. net/10022/AC:P:8105.

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Do-It-Yourself Termite Baits: Do They Work?

ENTFACT-642: Do-It-Yourself Termite Baits - Do They Work? | Download PDF

by Michael F. Potter, Extension Entomologist University of Kentucky College of Agriculture

The Entomology Department at the University of Kentucky receives many inquiries about a "do-it-yourself" termite control product sold in retail stores throughout the United States.

The Terminate™ Termite Home Defense System is being marketed under the Spectracide brand of lawn and garden insecticides. The question homeowners are asking is: "Does the product work?"

Terminate's retail price—under $100 for a box of bait stakes—is tempting, given that a professional termite treatment may cost well over $1000. However, there are issues with this product that should be considered in the purchasing decision.

Descripción del producto

Traditional termite treatments afford structural protection by creating a persistent chemical barrier in the soil. Termites attempting to penetrate the treated soil are either killed or repelled, and the remainder of the population are forced to find food elsewhere. Spectracide Terminate™ is an entirely different concept. Formulated as a bait, the product is meant to be eaten by termites foraging below ground in the vicinity of the structure. Professional pest control firms have been using other termite baits, such as the Sentricon™ Colony Elimination System, for a number of years with favorable results (See ENTFACT-639, Termite Baits: A Guide for Homeowners ). Research and practical experience with the professionally-installed baits indicates that they require careful installation, diligent monitoring, and ongoing surveillance by a trained individual. Furthermore, not all termite baiting systems are equally effective. Some products have had difficulty eliminating termite infestations within structures and have required supplemental treatment with liquid termiticides. This also will be true of Terminate™.

The active ingredient in Terminate (sulfluramid) is incorporated into a small roll of corrugated cardboard, housed within a red, transparent plastic tube or “stake.” Bait stakes are 4 inches long by 1 inch in diameter, with holes drilled in the sides for termites to enter and exit. After termites have fed upon the bait, they exit the stakes and rejoin with their nest mates in the soil. Because the bait material kills termites rather slowly (about 3 to 14 days after feeding), some transfer of the toxicant occurs to other colony members, including those that never fed on the bait. Termites cannot see or smell the baits from any appreciable distance underground; they encounter them largely by chance during their below-ground foraging activities.

Spectracide Terminate™ is sold in quantities of 20, 40, or 60 stakes per box, depending on the size (square footage) of the structure. All except the smallest single family homes will require purchase of the larger-size boxes at an incrementally higher cost.

Directions for Use

Package directions specify that bait stakes be inserted into holes drilled in the ground around the perimeter of the home, about 10 feet apart and within 2-3 feet of the foundation. Additional stakes are installed in “critical areas” suspected to contain termites, such as moist areas around mulch beds, water spigots, down spouts or sprinklers. Following installation, the stakes must be inspected by the homeowner every 2 to 3 months by pulling them from the ground and observing whether the bait has been eaten, or if termites are present inside. Additional stakes are added within 1 foot of any that show evidence of termites. The instructions further state that after activity has ceased, the stakes should continue to be monitored at least every 3 months for an additional 9 months. Stakes should be replaced before termites consume all of the bait, and must be replaced or removed every 9 months.

Product Claims

Terminate's advertising claims could be misinterpreted by many consumers. As part of a 1999 settlement with the Federal Trade Commission and several state attorneys general (including Kentucky), product directions now state that Terminate is not recommended as a sole protection against termites, and for active infestations the buyer is advised to get an inspection and treatment by a professional. Despite the labeling changes, many homeowners purchasing the product may still think that their home is being protected from termite attack—an assumption not yet proven by published research data, especially when the bait is installed and maintained by homeowners rather than professionals.

The warranty statement guarantees that the product will protect your home from subterranean termite attack for 12 months from the date of purchase. Yet most customers will have difficulty knowing whether their home is truly being "protected" while the warranty is in effect. Termites tend to be cryptic in their foraging and feeding habits; feeding on Terminate™ stakes out in the yard is no assurance that termites are not also feasting on the structure.

Successful termite baiting requires diligent installation, monitoring and bait replenishment, and ongoing surveillance of the structure. Supplemental treatment with liquid termiticides may also be required. For these and other reasons, we believe that baiting is a job best left to professionals.

¡PRECAUCIÓN! Pesticide recommendations in this publication are registered for use in Kentucky, USA ONLY! The use of some products may not be legal in your state or country. Please check with your local county agent or regulatory official before using any pesticide mentioned in this publication.

Of course, ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS FOR SAFE USE OF ANY PESTICIDE!

Photos courtesy of M. F. Potter, University of Kentucky Entomology. Please note that all photos in this publication are copyrighted material and may not be copied or downloaded without permission of the author.

Termite Baits: A Guide for Homeowners

No structural pest causes more confusion than termites. Most homeowners have little knowledge of these troublesome insects, and what it takes to get rid of them. Our understanding of termites has progressed considerably in recent years.

New management tools have emerged, and a significant number of pest control firms are now using baits as an alternative form of treatment. This publication will help homeowners understand termite baits so that they can make a more informed purchasing decision.

TERMITES IN PERSPECTIVE

Subterranean termites, the variety common to Kentucky and most other states, live below ground in cooperative, intermingling groups known as colonies. Mature termite colonies tend to be decentralized entities occupying multiple nesting and feeding sites, interconnected by underground tunnels. The dimensions of a colony can be quite variable. Larger colonies can have hundreds of thousands to millions of individuals, occupying areas of up to half an acre. Smaller colonies may contain less than 10,000 individuals, with a foraging "footprint" no bigger than a bedroom. In some cases, larger but fewer colonies may be present; in others, individual colonies may be smaller and more numerous. In residential areas, the colony or colonies responsible for damage may actually be located in a neighbor's yard, rather than beneath the house that is infested.

Subterranean termites excavate narrow, meandering tunnels through soil, eventually encountering wood, their primary food. Decaying tree roots, logs, stumps, woodpiles, and plant debris afford a ready and abundant supply of food for the colony. In nature, termites are very beneficial since they aid in the decomposition of organic matter and the return of nutrients to the soil. Occasionally during their persistent foraging, termites encounter wood within buildings. Once a suitable feeding site is found, the workers establish an invisible odor trail to attract other termites to the structure.

Subterranean termite infestations can go undetected for years, hidden behind walls, floor coverings, and other obstructions. Over time, significant damage can result. The cryptic nature and tenacious foraging habits of these insects also pose a challenge to control efforts. Unlike other services such as plumbing or electrical work, termite control involves living creatures. Traditional treatments may fail at times, underscoring the need for other forms of management.

CONVENTIONAL "BARRIER" TREATMENT

For years, the standard method of controlling subterranean termites was to apply a liquid pesticide, known as a termiticide, to the soil. The goal was to create a continuous chemical barrier around and under the building in order to block all potential routes of termite entry. Termites attempting to penetrate the treated soil were either killed or repelled. In actual practice, there are many obstacles to achieving such a barrier. Many potential termite entry points are hidden behind walls, floor coverings, and other obstructions. Even where access for treatment is possible, it is hard to uniformly wet soil and achieve thorough coverage. A typical "barrier" treatment may involve hundreds of gallons of pesticide injected into the ground alongside the foundation, beneath concrete slabs, and within foundation walls. Homeowners sometimes object to the drilling and disruption that such treatments often require.

ALTERNATIVE APPROACH: TERMITE BAITS

Termite baiting employs a very different approach. With baits, small amounts of material are deployed like edible "smart missiles" to knock out populations of termites foraging in and around the structure. Foraging termites consume the bait and share it with their nestmates, resulting in a gradual decline in termite numbers. Some baits may even eradicate entire termite colonies. A comprehensive baiting program then seeks to maintain a termite-free condition on the customer's property through ongoing inspection, monitoring and re-baiting as needed.

Slow-acting baits (such as the Sentricon Colony Elimination System pictured above) can destroy large numbers of termites foraging in the vicinity of a structure. (illustration courtesy of Dow AgroSciences)

The baits consist of paper, cardboard, or other palatable food, combined with a slow-acting substance lethal to termites. The bait must be "tasty" enough that termites will readily consume it, even in the presence of competing tree roots, stumps, woodpiles and structural wood. If the bait kills too quickly, sick or dead termites may accumulate in the vicinity of the bait stations, increasing the chance of avoidance by other termites in the area. Delayed-action also enhances transmission of the lethal agent to other termites, including those that never fed on the bait. Entire colonies can be eliminated in this manner, although total colony elimination is not always necessary to afford structural protection.

PATTERN OF USE

Various methods of termite baiting are employed by pest control firms. Some baits are inserted below ground out in the yard, while others are installed inside the building in the vicinity of active termite mud tubes. On some properties, baits may constitute the only form of treatment; on others, they may be supplemented with a partial or complete liquid application.

Installation Below Ground

Most termite bait components (paper, cardboard, etc.) decompose rapidly under ground. Consequently, most installations initially utilize untreated wood in the stations. Once termites are detected in the wooden monitors, the bait material is added. Termites cannot see or smell the baits underground; they more or less wander into them during their persistent foraging activities. To increase the odds of discovery, the stations are installed at fixed intervals (typically 10 to 20 feet apart) around the entire outside perimeter of the building and in known or suspected areas of termite activity (e. g. around woodpiles, stumps, moist areas, and adjacent to previous termite damage). With patience and a little luck, the termites eventually find and feed on one or more of the bait installations.

One of the biggest challenges in baiting is getting termites to find the baits in the first place. El calendario de descubrimiento variará de una propiedad a otra, dependiendo de factores tales como la intensidad de la forraje de termitas, la época del año, la humedad y la disponibilidad de alimento. For example, on one infested property in Kentucky, more than a dozen monitoring devices were "hit" (attacked) by termites within two weeks of installation; on another home in the same neighborhood, no below-ground stations were attacked during a full year of intensive monitoring despite two concurrent termite swarms inside the home. Similar variances in bait detection by termites have been reported elsewhere in the country.

Because subterranean termites feed at multiple locations within their foraging area, chances are good that one or more bait stations will eventually be found and fed upon. In temperate climates such as in Kentucky, bait discovery usually will be greatest from spring through fall when termites are most active. Baiting during late-fall and winter is generally less fruitful. Termites may be found in below ground stations at sub-freezing temperatures, but their feeding activity and effects of the bait are greatly reduced. At times of the year when the ground is frozen, snow covered. or saturated, inspection of bait stations can often be curtailed until conditions once again become favorable for termite foraging and feeding.

The more bait stations installed, the better the chances of locating termites. Installing more stations increases the odds of encountering multiple colonies, or weakly associated "satellite nests" of the same colony -- any of which could be of potential risk to the structure. Planning, patience and persistence are requisites for successfully using below-ground termite baits. Regardless of which product is used, the homeowner must be prepared and willing to accept the possibility of a lengthy baiting process.

Above-Ground Installation

Baits can also be installed above ground, in known areas of termite activity. Typically, the stations are installed directly in the path of active termite tunnels after the mud tubes have been broken. Other times, they can be mounted directly over termite-infested wood, drywall, or other surfaces. Effects tend to be more rapid with above-ground baiting, since the procedure does not require waiting for termites to find the below-ground installations. They are normally used in conjunction with below ground baiting, rather than as a stand alone.

COMMERCIAL BAIT PRODUCTS

Discussed below are various professionally-installed termite bait systems, and another one marketed directly to homeowners.

This product/system has been the most extensively tested of those currently on the market. Consequently, it will be discussed in some detail. The Sentricon Termite Colony Elimination System was developed by Dow AgroSciences (Indianapolis, IN), and is sold only through authorized pest control firms. The bait contains a slow-acting ingredient which disrupts the normal growth process in termites (i. e. termites die while attempting to molt). Termite control with the Sentricon System ® entails a 3-step process: (1) initial monitoring to pinpoint termite activity, (2) delivery of the bait, and (3) subsequent monitoring to provide ongoing protection of the structure.

Step 1. Monitoring - Termites are detected by installing plastic monitoring stations around the perimeter of the building.

Setting the Sentricon station in the ground

The station housing (pictured above) is a hollow green plastic cylinder, about 10 inches long by 2 inches wide, with slits along the sides for termites to enter. Initially, each station is provisioned with two untreated pieces of wood, intended as monitoring devices for the presence of termites in the area.

The station is inserted into an augured hole in the ground, with the cover flush with the soil surface. Monitoring stations are installed around the outside perimeter of the building, at about 10- to 20- foot intervals alongside the foundation. Narrower intervals, while more effort to install and inspect, increase the odds that termites will encounter them during foraging. Stations are typically installed about 12 to 18 inches from the foundation, to avoid soil that may have been treated earlier with a liquid termiticide. Patios, driveways, and other paved surfaces are not a problem unless soil access is prevented around the majority of the structure. Oftentimes, stations can be installed farther out from the foundation, in adjoining planter boxes, etc. When necessary, stations can also be installed under pavement.

As a supplement to installations along the foundation, additional stations are installed in suspected termite foraging areas, such as near pre-existing termite damage, stumps, woodpiles, or moist areas on the property. Periodically thereafter (monthly, bimonthly, etc.) the wood monitoring devices within each Sentricon station are inspected for termite presence.

Termites found in the untreated wood baitTermites feeding on wood monitoring pieces

Step 2. Bait Delivery - When termites are found in a monitoring station, the untreated wood is replaced with a perforated plastic tube containing bait laced with a slow-acting termite growth inhibitor (noviflumuron).

To hasten the overall process, termites feeding on the wood pieces are carefully dislodged and placed within the Baitube. Eventually, these termites tunnel through and out of the perforated tube, reuniting with their nestmates in the soil. In doing so, they leave behind a colony-specifict scent that promotes recruitment of other nestmates to the bait. In order to promote additional "hits" (attacks) on stations, additional stations containing wood are installed near those receiving Baitubes.

Transferring termites to the baitube (left) and reinsertion of baitube (right)

Inspection of all Sentricon stations, with and without substituted bait tubes, continues until no more live termites are discovered. Empty, moldy or degraded baits are replaced and additional stations added as deemed necessary.

Step 3. Continued Monitoring - After termites are no longer found in installed Baitubes, the baits are once again replaced with untreated wood pieces and monitoring continues. Even if the termite colony threatening the structure has been eliminated, termites from neighboring colonies can reinvade the area. Reinfestation can also occur if only part of the original colony or colonies was eliminated. Consequently, structures protected with Sentricon (and all other bait products and systems) will need to be continually inspected, monitored and maintained to guard against reinvasion from new colonies or previously suppressed ones. Once the termite population has been eliminated, the pest control firm will continue to monitor at three - to four-month intervals for an indefinite period.

Independent research studies, including some performed in Kentucky, indicate that the Sentricon® Colony Elimination System is an effective termite control option. Some of these studies involved structural that could not be controlled using conventional liquid methods. Despite Sentricon's demonstrated effectiveness, diligence and persistence are requisites for success — as is true for any termite management program. In order to use Sentricon, companies must receive training and adhere to rigid quality assurance standards required by the manufacturer. Various enhancements have been added in recent years to facilitate performance and serviceability. Aboveground stations are available to hasten delivery of bait to termites evident within in the structure. Another enhancement, "ESP Technology," utilizes a wand-like electronic device to detect termites within stations without opening or disturbing them.

FirstLine® is another bait product option, manufactured by FMC Corporation (Philadelphia, PA). Installation and servicing procedures are fairly similar to those for Sentricon. FirstLine bait stations have a somewhat different appearance, and the corrugated cardboard food source contains sulfluramid, a compound that interferes with the termites' ability to derive energy from food.

Most pest control companies using FirstLine also perform a partial or full liquid treatment. (Sentricon is often used as a "stand alone" installation). Research studies evaluating the effectiveness of FirstLine have been more limited, and there is uncertainty as to whether the bait or the supplemental liquid application is having the greater impact on the termite infestation.

EXTERRA™ Another product used by some companies is the Exterra™ Termite Interception and Baiting System (Ensystex, Inc. Fayetteville, NC). The bait used in Exterra contains diflubenzuron, a termite growth regulating agent in the same chemical group as Sentricon's active ingredient, noviflumuron. Both compounds are chitin synthesis inhibitors and kill by disrupting the termite molting process. Installation procedures are similar to Sentricon and FirstLine, but subsequent servicing of stations may be a bit less frequent (45- to 90-day inspection intervals rather than initial visits that are monthly). Al igual que con Sentricon, Exterra se comercializa como un sistema de cebo independiente con ningún tratamiento de líquido suplementario requerido. Fewer independent research trials have been conducted with Exterra, making it hard to say whether the products are comparable in overall performance.

SUBTERFUGE® Subterfuge is a relatively new termite bait manufactured by BASF Corporation (Research Triangle Park, NC). The active ingredient, hydramethylnon, affects termites in a manner similar to sulfluramid, the ingredient in FirstLine. Unlike other systems on the market, no wooden monitors are used prior to installing the baits, which are inserted from the outset. There have been few published studies evaluating the bait's effectiveness.

ADVANCE™ TERMITE BAIT SYSTEM This new bait system employs the same active ingredient (diflubenzuron) found in Exterra. Installation and servicing intervals are similar. Advance and Exterra both have station designs that reportedly allow termites to transition more readily into the bait after initially feeding on wood monitors. Independent evaluations of the bait's effectiveness are still rather limited.

This bait product, sold in retail stores, is marketed specifically for use by homeowners. The Terminate™ Termite Home Defense System consists of small, 4 by 1-inch hollow plastic stakes provisioned with sulfluramid-treated cardboard (the same ingredient in FirstLine).

The baits are installed at various locations around the outside of the home and inspected periodically by the property owner. The treatment cost for a box of Terminate bait stakes (under $100) is tempting, considering that a professional treatment using bait or liquid can cost well over $1000. There are issues pertaining to use of Terminate, however, and it is questionable whether it will protect a home from termite attack. As part of a 1999 settlement with the Federal Trade Commission and several state Attorneys General (including Kentucky), product directions now state that Terminate is not recommended as a sole protection against termites. Moreover, for active infestations the buyer is advised to get an inspection and treatment by a professional.

Successful termite baiting requires proper installation, monitoring and bait replenishment, plus ongoing surveillance of the structure. When using baits, supplemental treatment measures also may be necessary. For these and other reasons (see ENTFact-642, Do-It-Yourself Termite Baits: Do They Work? ), baiting is usually best left to professionals.

BAITS OR BARRIERS. WHICH IS BETTER?

This is the most common question from homeowners trying to decide which form of treatment to purchase. The question is a difficult one with no simple answer. Factors to consider in the purchasing decision include:

Are you opposed to having your floors and walls drilled, or furnishings moved? Homeowners considering a bait treatment are usually relieved to learn that their carpeting won't have to be rolled back, their floors extensively drilled, or furnishings moved, as is often the case with conventional liquid applications. The technician may not even need to come indoors to install or monitor the stations. Drilling noise, concrete dust, application hoses, and similar disturbances are avoided.

Are you opposed to having pesticides applied in and around your home? Conventional liquid treatments utilize hundreds of gallons of termiticide, injected into the soil under and around the house. Health and environmental risks from such treatments are generally considered negligible, but some householders still are apprehensive. With baits, the amount of pesticide applied is minute and confined in tamper-resistant stations.

Are there construction features that make it hard to treat with a liquid? Some buildings have wells, cisterns, nearby ponds or streams, plenums, sub-slab heating ducts, drainage systems, inaccessible crawl spaces, or other features that complicate treatment of soil with a liquid. With baits, such conditions aren't a problem and may be the only feasible form of treatment. Houses that were unsuccessfully treated with liquids also are candidates for baits, since they do not require gaining access to hidden or hard-to-reach areas.

How quickly must the infestation be eliminated? A limitation of all termite baits is that they are relatively slow acting compared to the effects of liquids. Several months may pass before termites find the baits underground and distribute them to their nestmates. Consequently, the elimination process can take several months or longer to complete, and a degree of feeding and damage may occur before the bait takes effect. Homeowners with a severe termite infestation or those involved in a real estate transaction may not want to wait this long — preferring instead that a liquid be applied alone or in combination with baits.

How much are you willing to spend for treatment? Termite services vary in price from about $700 to $2500 for initial treatment, and $70 to $350 for the annual renewal warranty in case termites return. Baiting often is more costly than liquid treatment because the process requires several visits to the structure to monitor for termites, and add or replenish baits. Homeowners should consider both the initial treatment price and the annual renewal fee in making their purchasing decision. Whereas liquid treatments usually entail an annual followup inspection, bait renewals typically require three or four visits per year, for as long as the contract is in effect. Thus, the annual renewal fee for baiting may be two to three times higher than for liquid treatments. Failure to maintain the annual renewal agreement can be a prescription for disaster with baits, since there is no residual pesticide left in the soil after the termites have been eliminated. La protección estructural continua depende de la supervisión del posible retorno de las termitas en el futuro.

In summary, termite baits are useful and effective tools for managing infestations. Regardless of which product/system is used, they will not work by simply hammering a few stations into the ground and walking away. Success will require thoughtful installation and diligent monitoring by an experienced technician, backed by a responsible pest control firm.

Where trade names are used, no endorsement is intended, nor criticism implied of similar products not named.

For further information about the products mentioned in this publication, contact the manufacturer. your local termite control professional, state regulatory agency responsible for pesticide usage, or the university cooperative extension office in your area.

Of course, ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS FOR SAFE USE OF ANY PESTICIDE!

CONSUMER UPDATE: TERMITE BAITS

by Michael F. Potter, Extension Entomologist

University of Kentucky College of Agriculture

A growing number of pest control firms are now using termite baits as an alternative form of treatment. As more companies offer this option, homeowners will be seeking information and advice as to which approach — bait or conventional ‘barrier’ treatment — is most effective. Additional questions will be raised about the new “do-it-yourself” termite bait being sold through retail outlets. This publication provides an update on termite baits for consumers.

For years, the standard method of controlling subterranean termites was to apply a liquid pesticide (termiticide) to the soil. The goal was to block all potential routes of termite entry into the structure. Termites attempting to penetrate the treated soil were either killed or repelled. While the majority of liquid barrier treatments are successful, at times they have failed to provide adequate protection.

There are, in fact, many obstacles to achieving a continuous termiticide barrier around and beneath a building. It is hard to uniformly wet soil, and many potential termite entry points are hidden behind walls, floor coverings, and other obstructions. Termites can tunnel through small untreated gaps as narrow as pencil lead, so it is understandable that conventional liquid treatments sometimes fail to correct a termite problem.

The Bait Concept

Termite baiting is an entirely different concept. With this approach, tiny amounts of insecticide are deployed like edible “smart missiles” to knock out populations of termites foraging in and around the structure. Foraging termites consume the bait and share it with their nest mates, resulting in a gradual decline in termite numbers. Some baits may even eradicate entire termite colonies. A comprehensive baiting program then seeks to maintain a termite-free condition on the customer’s property through ongoing monitoring and rebaiting as needed.

The baits consist of paper, cardboard, or other “termite-friendly” food, combined with a slow-acting ingredient lethal to termites. The bait-toxicant combo must be slow acting in order to maximize distribution among the termite population, which may contain hundreds of thousands of individuals. Some bait stations are installed below ground out in the yard, while others are placed within the structure in the vicinity of active termite mud tubes. Because paper and cardboard decompose rather rapidly in soil, most below-ground installations initially utilize untreated wood stakes or monitors. Once termites are detected in the monitors, the toxicant-laced paper or cardboard baits are added. On some properties, termite baits may constitute the only form of treatment. In other cases, the baits may be supplemented with a partial or complete barrier application.

The Products

There currently are four bait products on the market. Three are sold by professional pest control firms, while one is marketed directly to homeowners.

Sentricon - The most widely used termite bait is the Sentricon Colony Elimination System. Despite only being marketed for three years, hundreds of thousands of structures have already been baited with Sentricon, including thousands here in Kentucky. The product has been installed on such national treasures as the Statue of Liberty and the White House. While there is still much to learn about Sentricon, dozens of independent research trials have confirmed its effectiveness when properly installed and diligently serviced by an authorized pest control firm. A detailed description of this baiting system can be found in our entomology extension publication ENT-65, Termite Baits: A Guide for Homeowners.

FirstLine - Some pest control firms are using this product as an alternative to Sentricon. Most are using the bait in combination with other forms of treatment, rather than as a “stand alone,” as is often done with Sentricon. Research trials with Firstline have been inconclusive, and it has been difficult to determine what impact the bait, alone, is having on active termite infestations. As with all of the baits, the manufacturer is continuing to modify the product in hopes of optimizing performance (for more on FirstLine, see ENT-65).

Exterra - The newest bait on the market is the Exterra Termite Interception and Baiting System. This product was introduced late last year and is now being installed by a small, but growing, number of pest control firms. As with Sentricon, Exterra is often used as a stand-alone treatment. Both products kill by disrupting the molting process in termites. In terms of appearance, Exterra’s in-ground plastic stations are brown and box-shaped (Sentricon’s are green and cylindrical), and the untreated wood monitors are flat and affixed to each of the four sides of the station. When termites are found feeding on the wood monitors, the bait — consisting of loosely wadded, shredded paper toweling — is stuffed into the center of the station without removing the monitors. This feature is intended to reduce disturbance to termites already present.

It’s too early to know how well Exterra will perform. Preliminary reports from some areas of the country have been encouraging, but there have been few such studies performed in Kentucky.

Spectracide Terminate - This do-it-yourself termite bait is discussed at length in our entomology extension publication Entfact-642: Do-It-Yourself Termite Baits: Do They Work? Late last year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and eight state Attorneys General (including Kentucky) filed a complaint in U. S. District Court alleging that the advertising claims about the product are deceptive and unsubstantiated. As part of a recent (3/18/99) settlement agreement, the manufacturer will be permitted to sell Terminate in 1999, but with substantial modifications in their advertising claims. Notably, they will no longer be able to state that use of the product alone is effective in preventing or eliminating termite infestation or damage to homes. The manufacturer can advertise that the product “kills termites,” but they must also state that Terminate is not recommended as sole protection against termites, and for active infestations, homeowners should get a professional inspection. For these and other reasons discussed in Entfact-642, we remain cautious about recommending the product, especially to homeowners with an existing termite problem.

Para cebo o no cebo.

The most common question I receive from homeowners is: “Which form of treatment — baits or barriers — is more effective, and which would you choose if it were your home?” The question is a difficult one with no “pat” answer. Factors to consider in the decision are discussed at length in extension publication ENT-65, Termite Baits: A Guide for Homeowners. Clients considering a bait treatment are usually relieved to learn that their carpeting won’t have to be pulled back, their floors automatically drilled or their stored items moved. No drilling, no noise, no dust, and no pesticide in the house are other often-cited advantages of termite baits.

Furthermore, some structures have construction features that make it difficult or impossible to treat with conventional methods (e. g. wells, cisterns, drainage systems, sub-slab heating ducts, inaccessible crawl spaces). Buildings with hard-to-treat construction elements are logical candidates for baits, since foraging termites are as likely to encounter bait stations installed around the foundation exterior as beneath the structure. Since baits are non-volatile, non-leachable solids, they can be used in the most sensitive treatment situations.

The biggest complaint, common to all of the current systems, is that baiting is a slow, prolonged process. Several months may pass before the termites find the untreated, below ground monitoring stations and begin to feed on the bait. Consequently, it is not uncommon for the elimination procedure to take more than a full year to complete. Although usually minimal, some degree of termite feeding and damage may occur before the slow-acting bait takes effect.

Baiting programs often are more expensive than conventional treatments. This is because the process requires multiple visits to the structure to monitor for termites, and to add or replenish baits as needed. Homeowners should consider both the initial treatment price and the annual renewal fee in making their purchasing decision. Failure to maintain their annual service agreement is a prescription for disaster with baits, since there is no residual pesticide left in the soil after the termites have been eliminated. Ongoing structural protection depends upon diligent monitoring for new evidence of termites in the future.

Asi que. if the homeowner (1) has limited income, (2) straightforward construction, (3) is amenable to having their wall-to-wall carpeting pulled back and their basement/slab floor, patio, porch, etc. drilled, and (4) is offered a renewable service agreement (guarantee) by the pest control company, a conventional ‘barrier-type’ treatment may be desirable. If one or more of these criteria cannot be met, the situation may warrant a bait job — but, ultimately, the customer must make the decision.

In closing, termite prevention and control is a very complex topic. Further information is provided in University of Kentucky entomology extension publications, Entfact-604: Termite Control: Answers for the Homeowner. Entfact-605: Protecting Your Home Against Termites. ENT-65: Termite Baits: A Guide for Homeowners, and Entfact-642: Do-It-Yourself Termite Baits: Do They Work?

For further information about the termite bait products mentioned in this publication, contact the manufacturer, your local termite control professional, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (or state or other regulatory agency responsible for termiticide usage in your area), or your county Cooperative Extension office.

¡PRECAUCIÓN! Pesticide recommendations in this publication are registered for use in Kentucky, USA ONLY . The use of some products may not be legal in your state or country. Please check with your local county agent or regulatory official before using any pesticide mentioned in this publication.

Of course, ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS FOR SAFE USE OF ANY PESTICIDE!

Issued: 4/99 Revised: 4/99

Do It Yourself Termite Control Products & Tratamiento

Termite control can be done with liquids, termite bait systems, or both. Liquid Termite spray products are fast acting, can be applied closer to the infestation, and require less maintenance. Termite Bait Systems are less intrusive, no drilling or trenching is needed, no expensive equipment is required, and bait systems can help you identify a problem before the termites reach your home. You can do your own termite control, and we carry all the termite killer you'll need. Continue reading below the products to learn more about termite protection .

Overview of do-it-yourself termite control products and methods.

A Termite Treatment Doesn't Have To Cost a Fortune

Termites can be one of the most destructive insects to your home. They’re not just annoying, but they can actually damage the structural integrity of your most important investment. In the southern United States it is estimated that there can be anywhere from 15-25 active termite colonies in any given acre of land. The question is not if your home will get these wood-eating monsters, but when. You have invested a lot into your home and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t invest in some good termite control to keep them away. At Do My Own Pest Control we have all the different pest control products you need to live pest free, even from termites.

Signs of termites

Termites are a huge problem and a serious threat to the value and structural integrity of your home. However, due to their reclusive nature, it can be hard to tell whether or not your house is troubled by these insects. Therefore you should know the following termites signs that might indicate a problem in your home and be ready to act to get rid of them if they are present.

How Do You Know If You Have Termites?

The most common signs of termite infestation are a raised tunnel of dirt also known as a termite mud tube that leads to the house that is under siege. These tunnels can also be found on the house itself, and are a surefire way of knowing that you have termites. Often if you follow them back they will lead you to the main colony, which means that there are likely to be many thousands of termites going back and forth between there and your home. These tunnels also present a serious threat to the wood in your home, as it does not take long for these wood-destroying insects to cause serious damage.

Another of the tell-tale termite signs is finding their waste products around the wood in your home. It is usually a powder with the consistency and appearance of sawdust, and if it appears near cracked or brittle wood, you can be sure that you have a problem on your hands. Termite excreta can also take the form of small pellets not unlike roach or rat droppings, also found near the wood in your home. Any of these signs of termite damage are reason enough to begin a termite treatment program right away.

The process for how to tell if you have termites is most easily done by looking for these two signs, although there are some other methods that can help. Examining the actual interior of your home in crawlspaces and underneath the house can tip you off if you see the signs of termite in home. By keeping a watchful eye on the exterior and interior of your home, you’ll be sure to be aware of how to know if you have termites, and what to do if they do appear inside your house.

Basic Termite Identification

There are three different types of termites that are likely to infest your home: Subterranean termites, drywood termites, and dampwood termites. Here is a brief description of each type.

Subterranean . Primary reproductives are black to pale yellow-brown in color; Wings are pale or smoky gray to brown in color with few visible veins; ¼ to 3/8 inch long. Secondary reproductives are white to cream in color, wingless, or very short wings. Workers make up the majority of a colony and are white in color, wingless, and ¼ to 3/8 inch long. Soldiers resemble workers in overall appearance, except with a slightly larger brownish head and more prominent mandibles or jaws.

Drywood . These colonies contain a caste system of workers, soldiers and reproductives, which are all up to ½ inch longer than subterranean termites. Workers make up the majority of the colony; they are about 1/8 inch long, white to cream in color, and have no wings. Soldiers defend the colony against other insects that might attack the colony; they are white and wingless with large brown heads and jaws. Reproductives are dark brown to black in color and have two pairs of wings that extend twice the length of the body.

Dampwood . The Dampwood termite is sometimes called the "rotten wood" termite and is associated with high moisture content and wood decay. At 3/8" to ¾" long, the dampwood termite is larger than both the drywood and subterranean. Soldiers defend the colony against other insects that might attack the colony; they have a flattened brown head with long dark brown to black mandibles. Reproductives are dark brown with brown wings. Nymphs are creamy colored with a spotted pattern on the abdomen caused by food in their intestines.

Subterranean termites live in the soil, with nests away from your home or wood structures. They infest wood that is underground directly in contact with the soil. The worker termites travel into your home and take their food – your wood – back to the colony. Subterranean termites require a high moisture content to survive, which is why they live underground and are rarely seen out in the open. You won’t find many outward signs (“sawdust” like materials or excrement pellets) because these termites use those materials to make tunnel-like structures, or mud tubes, on the walls (indoors or out) of your home to retain their moisture. These termites are usually found in more “tropical” climates, and if the moisture content above ground is adequate, they’ll create nests above ground. Subterranean termites are the most destructive wood pest in the U. S. with huge colonies consuming up to 15 pounds of wood a week and the termites can travel up to 100 yards to access wood.

Drywood termites do not require any extra moisture other than what is present in the wood. They have relatively small colonies and don’t cause extensive damage unless left untreated for many years. They will infest and consume any wood cellulose material and you could find them in furniture, dying trees, utility poles, etc.

Dampwood termites need more moisture than drywood termites but not as much as subterranean; they don’t require soil moisture but do require wood with high moisture content. They are most often associated with rotting wood and wood partially underground, like stumps or fallen branches. Around your home you could find them in rotting deck planks or wood around leaky showers, tubs, or roof eves and any other place with poor ventilation.

Pictures of Termites

Here are some termite pictures to help you identify them:

Termite Soldier Picture

Termite Treatment Cost

Termite pest control services can be costly and that’s why we sell everything you need to do it yourself. DIY termite control is so much cheaper than hiring an exterminator. On average, the cost to do it yourself is only about 10% of what it would cost you to hire a company. When you consider that most companies will charge about $1,500 to do a treatment, you can easily see how much you can save with our help.

The Right Products For The Job

There are several different kinds of methods that you could use and we have the right experience to help you know which one is best. Our highly trained staff of termite control experts can help you implement the right protection so you never have to deal with termites again.

We sell all of the best professional products like Termidor and Bora Care to help you take control of your termite infestation and get rid of them for good. A fully matured termite queen can lay up to 2,000 new eggs per day and an aggressive approach to killing termites is often needed to completely exterminate them from your home. With these products, you'll never have to wonder how to kill termites again!

If you would like to know how to get rid of termites, and the most effective treatment methods available today, you can give us a call at 1-866-581-PEST. We have termite extermination specialists standing by ready to help you get rid of these destructive pests for good!

Articles on Termite Control

1. How to Choose a Professional Termite Company - You have decided to call in the pros or maybe you have started your own treatments but needs some back up. These pointers will help you choose a company you can trust.

2. Do Your Own Subterranean Termite Inspection at Home - Every good termite treatment program begins with a thorough inspection to determine trouble spots. Averiguar como. This article includes a list of the most common signs of termite infestation.

3. Termite baiting is a fairly simple process and can be used as a tool to monitor termite activity early on before infestations flare up. Installing bait stations around your home provide excellent control when combined with a barrier/soil treatment. The following articles will assist you in successful termite baiting: Termite Baiting Systems , Firstline and Advance termite baiting systems. Do Your Own Termite Baiting , Advantages and Disadvantages of Termite Baiting

4. Barrier/ Soil Treatments for Termite Control - Discusses how to do your own preventative barrier and soil treatments both pre - and post-construction, using products like Timbor, Termidor, and Cyper WP. Soil treatments form a barrier to prevent termites from entering your home through gaps, cracks, crawl spaces, or wooden elements in the foundation.

5. What to Do When Termites Infest Your Furniture - Hey, wait a second! That's YOUR armchair! - What you can do to reclaim your recliner when Drywood Termites or other wood-destroying insects take over the sitting room.

Termite Identification

Learn more about your pesky opponents' savvy ways by reading up on some basic identification and biology:

How Do I Get Rid of Termites?

There are three common termite species, and each is slightly different. Refer to our specific termite control pages for detailed information on how to control and get rid of the ones that plague you.

Recommended Products for Soil/ Barrier Treatments:

Termidor SC Termidor SC is one of the most effective termite control products available and widely used by professional termite extermination companies.

Termidor SC Termite Treatment - How to Apply Termidor SC

Dominion 2L Dominion 2L is a generic non-repellent product like Termidor, but is half the cost and just as effective.

How To Apply Dominion 2L Termiticide - Dominion 2L Termite Treatment

Advance Termite Bait System Kit The Advance Termite Bait System is one of the most widely used professional termite detection systems used by professional exterminators. This kit gives you everything you need to start doing your own termite eradication.

FirstLine Termite Defense System Kit Complete Starter Kit for the Firstline Termite Defense System.

Is do it yourself termite control for me?

The answer to this question will be different for everyone, and the right answer for you will depend on several factors. Termite treatments can be challenging and tedious, requiring specialized training and equipment. Many homeowners have successfully performed their own termite treatments using liquid treatments and/or baiting systems, while others have found it more prudent to pay a professional in order to save time, money, and potential frustration. Before you decide, you may want to consider the following:

Situations that pose a greater challenge for termite treatments - Structures or homes built on a slab, because of the required drilling - Structures or homes with a basement, because of the required drilling - If you are going to need a clearance letter as proof of termite treatment for a mortgage company, this has to be done by a licensed Pest Control operator

Situations that are more conducive to do-it-yourself treatments - Treating your own fence posts, mail boxes, wooden sheds, and other wooden elements in the yard. - A block type home with enough crawl space clearance to easily apply chemicals. - Have a professional Pest Control Operator perform the liquid barrier and soil treatments, but you install your own baiting system.

I. If You Have an Existing Infestation:

The most effective treatment for active termite infestations is a combination of applying a barrier/soil termiticide treatment, and installing a termite bait system. Keep in mind that a baiting program requires a lot of time, effort, and energy on your part to install the stations and then monitor them on a consistent basis, over a period of years. If monitoring is not done properly, the baiting program will fail. If you feel that you are not up to monitoring your bait stations, call in the professionals!

The same combination of termite treatments used for controlling an active infestation will go a long way to prevent future infestations.

Applying a liquid termiticide to your foundation soil will create a barrier to protect your home that can last up to 5 years if undisturbed.

Termite baiting systems are all the talk on the pest control market as an effective means of managing and preventing termites. Baiting is not a barrier, so it should not be used as a stand-alone treatment, but baiting will drastically reduce the chances of termites making their way into your home.

Recommended Termiticides for Soil/ Barrier Treatments Cyper TC (Demon TC) Termiticide Phantom Termiticide Insecticide Termidor

Recommended Termite Baiting Systems Advance Termite Monitor Bait Station Used to hold the Advance termite monitoring base and wood base to detect subterranean termites. FirstLine Termite Defense System Kit Complete Starter Kit for the Firstline Termite Defense System. Everything is included to provide your own Termite Control.

Until recently, the only methods available for subterranean termite control were the traditional barrier treatments using large amounts of chemicals. There are alternative termite control strategies, baiting systems are the most promising as to replace barrier treatments.

Termite baits are a whole different concept. With this approach, small amounts of material known as the toxicant knocks out populations of termites foraging in and around the structure.

Some homes may have only baits as a "stand alone treatment", others may be integrated with liquid or barrier treatments. Using a baiting system with barrier treatments will allow a reduction of amounts of pesticide use.

No termite control method can guarantee you will never get termites. Termite control may include a combination of one or more of these methods, a baiting system, termiticide treatment, moisture control, foaming, removal of earth wood contact and etc.

Termite baiting is a simple process and can be used as a preventive measure to detect termites where they are not yet a problem.

OVERVIEW OF THE TERMITE BAITING PROCESS

Termite baiting concept made simple:

FIRST: Establish a solid feeding cycle between the bait stations and the termite colony by "prebaiting", Placing monitoring stations that include a wood monitor or inspection cartridges in the soil. You establish this by allowing the foraging termites eat the wood, "sourcing out" the feeding source.

If you were to put our the "active" or "toxicant" at this point you would kill off the very workers that you need to establish the cycle. Once the termites start eating on that wood or the inspection cartridge, introduce the toxicant or active.

THIRD: Termites eat this particular bait, feeding it to the entire colony. and in THEORY the colony dies and the complete colony is eliminated.

Currently, there is no way to substantiate claims of "complete"colony elimination.

Laboratory tests do suggest that colony elimination is possible..but in reality they may have multiple food sources, the poisoned bait not being the only food source.

Population reduction and not population elimination is more likely the true story. In laboratory tests. termites are confined to a test site given only the bait as the choice of food. This is not a reality with multiple food sources, buried tree stumps, etc.

However with proper monitoring and bait placement the termites will consume it, resulting in a population reduction! Because of the smaller population level you would find less stress from the termite colony, resulting in less feeding and less damage. It can be a valuable tool. Termite baits are an added measure of security and are best used in conjunction with the traditional soil treatments if you have a current infestation.

In infested structures, it is best to treat the area where termites are found with the barrier / traditional soil treatment. You would be cutting off the termites' current food sources (your structure), forcing them to find other sources for food ( the bait for example). However, you don't place the bait and the liquid termiticide in the same place.

WHAT ARE TERMITE BAITS?

Termite baits consist of paper, cardboard, or other acceptable termite food, combined with a slow-acting substance lethal to termites. The bait must be good enough to compete with the presence of competing tree roots, stumps, woodpiles and structural wood. If the bait kills too quickly, sick or dead termites may accumulate in the vicinity of the bait stations, increasing the chance of avoidance by other termites in the area. Delayed-action or slow acting bait also enhances transmission of the lethal agent to other termites, including those that never fed on the bait.

Some bait stations are installed below ground out in the yard and others are positioned within the structure in the vicinity of active termite mud tubes or feeding sites. Below-ground stations typically contain untreated wood until termite activity is detected inside the stations. Then the wood is replaced with active ingredient treated material-the bait itself. en.

UNDERSTANDING TERMITE BEHAVIOR IN BAITING

A key characteristic of termites in dealing with termite baiting systems is the fact that termites cannot be attracted. As of yet there is not a bait on the market that actually "attracts" termites. Yes, you will find roach, ant, and even rodent bait that is designed to attract the target pest to the bait. but not for termites. However, because termites randomly forage in the ground around their colony in search for food, they will eventually forage at almost every point in the earth around their colony. The first thing done in the installation is putting out stations in the ground that contain wood that serve as monitoring tools. Once termites start eating the wood in the monitoring stations. you replace the wood with the bait. Termite baits use small amounts of insecticide to knock out populations of termites foraging around the structure. The toxicant-laced bait should be installed after termites have been detected in an untreated monitoring device(wood).

For this reason, monitoring and inspecting your bait stations or having them monitored is critical. It is possible for a homeowner to install and maintain an in-ground bait system. However you should understand that you will need to commit yourself to monthly monitoring throughout the first year and at least every 3 months after that. In research conducted in the southern states it sometimes took 1-5 months for termites to find the bait stations. In the northern states, the bait stations may not be found for a year or more. Bait stations may be more likely to be found in the spring when foraging may be most active.

After the bait has been placed, You continue to inspect the bait stations monthly. After no more evidence of feeding is seen, it is assumed that the colony has been eliminated and the bait is once again replaced with the wood monitors. Monthly inspections will continue to be sure that termites don't return. This system then serves as a long-term monitoring program and the bait can easily be added to the bait stations at the first signs of termite feeding.

It is also important to note that termites will leave an area if they are disturbed. Because they have no natural defenses against disturbances, they simply leave the area they have been feeding. So, it is important to minimize disturbance of termites feeding in the stations.

Termites frequently exchange food and body secretions as part of their normal activity. This food/secretion exchange is called trophallaxis. Trophallaxis also transfers microbes in the gut that aid in breaking down cellulose to new members of the colony. The termite queen secretes specific chemicals that are used to communicate and "direct" the activities of all members of her colony. The chemical secretions eventually pass through all members of a colony. The reason why baits are even possible for termite control is because exchange of food/secretions allows slow-acting baits to be transferred throughout the entire colony. Eventually the whole colony will be reduced to such a low level that it can't survive and termite activity will stop.

INSTALLATION OF TERMITE BAITS: How it works

Bait products can be installed below ground in the yard or above ground level on the inside of the strucure. Some homes may have only baits as a "stand alone treatment", others may be integrated with liquid or barrier treatments.

Installation below ground:

Baits stations are put below ground by enticing termites to feed on wooden stakes, cardboard, or some other cellulose-based material. The toxicant-laced bait can either be installed initially, or substituted after termite activity has been found in an untreated monitoring device(the prefered way).

Termites are not lured to the baits or bait monitors; they encounter them by "chance" during their random foraging activities. To increase the odds of discovery, the stations are installed at fixed intervals around the perimeter of the structure, and/or in suspected areas of termite activity (e. g. around woodpiles, stumps, moist areas, and adjacent to previous termite damage). With persistence and patience you will find the termites eventually foraging and feeding upon one or more of the bait installations.

Perhaps the greatest difficulty in termite baiting is getting termites to find the bait monitors or baits in the first place. This discovery is called a "hit"(attacked by termites). This will vary from property to property, depending on such factors as termite foraging intensity, time of year, moisture, and food availability. It can be within 2 weeks or could take a year. In temperate climates bait discovery usually will be greatest during peak foraging periods in the spring and summer. Baiting during late-fall and winter is generally less fruitful, although termites are occasionally found in below ground stations when air temperatures are in the 30шF range.

The more below ground baits installed, the better the chances of locating termites. Installing more stations increases the odds of encountering multiple colonies, or weakly associated "satellite nests" of the same colony -- any of which could be of potential risk to the structure. Planning, patience and persistence are requisites for successfully using below-ground termite baits. Regardless of which product is used, the homeowner must be prepared and willing to accept the possibility of a lengthy baiting process.

Termite baits may also be installed above ground, in known areas of termite activity. Typically, the stations are installed directly in the path of active termite tunnels after the mud tubes have been broken. Effects tend to be more rapid with above-ground baiting, since the procedure does not depend upon "chance" termite encounters with the stations.

Manufacturers recommend that above ground stations be used in conjunction with other forms of treatment, such as in - ground baiting or traditional barrier treatments.

TERMITE BAIT PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET:

FIRSTLINE® BAITING SYSTEM HEX PRO ADVANCE BAIT STATIONS

Difference between the Advance, Hex Pro Termite Bait System and Firstline Termite Bait Systems

Advance Termite Bait uses a chiten inhibitor, diflubenzuron. Chiten Inhibitors are slower acting, no chance of killing the adult foraging termites. It only kills the immature termites.

HexPro's Shatter termite bait uses another chitin inhibitor called Hexaflumuronn same as Recruit's Sentricon System) will also fit in Sentricon's System.

Shatter's loose pelleted bait matrix provides for easy termite tunneling.

Diflubenzuron (Advance) and Hexaflumuron (Shatter) is slower acting than Sulfluramid(Firstline and Terminate). allowing time for distribution of termite bait through the entire colony. This results in complete colony elimination. Stomach poisons such as Sulfluramid(Firstline and Terminate) kill quickly often resulting in incomplete elimination of the termite colony.

The Firstline system is a stomach poison and is not labeled for pre treats and the Hex Pro is similar to the Sentricon system which is an IGR. and is labeled for pretreats(except for the state of Florida).

Mode of action: Uses a stomach poison, sulfluramid-based bait, with use of monitoring stations.

This termite bait product is more commonly used in combination with other forms of treatment, rather than as a "stand alone" treatment.

Firstline is a baiting system that uses two types of stations. Aboveground stations are applied directly to accessible active infestations. Las estaciones enterradas se colocan en áreas de actividad de termitas conocida o sospechada.

The active ingredient in Firstline is sulfluramid, a slow-acting stomach poison, incorporated into a cellulosic matrix.

FMC claims that Firstline results in colony suppression, not colony elimination.

Firstline is not considered suitable as a replacement for conventional termiticides in "pre-treats".

EXTERRA® BAITING SYSTEM

Para más información:

Mode of action: Uses a chitin inhibitor, IGR (Insect Growth Regulator). with use of monitoring stations.

Exterra uses in ground monitoring-baiting system. As with Sentricon, Exterra is often used as a stand-alone treatment. The active ingredient in both products disrupts the molting process in immature termites. The Exterra in-ground plastic stations are brown and box-shaped (Sentricon's are green and cylindrical).

The active ingredient in Exterra is an insect growth regulator (IGR), diflubenzuron. It is a chitin synthesis inhibitor. It kills termites by inhibiting formation of a new exoskeleton when they shed their existing exoskeleton to form a new one. Diflubenzuron was the original chitin synthesis inhibitor and is by far the most widely used chitin synthesis inhibitor around the world. The chemical structure of all other chitin synthesis inhibitors are derived from the same basic structure that diflubenzuron was derived from. The mode of action of diflubenzuron is identical to that of hexaflumuron, the active ingredient in the DowAgrosciences product Recruit II** which is also a chitin synthesis inhibitor.

Diflubenzuron and hexaflumuron share the same basic chemical structure.

Adult termites, including reproductives and soldiers, are not affected directly by this type of chemical. When termites are discovered feeding on the wood "interceptors" or monitors in the station, diflubenzuron-treated cellulosic bait matrix is inserted into the station's central cavity.

Based on Ensystex's research data, they presume that termite colony elimination may occur if sufficient workers are killed and the soldiers and reproductives are not fed (and subsequently starve to death).

With Exterra®. the stations can be monitored or refilled with bait without disturbing termites in the station. Disturbing the activity of the termites may cause them to leave the area and the bait.

Exterra has been labeled for "pre-treats" (buildings under construction) in place of a conventional liquid treatment.

Para más información:

Mode of Action Uses a chitin inhibitor, IGR (Insect Growth Regulator). with use of monitoring stations.

This is the first and most widely used termite bait. Hundreds of thousands of structures have been baited with Sentricon since its introduction several years ago.

Sufficient independent research trials have been conducted to confirm its effectiveness when properly installed and diligently serviced by an authorized pest control firm.

Sentricon is a monitoring-baiting system. The bait, Recruit® II contains laminated textured cellulose that is impregnated with an IGR, hexaflumuron. This chemical interferes with termite molting. Inground stations are deployed around a structure at specific intervals. An aboveground station, Recruit® AG, is used in conjunction with the inground stations when termites are directly accessible within the structure.

Termite control with the Sentricon System ® is a 3-step process: (1) initial monitoring to "pinpoint" termite activity, (2) delivery of the bait, and (3) subsequent monitoring to provide on-going protection.

Sentricon is labeled for "pre-treats" in place of a conventional liquid treatment.

HEX PRO ® SYSTEM

HexPro® Termite Baiting System The Hex-Pro™ Termite Baiting System uses minimal termite bait to control the termite colony. This system includes an active ingredient that’s been proven reliable through 10 years of in-field testing. The active ingredient is hexaflumuron . an insect growth regulator (IGR) that stops the termites’ vital molting process so they are unable to grow. As a result, they die. Hexaflumuron has demonstrated 10 years of in-field success killing, controlling and eliminating termites.

Hex Pro is labeled for "pre-treats" in place of a conventional liquid treatment.

TERMITROL ®BAIT SYSTEM WITH ® TERMARID 613

The Purpose of TERM – A – RID 613™ Wood Stakes is to aid in the detection of worker termites (termites without wings) next to a structure and to reduce their population by feeding on the stake. If worker termites are present, they can be detected by removing the stake from the soil and inspecting the below soil portion for damage. Damage may include grooves or holes in the stake surface or destruction of the stake tip. Feeding on the stakes may kill worker termites and this may reduce the termite population near the stake. Use of this product does not substitute for mechanical alteration, soil treatment or foundation treatment, but is merely a supplement to a termite monitoring and control program.

Disodium Octaborate Tetrahydrate. 0.5% INERT INGREDIENTS. 99.5%

Mode of action: This is a stomach poisoning, uses monitoring stations.

TERMITROL ®BAIT SYSTEM WITH TERMARID is not considered suitable as a replacement for conventional termiticides in "pre-treats".

Mode of action: Uses a stomach poisoning, does not use monitoring stations.

In March 1998, a "Do-It-Yourself" bait product became available to homeowners: Spectracide's sulfluramid-based bait, Terminate®. Spectracide Terminate This do-it-yourself termite bait is often available at home centers, hardware stores and lumber yards. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and eight state Attorneys General filed a complaint in U. S. District Court alleging that the advertising claims about the product are deceptive and unsubstantiated.

Click here for the Associated Press Release detailing the complaint.

As part of a settlement agreement. the manufacturer will be permitted to sell Terminate. but with substantial modifications in their advertising claims. Notably, they will no longer be able to state that use of the product alone is effective in preventing or eliminating termite infestation or damage to homes. The manufacturer can advertise that the product "kills termites," but they must also state that Terminate is not recommended as sole protection against termites, and for active infestations, homeowners should get a professional inspection.

Terminate® is not considered suitable as a replacement for conventional termiticides in "pre-treats".

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF TERMITE BAITS

Reduction in termite population

Even where soil treatments have been effective, baiting provides an additional measure of prevention and monitoring.

Baiting requires fewer disruptions than does conventional barrier treatment, since the bait stations are generally outside.

Baiting is environmentally-friendly compared with soil trenching with liquid termiticides.

Termite colony monitoring and baiting can be used as a preventive measure in early detection of termites.

Where there is concern about pesticide use the chemical itself or a possible runoff into a body of water.

The ability to monitor the perimeter of the house can save you thousands of dollars in damage repair.

It will allow termite control in those situations where the stucture is untreatable or very difficult to treat with traditional barrier termite insecticides:

Such as:

Buildings with hard-to-treat construction or chronic retreatment histories are work well with termite baits.

Foundation drains are drainage systems that are difficult to treat with conventional termite chemicals

Heating/air condtioning ductwork is embedded in a slab floor..making it difficult

The barrier/ liquid treatment that requires extensive drilling of slabs through wooden, tiled or carpeted floors.

In the event that a liquid treatment is illegal, such as a cistern or well under the house.

The major disadvantage in the use of baits is the length of time it takes to eliminate a colony. Several months may pass before the termites find the untreated, below-ground monitoring stations and begin to feed on the bait. Although usually minimal, some degree of termite feeding and damage may occur before the slow-acting bait takes effect. With liquid barrier termite chemicals, control is immediate. If you use baits, control could take several months to a year.

Baiting programs are generally more expensive than conventional treatments. The complete baiting process requires several visits to monitor for termites, and to add or replenish baits as needed. This would add to the cost, if you choose a pest control companay to put out your bait stations. The service fee for the initial treatment and annual renewal fee is justified in baiting systems, due to the monitoring required. Failure to maintain the annual service agreement is a prescription for disaster with baits, since there is no residual pesticide left in the soil after the termites have been eliminated. Also, you do not own the bait stations with the Sentricon system. Cancelling the service permits the pest control company to remove the bait stations. Monitoring the bait stations for new evidences of termites is what protects your structure on an ongoing basis.

Standard fact sheet.

Termites

If you are having a new home or additions built the builder is responsible for providing a termite risk management (TRM) system for the work. However, the home owner is responsible for conducting regular checks of the home to identify if there is any termite activity. You should find out about the different systems of termite risk management.

Termite attacks are not limited to wood house frames and roof structures, they can also attack wall linings, including plaster board, cupboards, skirtings, windows and door frames, carpets, plastic coating on electrical wiring and even furniture, books, artwork, clothing and personal papers.

If you're building a new house, you may also wish to investigate the option of using steel frames and roof trusses in order to help minimise the attraction of termites, borers and rot.

New technology and treatments for TRM systems are constantly evolving. Do your research and discuss with your builder, and if necessary, seek further advice.

TRM systems differ depending on whether your home is built on:

a concrete slab-on-ground or

a raised (or suspended) floor.

Termite risk can be minimised when an effective TRM system is in place and you carry out regular checks. Systems that can be used include:

termite resistant materials

minimum termite risk construction

Irrespective of the system you choose, regular inspections of the property are required for early detection of any termite activity.

If you buy a house that’s new, make sure that you find out what type of TRM system is in place and that you get any associated certificates.

IMPORTANT – Be aware that some building contracts may try to shift the builder’s liability for installing an appropriate TRM system to the owner. Be aware also that some contracts may try to get the owner to indemnify the builder in relation to claims for termite damage by a subsequent purchaser.

Más información

For further information about termite risk management, you may wish to contact the following agencies:

Australian Consumers’ Association 57 Carrington Road Marrickville NSW 2204 Tel: 9577 3399 www. choice. com. au Information on termite treatments

Australian Environmental Pest Management Association PO Box 879 Broadway NSW 2007 T: 61 +2 9281 7699 F: 61 +2 9281 0648 www. aepma. com. au

Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) AMTECH Park 18 Wormald Street Symonston ACT 2609 Tel: 6210 4700 Tel: 6210 4806 www. apvma. gov. au Information on pesticides

Department of Local Government 5 O’Keefe Avenue Nowra NSW 2541 Tel: 4428 4100 www. dlg. nsw. gov. au

Forest and Wood Products Research and Development Corporation FWPRD PO Box 69 World Trade Centre VIC 8005 Tel: (03) 9614 7544 www. timber. org. au Information about termite risk management

National Association of Steel-Framed Housing (NASH) PO Box 1085 Hartwell VIC 3124 Tel: 03 9809 1333 www. nash. asn. au Information about, and suppliers of, steel frames

NSW Department of Primary Industries 161 Kite Street Orange NSW 2800 Tel: 6391 3100 www. dpi. nsw. gov. au Information about termites

Office of Chemical Safety PO Box 100 Woden ACT 2606 Tel: 9289 3200 Free call: 1800 170 723 TTY free call: 1800 500 236 www. tga. gov. au Information about available treatments and hazards for termite protection

Timber Development Association (NSW) PO Box 154 St Leonards NSW 1590 Tel: 8424 3700 www. timber. net. au Information about termites including risk management

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Sentricon is a termite control system that is manufactured by Dow Agrosciences. You can only buy it through pest control companies - Terminix is the main one that sells this.

The system involves staking little green cylinders into the ground around your house. Each has a couple of pieces of wood, designed to figure out if there are termites.

They'll be attracted to the wood as food, so if you've got them you'll find them feeding on it. The pest control company will inspect your property and look for places where termites are likely to enter, and put monitors there as well as around the perimeter of your home.

When termites are detected, a little tube is used that has a termite growth inhibitor in it. The pest control company will also take some of the termites that were in the wood and put them in the tube to make things go faster. Termites will enter the tube, eat the bait, and then go back to the colony, attracting more termites because of a chemical trail. The growth inhibitor takes a while to act - that might seem like a negative, but it's actually important, because otherwise the termites would die before spreading it around. It gradually kills off the colony, preventing young termites from developing properly. It can take between two and eight months to kill off a termite colony. Once the colonies die off, the pest control company will go back to monitoring and will check back every few months to make sure you're still termite-free.

The chemical it uses is called hexaflumuron . which makes it impossible for termites to molt correctly. Termites have an exoskeleton, and to grow larger they have to shed it by molting. Termites who come into contact with hexaflumuron do not die immediately. They live for awhile, spreading it to other termites, and the next time they try to molt they die during the process. That allows the chemical to be spread throughout the colony.

Does Sentricon work?

There is some dispute about whether it is effective or not. It's one of the most popular and widely used termite control products. The University of Kentucky did a study showing that it was effective. However, you can go here to read some complaints about it from consumers (although a lot seem to be from other pest control competitors).

One thing to keep in mind is that effectiveness can vary widely depending on both you and your local pest control company. To work well, termite baits need to be the only source of food around. Removing wood, stumps, and other sources of food for the colony will make it work a lot better, because the termites will be forced to go for the bait. If your local pest control company doesn't follow the guidelines or do their job properly, the system can also have problems. So keep that in mind and choose a company you trust.

Sources and Useful Links:

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Speed of "hits"

The HomeGuard ™ monitor produces an exaggerated "thermal shadow" which attracts termites to the station. The average number of days from installation to a "hit" is 21 days. No other available monitor works consistently this quick.

Other monitors rely on random foraging–termites find stations by accident. Extended time is often necessary for this to occur. In some cases "hits" have not occurred even after several years.

Termite mass and activity distribution

The HomeGuard ™ monitor attracts large numbers of termites. They not only feed on the matrix, but nest in it. It is common to find thousands of termites in a newly hit HomeGuard™ monitor. When the monitor is replaced with a baited unit the termites remain until mortality occurs.

Most currently available monitoring systems are a tube within a tube design. Once a hit occurs, the monitor is removed and a bait tube is inserted. This disruption often causes termites to leave the station, sometimes permanently, most likely due to a small number of termites resulting in a weak pheromone trail.

Contamination by pesticides and non-target organisms

The HomeGuard™ monitor is designed and constructed with solid walls that help prevent entry of surface applied pesticides and other non-target species that are detrimental to the success of the monitors (i. e. carpenter ants, fire ants, etc.) and chlorinated water from sprinklers.

Other monitors are plagued by contamination of pesticides and non-target organisms due to inherent design flaws. This causes termites to repel from stations, which may lead to the false conclusion that the colony has been eliminated.

Ease of inspection

Semi-transparent lid eliminates the need to remove for inspection. Our exclusive Frictionally Engaged Lid allows for quick removal when necessary, without the need for clumsy "keys" or special tools. Traps can be successfully inspected in mere seconds. This means much less time is required to inspect and maintain.

Other monitors require disassembly using cumbersome and special devices for inspection which increases time and associated costs.

Field life of matrix

The HomeGuard ™ monitor uses a high-volume corrugated cellulose matrix which remains attractive to termites for extended periods. Because the solid walls prevent ground water from entering and damaging the matrix, HomeGuard™ monitors often remain effective for years.

Most matrixes are small sticks of wood. Over time the wood decays to the point that it is unacceptable to termites. Some monitors require frequent replacements, increasing operational costs.

Review: Bhagwati, Jagdish. Termites in the Trading System: How Preferential Agreements Undermine Free Trade, Oxford University Press, 2008 by Ramrattan and Szenberg.

Data provided are for informational purposes only. Although carefully collected, accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The impact factor represents a rough estimation of the journal's impact factor and does not reflect the actual current impact factor. Publisher conditions are provided by RoMEO. Differing provisions from the publisher's actual policy or licence agreement may be applicable.

BOOK REVIEW Bhagwati, Jagdish. Termites in the Trading System: How Preferential Agreements Trade, Oxford University Press, 2008. Undermine Free This book extends the author's earlier notion that free trade areas (FTAs) and customs unions (CUs) including regional trade agreements (RTAs) do not represent free trade but preferential trade agree - ments (PTAs). "FTAs are two-faced: they free trade among members, but they increase protection against nonmembers" (Bhagwati 2008, 17). PTAs are by nature discriminatory, undermining the nondiscriminatory effort of the Bretton Woods System—the IMF, the World Bank, and GATTAVTO to create a world trade system on a free trade foundation. Further, ". such discriminatory trade arrangements could divert trade from efficient, low-cost nonmembers to inefficient, higher cost member-country suppliers because the latter no longer had to pay the tariff duties that were still imposed on the former" (Ibid. 17). The author looks at PTAs from the vantage point of free trade and commercial policies. For Bhagwati, free trade represents a policy instrument. If the free trade instrument undermines social problems, then we need to consider trade-offs and not its abandon - ment. GATT (1947) and its successor WTO (1995) were put in place to help coordinate and enhance cooperation of free trade agreements on a multilat - eral basis through a set of rules and norms (Ray 1998, 212-213). Such an effort was backed by no lesser a personahty than John Maynard Keynes, an architect of the Bretton Woods Agreement in 1944, who while wavering between protectionism and free trade in the past, had come around to prefer multilateral over bilateral and "every kind of dis - criminatory practice" (Bhagwati 2008, 3). In a lengthy preface, the author lays out how PTAs came into being. PTAs attracted the atten - tion of the ablest minds in economics including Bhagwati who wrote: "My own writings on PTAs over more than two decades can be found in both professional journals and in several op-ed articles and essays" (Ibid. xiv). Pulling together the vari - ous strands of those theoretical contributions, and sifting through his years of experience at the GATT and the WTO, the author presents a unified body of work, marking the most comprehensive treatment of the subject yet. Chapter 1 starts with a preamble of Keynes' experience with free trade. Keynes argued for nondiscriminatory principles embodied in multilat - eral trade in order to expand world trade in the 1940s (Ibid. 3). As Bhagwati noted, however, multilateral trade negotiations (MTNs), along with rules and bindings against trade barriers, became an issue for GATT in its exception clause that allowed for the formation of FTAs and CUs (Ibid., 2008, 9). Multilateralism is now threatened with the proliferation of PTAs and their "spaghetti bowl" evolutionary pattern, referring to overlap among PTAs. Bhagwati counted over 350 PTAs since 1949, the year after GATT was enforced. This was not anticipated by the exception clause of Article 24 of the GATT agreement as adapted by the WTO, which allowed the formation of CUs and FTAs. In this chapter, Joan Robinson, an eminent post-Keynesian, is featured for her 1937 observa - tion of "beggar-my-neighbor" policies. Briefly, this is a situation where a country pursues a policy for its own benefits, harming its neighbor in the process. In his Protectionism, Bhagwati wrote: "The Great Depression had been associated with "beggar-my-neighbor" policies of exchange-rate depreciation and tariff escalation, each aimed at preserving and deflecting aggregate demand toward one's own industries at the expense of those of one's trading partners" (Bhagwati 1988, 20). Thus, the current proliferation of PTAs is seen by him as a threat to the MTN effort of GATTAVTO. Chapters 2 and 3 deal with the causes and con - sequences of the proliferation of PTAs. In his Free Trade Today, Bhagwati wrote ". the truly com - pelling reason these PTAs have proliferated is simply what we economists call the (Nash) pursuit of individual interests in an uncoordinated fashion when there is a superior coordinated pursuit of a better solution. the chaos that was created in the 1930s through similar uncoordinated pursuit of protectionism" (Bhagwati 2002, 117). GATTAVTO is seen as a coordinating mechanism that facili - tates trade negotiations. Otherwise, an uncoordi - nated result is much like two people agreeing to meet at a place, say in NYC, but forgetting to specify the exact meeting place. Most likely, they may both end up at Grand Central Station, Times competitive Vol. 52, No. 2 (Fall 2008) 87

Square, or Penn Station, but the best result for the lack of better coordination is not guaranteed (Ray 1998, 672-73). Another reason why PTAs and CUs have proliferated is that "Many who vaguely understood that free trade was good. saw any trade linearization is good" (Bhagwati 2008, 16). FTAs do remove barriers to trade, and therefore make trade freer, and ". a movement toward free - ing of trade is good news" (Bhagwati 1998, 293). Causes for the proliferation of discriminatory agreements may be different for non-hegemonic agreements such as Mercosur—Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay; hegemonic areas—^NAFTA and the EU countries (Ibid. 1998, 292), and other hegemony centered PTAs (Bhagwati 2008, 43). The rationale for developing nations to seek agree - ment among themselves includes a desire to leam by competing with countries of their own size just as one leams to ride a bicycle by first practicing on a tricycle; bonding to improve bargaining power; the desire to spotlight themselves; "monkeys see, monkeys do" factors, and to assure themselves of a market in case multilateralism fails (Ibid. 41). The rationale for hegemonic countries to seek trade agreements among themselves follows a dif - ferent logic. "Structuralist political scientists have argued that dominant nations seek access to world markets, seeing in liberal trade policies and regimes their own national interest. the execu - tive branch of the U. S. govemment came to believe that the country's security interests were best served by the pursuit of liberal trade policies" (Bhagwati 1988, 37-39). Those remarks were made in regard to the U. S. post WW II policies for the reconstruction of Europe where liberalization was seen as an indirect supplement that comple - mented the direct transfers of resources through the Marshall Plan. Moving to the more modern era, Bhagwati superimposes the same logic on the liberalization policies of presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. "[President Reagan's]. sentiment for free trade had little to do with his study of what econonnists such as myself wrote in favor of freer trade. It came, rather, from his belief in America's strength. America's superiority on the part of both Presidents Reagan and George W. Bush has made them tilt strongly toward free trade, even as they had to make protectionist con - cessions from time to time" (Ibid. 38). The rationale for non-hegemonic and hege - monic countries to form agreements is also com - pelling. The developing countries may feel more secure, attract more capital, and prevent trade diversion to other countries that may form FTAs with the hegemonic country. The U. S. may have been engaged in PTAs in retaliation to the forma - tion of the EU, and hegemonic countries see PTAs as a way to advance unrelated trade agendas. To be categorical, Bhagwati speaks of two phases of regionalisms (Ibid. 29). The first phase of regionalism dates to the work of Jacob Viner on The Customs Unions Issue (Viner 1950), which was centered on "static" welfare concerns. The second phase of regionalism arrived in the past two decades: "Faced with European refusal to start multilateral trade negotiations in 1982 and with growing protectionism at home that required coun - tervailing moves to expand trade, the Reagan administration initiated the talks culminating in the CanadarU. S. Free Trade Agreement now tum - ing a decade later into NAFTA" (Bhagwati 1998, 283). The latter phase of regionalism is character - ized as being more dynamic than the first as it tries to tackle the question of whether PTAs are building or stumbling blocks over time. From the free trade point of view, the Viner model predicts that trade creation will dominate, while from the protectionist's point of view trade diversion will dominate. Others such as Wonnacott and Lutz (1989), Summers (1991), and Krugman (1991) assert that countries that are in physical proximity and that are already trading in large volume will have a natural advantage, and will create PTAs among themselves in the trade-creating direction. Bhagwati thinks that result is unlikely since they will become stumbling blocks over time. For instance, one can argue that the exis - tence of large trade volume may be a result of existing trade preferences, and that while the U. S. is a natural partner to Canada and Mexico, due to sharing a common border, Mexico and Canada are not natural partners (Bhagwati and Panagariya 1996). The dynamic proliferation of the second round of regionalism will approach the limits of the WTO's goal of free trade if we plot world welfare against time (W-t plane) and observe independ - ence and interactive relationship between MTNs and PTAs (Bhagwati 2008, 104-108). One can imagine a point in the high NE comer of the W-t plane that can be achieved as PTAs populate over time. Even a multilateral process may fall short of 88 THE AMERICAN ECONOMIST

this optimal point if its members free-ride. Altematively, the process of expanding PTAs in nomological ways may not reach a free trade out - come over time. Rather, as PTAs expand, a flat trajectory indicating constant world welfare bene - fits may be obtained. The interesting case occur - ring with the U. S. keeping one foot on PTAs and the other on MTNs demonstrates the dynamically interacting relationship between PTAs and MTNs. This has been the subject of much research and models as documented in the appendix of Bhagwati's book. The prescription Bhagwati (Ibid. 7) has is one which calls for more ". coordinate action, eschewing protection, and agreeing to increase world aggregate demand (rather than seeking to divert to oneself a given, insufficient amount of world demand)." He enunciated three approaches to this goal in Chapter 4. ". (1) halting the for - mation of new PTAs and eliminating the prefer - ences in existing PTAs. (2) reducing the chaos of the "spaghetti bowl" and (3) using multilateral trade negotiations such as the Doha Round to reduce the MFN tariffs to negligible levels" (Ibid., 89-90). The first policy option is not possible as the U. S. and EU are not behind it. The second option is hopeful in the sense that PTAs can be building blocks, turning "spaghetti bowl" into a lasagna or giant-size pizza representing free trade (Ibid. 94). The most hopeful policy seems to be the reduc - tion of most favored nation (MFN) tariffs. This is the case where an importing country that negoti - ated tariff reduction with a country from which it imports a product will have to extend that level of tariff to all countries which have MFN status for the import of that product. Such a policy is in line with GATTAVTO, and harks back to the Roosevelt administration's Agreements Act (RTAA) in 1934. It is useless having some trading partners negotiate "trade - unrelated agendas, which have no demonstrable advantage and, in fact, clear disadvantages for the developing countries." In this case, Bhagwati throws up the red flag to developing countries to be on guard that "a gift horse may be a Trojan horse" (Ibid. 98). This caution was already heeded by India when it asked the EU to drop its unrelated trade demands in the negotiations for a possible FTA with India. Reciprocal Trade This book brings together Bhagwati's research program that was fragmented in many of his ear - lier works. Although the research has already attracted much attention in the field of literature, the current epoch of global economic concems is fueling interest and research in the direction of more PTAs. It is our opinion that this text would be the standard reference on the subject for stu - dents, teachers, and researchers in the future. Lall Ramrattan and Michael Szenberg UC, Berkeley and Pace University REFERENCES Bhagwati, Jagdish. Termites in the Trading System: How Preferential Agreements Undermine Free Trade, (Oxford University Press, 2008). Bhagwati, Jagdish. Free Trade Today, (Oxford University Press, 2002). Bhagwati, Jagdish. A (Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 1998). Bhagwati, Jagdish. Protectionism, MA: The MIT Press, 1988). Bhagwati, Jagdish and "Preferential Trading Areas and Multilateralism: Strangers, Friends or Foes?" in The Fconomics of Preferential Trade Agreements, Bhagwati and Arvind (Washington, DC: AEI Press, 1996). Krugman, Paul. "The Move to Free Trade Zones," in Policy Implications of Trade and Currency Zones, (Symposium Sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, 1991). Ray, Debraj. Development Economics, (Princeton University Press, 1998). Summers, Lawrence. "Regionalism and the World Trading System," in Policy Implications of Trade and Currency Zones, (Symposium Sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, 1991). Viner, Jacob. The Customs Union Issue, (New York: Camegie Endowment for Intemational Peace, 1950). Wonnacott, Paul and Mark Lutz. "Is There a Case for Free Trade Areas?" in Free Trade Areas and U. S. Trade Policy, by Jeffrey Schott, (Washington, DC: Institute for Intemational Economics, 1989). Stream of Windows, (Cambridge, Arvind Panagariya. by Jagdish Panagariya, eds., Vol. 52, No. 2 (Fall 2008) 89

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common name: eastern subterranean termite scientific name: Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) (Insecta: Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

common name: a native subterranean termite scientific name: Reticulitermes virginicus (Banks) (Insecta: Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

common name: a native subterranean termite scientific name: Reticulitermes hageni Banks (Insecta: Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Most pest species of subterranean termites in North America belong to the endemic genus Reticulitermes . Reticulitermes species are found in every state in the continental United States except Alaska, but are most common in the warm and humid southeastern region. The eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes is the most widely distributed and is found in the entire eastern region of North America as far north as Ontario, Canada, and south to Key Largo, Florida. Its counterpart, the western subterranean termite, Reticulitermes hesperus Banks, is found along the entire Pacific Coast ranging from southern California to British Columbia. Reticulitermes tibialis occurs in the inter-mountain region of the West. In addition to Reticulitermes flavipes . two other Reticulitermes occur in Florida, Reticulitermes virginicus . and Reticulitermes hageni .

Figure 1. Indoor swarm of eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar). Photograph by T. Myles, University of Toronto.

Because of their cryptic nature, structural infestations of subterranean termites are usually not visible. Most people become aware of an infestation when annual flights of winged termites (called alates) occur in structures. The alates of Reticulitermes flavipes and Reticulitermes virginicus are dark brown, while those of Reticulitermes hageni are yellowish brown. Alates of Reticulitermes flavipes are generally larger (approximately 0.4" long including wings) than those of Reticulitermes virginicus or Reticulitermes hageni (approximately 0.3" long). Alate wings of Reticulitermes species have two hardened and thickened veins that are visible along the entire front end, but lack the small hairs that are characteristic of the Formosan subterranean termite. Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki. After indoor flights, most alates are found dead near windows or in sinks and bath tubs - usually with their wings still attached.

Figure 2. Alates of eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) ( R. f. ), and other native subterranean termites, Reticulitermes virginicus (Banks) ( R. v. ) and Reticulitermes hageni Banks ( R. h. ). Photograph by Nan-Yao Su and Rudolf H. Scheffrahn, University of Florida.

Figure 3. Wing of Reticulitermes . a subterranean termite genus. Photograph by Nan-Yao Su and Rudolf H. Scheffrahn, University of Florida.

As with other termite species, Reticulitermes colonies contain three primary castes; the reproductives (king, queen, alates, alate nymphs, and supplementary reproductives), soldiers, and workers. Alates and soldiers are used for species identification.

Figure 4. Life cycle of Reticulitermes subterranean species. Graphic by Nan-Yao Su and Rudolf H. Scheffrahn, University of Florida.

Figure 5. Queen (bottom) and soldier (top) castes of the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar). Photograph by Lyle J. Buss, University of Florida.

Figure 6. Queen (top) and worker (bottom) castes of the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar). Photograph by Lyle J. Buss, University of Florida.

Figure 7. Queen (bottom) and soldier (top) castes of Reticulitermes hageni Banks, a U. S. native subterranean termite, surrounded by larvae. Photograph by Lyle J. Buss, University of Florida.

Figure 8. King caste of Reticulitermes hageni Banks, a U. S. native subterranean termite. Photograph by Lyle J. Buss, University of Florida.

Soldiers of subterranean termites (Rhinotermitidae) are distinguished from those of drywood or dampwood termites (Kalotermitidae) by their smaller size and the relative width of the pronotum. In subterranean termites, the pronotum (segment immediately behind the head) is narrower than the head, while in kalotermidis they are equally as wide. Reticulitermes soldiers are further distinguished from those of Coptotermes formosanus by the rectangular-shaped head of the former compared to the oval-shaped head of the latter.

Figure 9. Soldier heads of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus (C. f.), and eastern subterranean termites, Reticulitermes flavipes ( R. f. ). Photograph by Nan-Yao Su and Rudolf H. Scheffrahn, University of Florida.

Figure 10. Soldier caste of Reticulitermes hageni Banks, a U. S. native subterranean termite. Photograph by Lyle J. Buss, University of Florida.

Subterranean termites form a network of interconnected feeding sites beneath or above the soil surface. A single colony of subterranean termites, especially those of Reticulitermes flavipes . may contain 100,000 - 1,000,000 termites and forage up to 150 feet in search of food (Su et al. 1993). When subterranean termites search for food aboveground, they may enter a house through small cracks or joints in the foundation, or by building shelter tubes along the foundation wall. These tubes are highways connecting the underground termite population with aboveground food sources.

Figure 11. Shelter tubes of Reticulitermes . a subterranean termite genus. Photograph by Nan-Yao Su and Rudolf H. Scheffrahn, University of Florida.

Flight seasons differ among the three Reticulitermes species in Florida. Reticulitermes hageni alate flights begin in early December and last until early February while Reticulitermes flavipes flights start in early January and end in April. Dispersal flights of Reticulitermes virginicus occur between early February and late May. Swarming by Reticulitermes flavipes and Reticulitermes virginicus occurs during warm, sunny and windless afternoons usually after rain, while Reticulitermes hageni alates swarm at night.

Figure 12. Flight seasons of the three Reticulitermes species in Florida. Graphic by Nan-Yao Su and Rudolf H. Scheffrahn, University of Florida.

Figure 13. Swarm of the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar). Photograph by Lyle J. Buss, University of Florida.

Figure 14. Young alate of Reticulitermes hageni Banks, a U. S. native subterranean termite. Photograph by Lyle J. Buss, University of Florida.

After a brief flight, alates drop to the ground and shed their wings. Females begin to search for potential nesting sites such as moist crevices with wood, and males follow closely behind. The pair forms a royal chamber in a moist site near wood and begin laying eggs, thus starting the life cycle of a subterranean termite colony. Individuals hatched from eggs (called larvae) molt into workers. Some workers may molt into the soldier caste or become alates by molting first into alate nymphs. Some workers or nymphs are capable of becoming supplementary reproductives and take over the role of queen or king if and when a primary reproductive dies or is distanced from part of the colony. It may take five to 10 years for a single pair of alates to form a mature colony that produces alates.

Figure 15. Eggs and larvae of Reticulitermes hageni Banks, a U. S. native subterranean termite. Photograph by Lyle J. Buss, University of Florida.

Because termites consume cellulose, the main structural components of plant cells, any wood material in a house is a potential food source, but they may also damage non-wood material in search of food. Because termites rarely show themselves in the open, infestations can be difficult to detect until damage becomes severe. In addition to the presence of alates and shelter tubes, wood material can be probed with a screw driver or ice pick to locate infested wood. The surface of severely damaged wood may appear blistered or peeling, as termites hollow out the wood leaving a paper-thin surface. Reticulitermes tend to cover the wood they feed upon with soil, thus giving wood a more "dirty" appearance than Coptotermes formosanus - infested wood. However, it is not advisable to identify the termite species based solely on damage as there are many exceptions.

Figure 16. Reticulitermes virginicus (Banks), a U. S. native subterranean termite, feeding in broccoli. Photograph by Lyle J. Buss, University of Florida.

Previously, Reticulitermes flavipes was considered the most common subterranean termite pest of Florida, but our survey indicated that Reticulitermes virginicus is found almost as frequently in structures as Reticulitermes flavipes (Scheffrahn et al. 1988). It is less common to find Reticulitermes hageni infestations. Of the $2.2 billion annually spent for termite control in the United States, subterranean termites account for 80% share, and the majority of this is probably due to Reticulitermes flavipes and Reticulitermes virginicus .

Preventive practice. Because subterranean termites forage in soil, it is important to keep structural lumber from direct contact with soil. Keeping the lower foundation walls and siding clear of vegetation or mulch makes it easier to inspect for termite shelter tubes. Subterranean termites need moisture for survival. Leaky plumbing, air conditioning condensate, and any portion of a building and its perimeter that collects excessive amounts of moisture should be corrected to maintain an environment less attractive to subterranean termites.

Soil termiticide barriers. Spraying the soil beneath the foundation with liquid insecticides has been the traditional method for subterranean termite control. The objective is to place a chemical barrier between termites and the structure to be protected. Before the foundation is poured, soil termiticides are applied onto sub-slab soil to form a horizontal barrier. A vertical barrier is applied around the perimeter after the foundation is poured. This pre-construction treatment is mandatory in many of the United States. Post-construction treatment consists of drilling holes through slabs and injecting insecticides under the foundation and by drenching trenches dug along building foundations. Currently available termiticides include permethrin (Dragnet® FT, etc.), cypermethrin (Demon® TC, etc.), bifenthrin (Biflex® FT, etc.), imidacloprid (Premise®, etc.), chlorfenapyr (Phantom®), chlorantraniliprole (Altriset®), and fipronil (Termidor®, etc.). Pyrethroids such as permethrin, cypermethrin, bifenthrin, and fenvalerate repel termites from treatment barriers, while other termiticides prevent termite invasion by lethal contact.

Physical barriers. Mirroring the safety concerns of some soil termiticide barriers, two physical barrier types, uniform-sized particles and stainless steel screening, have been employed as non-chemical controls in recent years. When used as continuous horizontal barriers installed during pre-construction installation, these physical barriers withstood intensive foraging activities of several termite species under field conditions (Su and Scheffrahn 1992, Lenz and Runko 1994). These non-chemical barriers are semi-permanent and can be readily installed during construction. Their physical presence, as opposed to the less visible chemical barriers, also provides ease for verification by regulatory inspectors.

Population control using baits. Because a subterranean termite colony may contain 100,000 - 1,000,000 termites that forage up 150 ft. the soil termiticide application may not impact the overall colony population. In recent years, baits have become available for population control of subterranean termites. One such approach is the monitoring-baiting program that incorporates a bait matrix containing a chitin synthesis inhibitor, hexaflumuron, commercially known as the Sentricon® Termite Colony Elimination System. Stations containing a monitoring device are first installed in the soil around a home. When termites are found in the station, the monitoring device is replaced with a plastic tube containing the hexaflumuron-laced bait. Termites feeding in the stations then carry baits to other members of their colony, leading to the demise of the entire colony population. The recent development for Sentricon® system is a durable bait Recruit® HD that contains noviflumuron. Recruit® HD is weather-resistant, and can be installed in the station without the monitoring phase for up to 12 months. Because the noviflumuron bait is used throughout, it is referred to as the "always active" tecnología.

Numerous field studies with hexaflumuron baits have demonstrated that baited colonies of subterranean termites were eliminated (Su and Scheffrahn 1998, Grace and Su 2001). Other baits (active ingredients) currently available include FirstLine® (sulfluramid), Shatter® (hexaflumuron), Isopthor® (diflubenzuron), and Terminate® (sulfluramid). With the exception of Terminate® that can be purchased by individual homeowners, all baits are applied by trained pest control professionals. The efficacy and claims of these commercial bait products differ from one another, thus it is prudent to read the fine print and ask questions. For a review of some bait products, please refer to:

Fasulo TR. (2002). Eastern Subterranean Termite and Wood-destroying Insects. Bug Tutorials . University of Florida/IFAS. CD ROM. SW 158.

Grace J K, Su N-Y. 2001. Evidence supporting the use of termite baiting systems for long-term structural protection. Sociobiology 37: 301-310.

Lenz M, Runko S. 1994. Protection of buildings, other structures and materials in ground contact from attack by subterranean termites (Isoptera) with a physical barrier - a fine mesh of high-grade stainless steel. Sociobiology 24: 1-16.

Scheffrahn RH, Mangold JR, Su N-Y. 1988. A survey of structure-infesting termites of peninsular Florida. Florida Entomologist 71: 615-630.

Su N-Y, Scheffrahn RH. 1992. Penetration of sized-particle barriers by field populations of subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Journal of Economic Entomology 85: 2275-2278.

Su N-Y, Ban PM, Scheffrahn, RH. 1993. Foraging populations and territories of the eastern subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in southeastern Florida. Environmental Entomology 22: 1113-1117.

Authors:Nan-Yao Su. Rudolf H. Scheffrahn. and Brian Cabrera, University of Florida Photographs and Graphics: Nan-Yao Su, Rudolf H. Scheffrahn and Lyle J. Buss, University of Florida, and T. Myles, University of Toronto Web Design: Don Wasik, Jane Medley Publication Number: EENY-212 Publication Date: May 2001. Latest revision: February 2013.

an initial thorough inspection of the buildings and surrounds,

the installation of a chemical soil barrier at the base of the building,

drilling of trees and stumps to eradicate any termite nest found therein,

the installation and monitoring of a termite colony elimination system,

application of borate chemical to accessible structural timbers,

various non-chemical building site modifications,

regular follow-up inspections and maintenance of the control methods,

installation of physical barriers and other devices during construction.

Initial Inspection of Buildings & Surrounds

Firstly, it is essential for the termite controller to complete a thorough inspection of the buildings and surrounds, in accordance with the Australian Standard 3660. AS 3660 requires the property owner to be supplied with a written inspection report and detailed specifications for an integrated termite control program. It is a legal requirement that (1) such an inspection and report be carried out prior to a chemical soil treatment, and (2) only a NSW Govt WorkCover licensed pest controller may supply the chemical soil treatment. Copies of the Australian Standard 3660 are available from Standards Australia - telephone 1300 654 646 or order on the web at www. standards. com. au. The cost of a termite inspection report and quotation / treatment recommendations is usually around $150 to $250, depending on the size of the premises. Some companies offer a "free inspection" but inevitably meet the cost from subsequent services to property owners who accept the quotation / treatment proposal.

A professional termite inspection and report could save you thousands of dollars - specific areas inspected include accessible timbers within the sub-floor, roof void, exterior and interior of the building and other timber structures, fences and trees within a 50 metre radius of the buildings but within the property boundary.

CONSUMER NOTE: If you find active 'live" termites on your property, you should contact the owners of neighbouring properties to alert them of the termite risk in the area and the need to arrange for an inspection and a termite control program at their premises. Termites can travel in about a 100 metre radius from their central colony nest. A termite control program in neighbouring properties will increase the prospects of a successful termite colony elimination program, for the benefit of all concerned. An inspection of a building for signs of termite activity often has physical limitations. Termite entry into the building may be through areas inaccessible to inspection, such as, via expansion joints or cracks in concrete (on-ground flooring), in-fill patios or enclosed wall cavities. Termites often enter a building via external weep holes in wall cavities, particularly where lawns, garden beds, concrete pathways or paving obscure such weep holes. Termites often build their colony nest inside an in-fill patio - a prime feeding site as builders traditionally dispose of the timber off-cuts inside the patio with soil placed therein and the concrete floor thereon. This also creates a perfect humi-crib breeding site for termites. From this location the termites can gain undetected access to the wall and roofing timbers. Termites are extremely secretive - readily trailing under floor tiling, carpets, parquetry to get into the wall and roofing timbers. AS 3660 requires the termite inspection report to note any visible evidence found of termite activity, including possible termite entry points that are inaccessible to inspection and the inspector's recommendations for termite control treatments.

Chemical Soil Barrier Treatments

CONSUMER NOTE: Most home-owners are unaware that their general home insurance policy does NOT cover termite damage to structural timbers. However, we carry professional indemnity insurance to cover termite damage to structural timbers in a building caused by termite gaining entry into a building through treated soil areas. El tratamiento químico del suelo consiste en tratar el suelo en la base de un edificio con un producto químico registrado que evitará que las termitas que viajan a través de ese suelo lleguen a las maderas en el edificio de arriba. If there are termites in the building, at the time of chemical soil treatment, they cannot safely return to their central colony nest via chemically treated soil. Termites are compelled to regularly return to their nest in the ground to obtain moisture essential for their survival and to feed and groom the nymphs (young termites), the king, queen and other termites. The installation of a chemical soil barrier requires expert knowledge and specialised equipment to form a complete and continuous barrier to protect the building from a termite entry and infestation - as illustrated below:

Sentricon vs. Terminix; the Truth!

The Sentricon Termite Colony Elimination System utilizes the Recruit IV Termite Bait Matrix (Baitube device) that has Noviflumuron as the active ingredient.

The Terminix Termite Baiting Program, which also is used under the trade name of Whitmire Advance Termite baiting system, utilizes the Terminate bait cartridge that has Diflubenzuron as the active ingredient.

Truth #1 . WHICH IS THE NEWEST? With the introduction of Recruit(tm) IV termite bait, Recruit(tm) IV AG termite bait, and RTI Stations, the Sentricon(r) Termite Colony Elimination System is the newest termite bait system. All three of these innovations were introduced in late 2004 or 2005. (Note: Diflubenzuron was first registered as a pesticide in 1976! Noviflumuron was developed specifically to maximize termite control and was registered in 2003.)

Truth #2 . WHICH HAS MORE ACTIVE INGREDIENT PER BAITUBE(tm) DEVICE? Recruit IV contains 60 grams of bait material with 0.5% active ingredient. 62g x 0.005 = 0.31 grams a. i. per Baitube device. Advance contains 93 grams of bait material with 0.25% active ingredient. 93g x 0.0025 = 0.23 grams a. i. per bait cartridge.

There is 30% more active ingredient in a Recruit IV Baitube device than in an Advance bait cartridge.

Truth #3 . WHICH IS THE FASTEST BAIT? The active ingredient Noviflumuron works significantly faster than Diflubenzuron. In a laboratory study after 6 weeks, over 90% of termites died that fed on Noviflumuron vs. less than 20% mortality for those which had fed on Diflubenzuron.

Truth #4 . CAN YOU BAIT AT INSTALL? Recruit IV can be placed in the ground on the day the Sentricon System is installed. According to the Recruit IV label: "In areas where termites, evidence of termite activity or conditions conducive to termite activity are observed, Baitube devices containing Recruit IV termite bait may be installed in auxiliary stations without the termites first having been found in monitoring devices."

Truth #5 . DOCUMENTED SUCCESS? The Sentricon System has the best-documented success rate of any termite bait, by far, with 45 published scientific articles, research from 30 independent universities and the U. S. Department of Agriculture and the U. S. Forest Service.

Termites in the Trading System: How Preferential Agreements Undermine Free Trade by Jagdish Bhagwati Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2008

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Insects in the City

Frequently Asked Questions About Subterranean Termite Control

Ant swarmers are distinguished from termites by their pinched waists and elbowed antennae. Swarmers may or may not have wings.

As one of your biggest financial investments, protecting your home should be a high priority. Termites cost Texas homeowners hundreds of millions of dollars each year. Everyone who owns a home owes it to themselves to be able to recognize a termite problem and know what to do about it. This publication provides answers to the most commonly asked questions about termites and termite control.

Q. What are these black, winged insects in my home?

A. Adult reproductive termites are dark-brown to blackish insects, about 3/8 inch-long. Commonly referred to as “swarmers”, the job of reproductive termites is to mate and start new colonies. Termite swarmers may or may not have wings, as their wings often are shed shortly after flight. Swarming termites are often confused with ants but can be distinguished by two simple characters. Termites lack the “pinched” waist of ants. Also, termite wings are equal in length, compared to ants that have distinctly longer front wings. Although termite swarmers can, occasionally, enter homes through open doors or windows, finding termite swarmers indoors is a reliable signal of infestation. Termite swarms can occur throughout the year, but are most commonly seen between the months of February and May in Texas.

Q. I just found termites in my yard. Does my house need to be treated?

A. Not necessarily. In Texas, termites abound in the soil wherever wood is to be found. Most yards, especially those in older, established neighborhoods, support termites. While termites are more abundant in some locations, chances are good that your yard has termites. Finding termites in a fence or woodpile, or in landscape timbers, does not necessarily mean that your home needs to be treated, but it should alert you to the presence of termites around your home.

Hollow tubes constructed from soil, climbing up a foundation is a sign of termite activity.

Should you find termites in your yard, a few simple steps can help reduce your risk of becoming infested. First, familiarize yourself with what termites look like so that if you notice swarms of any unusual indoor insects, you will know whether your house should be inspected. Second, examine the foundation of your home to see whether mud shelter tubes are present that might indicate termite activity. Termite shelter tubes are hollow soil tunnels extending from the soil to your house, and provide runways for termites to travel between their underground nest and their food supply (your home). If you find any suspicious mud structures, leave at least part of the material in place for a professional termite inspector to examine. Finally, keep soil and debris, such as stacked wood, away from the foundation of your home. This reduces the chance of termite entry and makes it easier to inspect your home for termite signs.

If you suspect termites, it’s a good idea to have a professional inspect your home. Termite inspections are often free, unless you need a formal report for use in a real estate transaction.

Q. Can I treat my home myself?

A. Because of the specialized equipment and chemicals needed to effectively and safely treat your home, it’s nearly always best to hire a professional. Do-it-yourself termite control chemicals are commonly sold through feed, hardware, and nursery supply stores. For spot treatments, in a very limited area, these products may be as effective as some professional products; however it takes a professional to thoroughly treat a home. Do-it-yourself termite control projects should be limited to smaller, less valuable structures such as sheds, fence post, decks and wood piles.

Q. How dangerous are these termite control chemicals?

A. All pesticides should be considered potentially dangerous; however, when used properly, termite control products (termiticides) can be applied quite safely. Your chance of being exposed to trace amounts of pesticide after a termite treatment is low–less than the exposure risk following a spray treatment for cockroaches or fleas. This is because a termite treatment is generally directed into the soil under and around the home, rather than to indoor portions of the house. As an added precaution, children and pregnant women should plan to leave the home during an application and the home aired out for 1-2 hours following treatment. If these precautions are followed, risks are minimal and you should notice no unusual odors.

Although toxicity does vary slightly among commercial termiticide formulations, in practice there is little difference in consumer safety among the different termiticides when used properly.

Q. Each company tells us that the termiticide they use is best. How do I know what to believe?

A. Most termite control professionals develop a preference for one or more termiticides based on their experiences with that product. Because product performance can vary from one locality and soil type to another, these preferences may be quite valid. Ask salespersons to justify their choice of a product. Inquire about how long that product has been used by the company.

Tests conducted by Texas A&M University at five sites throughout the state over the past 20 years show that all currently registered termiticides have a life expectancy of from four to ten years. Non-repellent type termiticides (fipronil, imidacloprid, chlorfenpyr) appear to work better (especially in Texas’ alkaline, heavy clay soils) compared to termiticides that are repellent to termites (e. g. permethrin, cypermethrin, bifenthrin). It’s generally better to choose a company based on its service, reputation and warranty, rather than which termiticide it uses. Also, most termite control companies will give you a product choice, should you request it.

Regardless of the product used, the highest permitted application rate is generally best and will last longest. This may cost slightly more, but research shows that higher rates result in the best performance over the life of your termite warranty.

Q. Does my whole house need to be treated? I’ve been told that a partial treatment will be much cheaper.

A. “Spot” or partial treatments for termites can be very attractive because of their lower cost. Whether this is a good idea depends on many factors including future plans for the house, your willingness to take risks and the size of your pocketbook. Spot treatments can be done successfully; however, it’s important to know that termites frequently enter structures at points far removed from the site where they are discovered. Spot treatments frequently come with limited warranties, which may require you to pay for additional treatments should termites reappear in another part of your home. Compared to a spot treatments with a limited warranty, a complete treatment may be a better value. New home buyers, in particular, should be wary of purchasing a home that has recently been spot-treated for termites. A few termiticides on the market use a form of treatment that involves “perimeter only” applications, or perimeter treatments plus spot treatments at suspected activity points inside the structure. Perimeter-only applications should only be done using non-repellent termiticides and only when the label specifically permits this use.

Q. I’m confused. One company uses baits and one company uses liquid insecticides applied under my house. Which is better?

A. This is the most common question we receive about termite control. Unfortunately there is no simple answer. Both techniques have advantages. Unlike conventional liquid termiticides, which provide a chemical barrier to termites, baits are designed to suppress or elimininate the termite colonies. Baits incorporate a slow-acting toxicant or growth regulator into a suitable termite food. The toxicants in baits are delivered to the colony by foraging worker termites, who share their food with other colony members.

Because of their precise delivery system and the small amounts of actual pesticide used, termite baiting systems are generally perceived as the “safest” of the available termite treatment methods. Drawbacks of baiting systems include a higher price tag on average, the unpredicatable time delay between installation and termite feeding on baits, and the lack of ongoing termite protection once the baiting service is stopped. Nevertheless, termite baiting systems have successfully eliminated long-standing termite problems in many homes. Pest control companies report a generally high level of satisfaction among their bait-system customers.

Baiting systems continue to evolve. Baits have a proven track record of success, though it has been difficult to validate sales claims that termite colonies can be completely eradicated with baits. It is important to remember that even if colonies are eliminated with a bait system, research shows that they can quickly be replaced by new termite colonies in your yard.

Soil-applied liquid insecticides provide the fastest, most economical termite control. However, if you are looking for the “greenest” termite control approach, or if your home has proved difficult to treat using standard methods, you should consider baits. Many companies today use a combination of baiting systems and “spot” or partial treatments as part of an integrated termite management system.

Q. I’ve recently seen my local hardware store selling a do-it-yourself termite bait. Can I save money by baiting my home myself?

A. While do-it-yourself baiting may sound like a good way to save money, these systems have not been well tested and may be more expensive than they first appear. Cardboard used in most do-it-yourself bait stations tends to decay and decompose quickly in the soil, and should be replaced every 3-4 months. This often makes do-it-yourself baiting systems as expensive as professional systems. Tests at Texas A&M University have been unable to demonstrate successful control with do-it-yourself products. Keep in mind that, should a do-it-yourself treatment not work, a money-back guarantee will not cover the costs of expensive repairs due to termite damage. If you have a confirmed termite problem, it’s best to seek help from a professional termite control company.

Q. How do these termite detector stakes work that are offered by my pest control company?

A. Recently some pest control companies have begun to offer special termite monitoring stations as part of their pest control service. These stakes work by providing an electronic signal or a mechanical pop-up tab to indicate when termites have fed upon the monitoring station. Although these stations provide a clever way to “see” termite activity in your landscape, they should not be interpreted to mean that your home requires treatment. Most urban landscapes have termites living in the soil, but not all homes become infested. If your pest control company points out that you have termite activity near your home, you may want to request an inspection and ask them to point out any risk factors you might be able to correct to reduce your chances of getting termites.

Q. What about non-chemical and “organic” controls for termites?

A. Several non-chemical and “organic” treatments are sometimes promoted for termite control. These include the use of nematodes and fungi, sand barriers, orange oil and “borate” sprays. “Beneficial nematodes” are microscopic worms that feed on a variety of insects, including termites. Nematodes have not proved effective in treating termites in actual structures and cannot be recommended.

Sand barriers are layers of uniform sized particles (2-2.8 mm diameter) that are difficult for termites to penetrate. Sand barriers should be at least 3-6 inches deep and 20 inches wide. They are placed around foundation walls and in bath traps and other slab openings. Sand barriers are not commonly used in Texas because they are too easily disturbed around the outside perimeters of slab-constructed homes. Also, there are no commercial sources of sands suitable for termite barrier use in the state.

Orange oil sprays have not been demonstrated to provide termite control in structures.

Borate sprays are based on the use of boron compounds, similar to boric acid. Borate salts are water soluble and are relatively low in toxicity. Treated wood effectively prevents termite feeding and many forms of wood decay. The most effective application method is to spray or immerse structural wood with a borate solution prior to, or during, construction. Treating existing homes with borate sprays applied to wall voids or exposed wood provides only partial protection from termites and wood decay, because of the difficulty in obtaining a complete treatment. Applying borate dusts to attics for termites provides no protection from subterranean termite attack.

Recently stainless steel (Termimesh™) barriers have become available for preventing termite entry into homes. These products are generally available for installation at the time the house is constructed and appear to provide excellent termite protection if installed correctly.

Q. How important is the warranty?

A. The warranty is one of the most important parts of your termite contract. The warranty spells out the conditions and time limits under which the company will assume responsibility for continued termite activity. You should compare the warranties offered by different companies carefully. In addition to the standard one-year warranty, you should be offered the chance to extended your warranty for one or more years. Annual warranty renewals should not exceed 20% of the original treatment cost. Extended warranties are a good idea, at least for the first one to two years after treatment, or for at least one full year since termites activity is detected.

Q. Do I need a warranty that covers Formosan termites?

A. The most common termite pest species in Texas are subterranean termites in the genus Reticulitermes . Another termite species, the Formosan termite, Coptotermes formosanus . is a foreign pest that has become established in California, Hawaii, and parts of the southern U. S. including some areas of Texas. This species is more destructive than our native termites. Unless you happen to live in one of the few communities along the upper Texas Gulf coast where Formosan termites are established, there is little need to purchase a pest control contract solely because it includes coverage for this species. The few isolated cases where Formosan termites have been detected in central and north-central Texas appear to be related to use of recycled railroad ties used as landscape timbers. If you are aware of one of these infestations in your immediate neighborhood, discuss your options with your pest control inspector prior to purchasing a contract. For most homeowners warranties for Formosan termites are usually unecessary. To find out whether the Formosan termite is a problem in your area, contact your county Extension office.

For more information about termite identification, biology and control refer to Extension fact sheet E-368, Subterranean Termites. For specific suggestions on how to choose a termite control company, refer to Extension publication E-369, How to Select a Termite Control Service. These publications, and help with additional questions about termites or other pest problems, can be obtained by contacting your county Extension office.

Authors:

Michael Merchant, Ph. D. Urban Entomologist, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, and Roger Gold, Ph. D. Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University.

Termite Detection Radar Technology

Eliminate the guess-work in termite detection and treatment

The Termatrac Termite Detection Dara system, launched in 1999, revolutionized the way in which pest control organizations conducted termite detection and control services. It is the first and remains the only single technology device in the world that can precisely detect, locate and confirm the presence of termites without the need for physical penetration of walls, floors or ceilings, and will not disrupt and displace termite activity. This has not only eliminated the need for post-inspection repairs and inconvenience, but has also built a reputation for saving Pest Control Operators a significant amount of time whilst boosting their brand impression and confidence among customers.

The easiest way to explain the technology is that it's a cross between a Ground Penetrating Radar and a Tracking Radar. The object of a Ground Penetrating Radar is to penetrate a surface and bounce back signals to determine the density of the materials and identify objects, changes in materials and voids and cracks below the surface. Ground Penetrating Radars are commonly used to detect underground water supply and sewage pipes, as well as geophysical surveying for minerals. In contrast, Tracking Radars cannot penetrate surfaces, however the microwave signals are reflected off objects (such as an aircraft) thereby detecting their presence and movement. Combining the principles of the two technologies, the Termatrac Termite Detection Radar emits a specially calibrated microwave signal where its reflection detects the movement of a target through solid material.

Revolutionizing the professional practice of termite inspections, the Termatrac Termite Detection Radar emits a microwave signal specially calibrated to detect termites. The emitted and received signals are processed to yield certain details about the nature of the signal disturbance; hence the Termite Detection Radar has been tuned to the movement of termite shaped objects.

The signal can penetrate dense material in walls, ceilings, floors and furniture, including timber, plaster, cement sheet, concrete, tiles, carpet, vinyl, and many other common building materials. If the microwave signal is interrupted by termite activity, a visual indication is displayed on the unit's screen that notifies the operator to the presence of Termites. The Termite Detection Radar is advanced technology that is simple to use.

The benefits delivered by Termite Detection Radar Technology: Non-Destructive Termite Detection

The Radar system accurately detects Termites through walls without the requirement for physical penetration and hence building damage. Not only does this save time and money for the Pest Control Technician, it also increases over-all convenience, confidence, impression and satisfaction among customers.

Accurate Detection of Termites

Termatrac requires no physical penetration of walls and no need for tapping or prodding. Termites are not disturbed, do not retreat, and remain active for easy and accurate detection by the Termatrac Termite Detection Radar and consequent Termiticide treatment.

Eliminate the guess-work in Termite detection and treatment

Identify the exact locations of Termites increasing the accuracy of chemical treatments whilst reducing the quantity and cost.

Ensures far more accurate termite detection and successful treatments, proven to significantly reduce expensive warranty service call-backs and related overheads.

The Termatrac Termite Detection Radar is designed and manufactured to operate within EMC regulations.

Substantially less microwave emissions than a mobile phone and this power is specifically directed away from the operator.

Thousands of pest control organisations rely on Termite Detection Radar all around the world, including those from the USA, Australia, France, Spain, India, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and the Philippines.

To discuss with a Termatrac representative how the Termatrac Termite Detection Radar can assist to boost your pest control business, please click here .

I am Craig Robins, from Swan Hill Victoria. I've been working in the Pest Control Industry for 11 years now. First, working for my father, Brian Robins, 'Robins Pest Control' in Swan Hill, who's been in the industry for over 30 years, and is still in the industry. And then ventured out on my own, with my wife Carrie-Ann, about 3 1/2 years ago trading as 'Craig Robins Pest Control'.

My business has continued to grow each year, and I now employ my brother Darren full-time. The growth of my business has been for many reasons, but one being the 'confidence' surrounding using a Termatrac, for the detection of termites.

I've been using a Termatrac for many years now. From the original, to the new T3i with the new Motorolla PDA. It has been such a valuable tool for helping me detect termite activity. I continually find termite activity that has gone undetected by other Pest Control companies that don't use or own a Termatrac. Also, the back up and help I receive from the team at Termatrac is exceptional. They really are leading the way. I wouldn't do an inspection now without one.

Many of my customers continue to be amazed and intrigued about the Termatrac. They can't believe it can pick up termite activity in areas such as a wall cavity! I would encourage any Pest Control business/operator to invest in a Termatrac. Your business will benefit in every way!!

& Mdash; Craig Robins Craig Robins Pest Control, VIC

Green Eye Termite Detection

mouse over image to see bigger version

Green Eye is an innovative system for detecting the presence of termites. The Green Eye is a colour changing alert that contains the termites favourite food, cellulose. The cellulose supports a coloured weight that drops when the termites attack.

Utilising our visual alert will reduce monitoring time and fatigue during inspections. No more bending over to inspect.

There are 3 products in the range; see separate listings for full details

Green Eye MTA - Monitoring Termite Alert

An innovative visual alert and treatment application unit for use outdoors as a perimeter in-ground detector. The coloured activity indicator allows an easy and fast inspection for early warning and earlier cost-saving treatment.

Green Eye CTA - Central Termite Alert

The replacement core of the Green Eye MTA system for continued monitoring. A reliable and gravity activated termite alert using an easy-read colour indicator for a fast, sure, warning of termite activity allowing early and cost saving treatment. Simple push-fit replacement fitting and chemical free detection and monitoring.

Green Eye ITA - Internal Termite Alert

The internal use option in the Green Eye range. A discreet wall mounted termite activity indicator that changes colour when termites attack. Fast visual inspection and reduced mis-reading for an early and more cost effective treatment. Chemical-free for complete home safety.

TESTIMONIALS

What are our Customers saying about us?

Straight forward, uncomplicated and environmentally friendly system.

Fred Shepherd // Saratoga NSW

Hey Guys, I had my first bait station go off and I have just finished poisoning the termites. I want to thank you for such a great product and will be looking forward to their elimination.

Frank Miletic (DIY - Customer) // Windaroo QLD

Researched alternatives and was most impressed by your baits as simple and reasonable value.

Richard Frankham // Berowra NSW

WHO WE ARE

Green Termite Bait Systems is a sister company to Green Pest Control. We commenced trading in 1988 as One Go Pest Control on the Gold Coast. It was founded by Jerry Furnell (P. C.O. Lic. 2143) with just one aim. To provide excellence in service for every client.

ÚLTIMAS PUBLICACIONES

¡Guauu! It’s hard to believe that we are into the fifth year of the greenpest newsletter. So much.

This newsletter is probably the toughest one that we’ve had to put together since we firs.

Termite Treatment and Termite Control

For the last 30+ years, customers in our stores and visitors to our web site have asked, " What can I do for termites myself ? & Quot; Many times we have suggested that they get a Pest Control Service Company to do the work for Subterranean (Ground) termites, because of the many different factors, particulary on slabs or basements. In most all cases, a service company would be needed for Drywood Termites

Doing your own termite work, in particular applying chemicals for termites, may not be for everybody.

At our termite web site (www. doityourselftermitecontrol. com), we have guidelines for finding a qualified service company that treats termites

Another article on our termite site, Termite Home Inspections , you will find a series of pictures showing damage from termites, powder post beetles and carpenter ants.

Can I apply termite chemicals myself?. is designed to answer that question on our termite site. It will give you recommendations and instructions if needed to treat for termites.

Do It Yourself Termite Control

There are two major methods for termite control. You can use liquid termite insecticides (termiticides) for barrier or soil treatment or termite baits. Some people choose both options.

The two articles below are from our termite site, www. doityourselftermitecontrol. com, that go into detail of procedures and methods.

Liquid Termiticides

Barrier termite treatments are designed to prevent them from entering the structure. They also will prevent termites inside the structure from getting to the soil to get the moisture needed to survive.

If you choose a termite liquid method, it will give you faster results and you can apply the finished solution close to the termite infestation. If you have an existing termite infestation, applying a liquid termiticide may mean that drilling is involved. Drilling through concrete or a slab and pumping the volume of finished solution required to set up a termite barrier may be too difficult for a homeowner.

On the other hand, if there is crawl space clearance and you can simply drench around your home, doing your own termite work would not be as difficult.

The technology of non repellents such as Taurus SC and Termidor SC is an advancement over other termite insecticides that are only repellent barriers.

With "repellant" termiticides, any of the smallest gap in the treated soil can be detected and exploited by the termites to gain entry in the building. They will find ways around it. This is a major short-coming of the more traditional chemicals used for termite control.

Taurus SC and Termidor SC are made up of a nonrepellents . they are undetectable by termites. The termites can't see, smell, taste or avoid Taurus or Termidor. Taurus SC is more economical than Termidor SC.

Since the currently available chemical barrier pesticides are very short lived, in some cases, no more than 5-8 years, the concept of using a chemical barrier treatment as a the sole means of controlling subterranean termites has been challenged by baits designed for termites.

Termite Baits

There are various Baiting systems for termites on the market. Instead of injecting chemicals into the soil which will only last a few years, you can now place termite bait directly into the ground around the outside of a structure which the termites will find, feed on and die. The technology of baiting systems for termites are constantly changing and improving. We currently recommend the Advance Termite Bait System.

Baiting colonies of termites is simple and can also be used as a monitoring tool to detect termites where they are not yet a problem. Termite baits elimininate and control in conditions where the structure is untreatable with soil termiticides ( near a body of water for example), or there is a concern about pesticide use, and even in structures where soil treatments have failed.

For more information, please visit: Termite Baiting.

How to Get Rid of Termites

Out of all the countless insects, rodents, critters and other pests that disturb and discomfort homeowners everywhere, none is more dangerous than the termite. Only termites can single-handedly ruin and destroy a house's very foundation and character in just a few short years. The first destructive handiwork of termites may not even be noticeable for the first five years after their infestation. By then, it may be too late. Your home is likely the largest investment you have ever made and the most important. Therefore, it is necessary to take the proper steps to protect your home from termites, and to rid your house of them immediately if they have already invaded your property.

Edit Steps

Edit Part One of Four: Tracking Down an Infestation

Look for signs of an infestation. You may not see direct evidence of termite infestation, but that doesn't mean you should remain ignorant of it. Sagging floors, holes in woodwork and hollow parts of your foundation are all serious warning signs of termites. You may actually see the termites themselves, as well.

Take a screwdriver and flashlight with you to your basement, and examine crawlspaces and foundation beams by tapping on the wood to check for hollowness and to push the screwdriver into the wood to test for strength. If the wood gives easily and falls apart, you may have a termite problem on your hands.

When performing this examination, also be sure to keep an eye out for termite wastes. Termite droppings are wood colored or darker brown pellets of excrement. The presence of these droppings near weakened wood could indicate an infestation. [1]

You may also find a termite nest on your property; a subterranean termite infestation will build a system of tunnels and tubes of mud, while a drywood termite infestation will present itself in a nest inside the wood.

Determine the type of termites you have. There are two general types of termites that might infest your home: subterranean and drywood termites. The former are found in both the soil around your home and the wood of your home, while the latter thrive solely in wood (not soil). Subterranean termites are found mostly in warm, coastal regions - primarily California, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and Georgia. Drywood termites can be found anywhere in the states.

Subterranean termites can be found in wood and compost piles around your home, in addition to the foundational wood.

Subterranean termites typically do much more damage to a home than drywood, and may require different treatment methods. [2]

Edit Tips

Online sources of information about pest control from vendors such as Do It Yourself Pest Control have videos which show you how to treat your home for termites and do it like a pro. It's good to watch the video before you buy anything so that you can get an idea of how much work is involved to effectively do this project yourself.

Termite damage can ruin a home, so if you aren't sure of your ability to kill the bugs on your home, call a professional as soon as you're able.

Spraying pesticides one a week and closing all hole near termite infestation with boric acid is helpful.

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Termites

Termites date back more than 120 million years to the time of the dinosaurs. They are known as "silent destroyers" because of their ability to chew through wood, flooring and even wallpaper undetected. Each year, termites cause more than $5 billion in property damage - costs that aren't covered by homeowners' insurance policies.

Swarmers looking to start a new colony are typically the first sign of termite season as these winged-pests show up inside homes in early spring. To get rid of termites in the home, contact a termite management specialist to address the infestation and recommend a course of proper termite control.

Videos

Termite Control

Learn the signs to look for to determine if you might have a termite infestation.

Termites cost Americans more than $5 billion in damage each year and most insurance plans don’t cover the damage.

We’ll determine whether you actually have termites, then discuss a treatment plan including financing that works for you.

Learn what to expect from your Orkin Man and the AIM process.

Subterranean Termites

Subterranean termites live in colonies in the soil. They require moisture from the soil to survive, and can tunnel hundreds of feet to reach feeding sites. To reach food above ground, they build mud tubes to protect them from exposure to light, air and enemies.

U. S. CONCENTRATION ZONES

Drywood Termites

Found coast to coast throughout the southern regions of the U. S. Drywood termites live inside dry wood. Their colonies can be dispersed within your home and can spread, infesting more than one area.

U. S. CONCENTRATION ZONES

Formosan Termites

Formosan termites are a more aggressive species of Subterranean termites that can establish secondary nests above the ground.

U. S. CONCENTRATION ZONES

We’re Not Satisfied Until You’re Satisfied.

Your satisfaction is our goal. If you aren’t completely satisfied, we will work with you until you are. If pests return between treatments, your Orkin Man will return at no extra charge. And if we’re unable to solve your termite problem, we’ll refund your last service payment as long as you’re a customer. More importantly, you can call your Orkin Man anytime you have a problem and we’ll work to solve it.

Apariencia

Because Termites mostly live underground and in the walls of your home, you are unlikely to see the termites themselves.

Telltale Signs

Since you likely won’t see termites, look for these signs:

Termite droppings, which look like small, ridged, wood-colored pellets.

Mud tubes on exterior surface (pictured to the left).

Wings all of the same size (look like tiny fish scales) shredded near an entry point to your home.

Since some of these signs are difficult to detect, we recommend regular inspection by a pest-control professional.

Most homeowners list their first home as their single largest investment. With termite damage totalling upwards of $5 billion per year, they are a major threat to that investment. Furthermore, most insurance plans don’t cover treatment or repairs due to termites.

Tips for Preventing Termite Infestation

Eradicate the collection of moisture by fixing pipes, A/C units, and other home fixtures prone to leaking.

Ensure drainage sites remain clean and effective.

Caulk cracks in the foundation and around utility lines or pipes.

Keep plants and mulch well maintained.

Store firewood and lumber away from the home.

Remove excess wood like tree stumps or yard debris.

Install appropriately sized screens on exterior vents.

Monitorear estructuras de madera al aire libre para detectar signos de infestación.

Call your local Orkin branch office and set up a free inspection of your home by a Qualified Orkin Termite Inspector who will design a customized treatment plan that fits your needs and discuss financing options available to you.

Don’t let termites destroy your home. Call or fill out the form for a free inspection.

call 877-792-6505

The Orkin Advantage

Our trained professionals can both detect existing infestations and help you prevent future problems. When you work with Orkin, you’ll get:

Industry-leading technology

Over 70 years of termite control experience

An associate with extensive training in all areas of termite control

PREGUNTAS FRECUENTES

Looking for more information about our services? Check out our frequently asked questions .

If you don’t find what you are looking for, feel free to contact us .

Termite Control

[ A. I.M. ]

Inspection

If you have seen evidence of termites, The Orkin Man ® will come and inspect your home. The Orkin Man ® will perform a thorough examination of your home by checking your basement or crawlspace for moisture, your foundation for wood debris, and other risk areas that may attract an infestation. Your Orkin Man utilizes state-of-the-art equipment such as IR thermometers, moisture meters, and termite detection systems to help him scientifically assess your home. When he’s done, you will receive our recommendation, complete with customized digital diagrams and an Orkin Inspection Report outlining problems we identified, as well as a recommended plan to protect your home from termites.

Your Orkin Man utilizes state-of-the-art equipment such as IR thermometers, moisture meters, and termite detection systems…

2 Implement

[ A. I. M. ]

He will fill out a Termite Control Service Ticket that outlines what he did and when he’ll be back to check on your progress.

Getting The Job Done

If The Orkin Man finds a termite infestation or the potential for one, he will discuss the best solution for your situation. Termidor ® Liquid Treatment

This solution works inside, outside, and within the foundation to provide a protective area around your home.

The treatment offers immediate protection as well as protection from future infestations throughout the duration of the protection plan.

We use application flowmeters to record the amount of termiticide used in each area and the cumulative total recommended after each treatment, to deliver the precise amount needed.

Dry Foam And OrkinFoam

These solutions are used to treat voids and spaces in exterior and interior walls, under slabs, around pipes, and for certain surfaces.

OrkinFoam treatments expand to reach critical areas, providing extra coverage and protection against termites.

The ultralow moisture content in Orkin Dry Foam® helps prevent it from soaking through and damaging your drywall.

Sentricon ® Bait and Monitoring

Sentricon ® targets at-risk locations around your home such as, old tree stumps, moist soil, irrigation sprinkler heads, roof downspouts and other moist areas.

The bait present at bait stations disrupts the molting process termites require for growth — targeting the source of the problem.

Sentricon ® provides ongoing protection against future termite infestations without any drilling or damage to your landscape.

At the end of your service, he will fill out a Termite Control Service Ticket that outlines exactly what he did and when he’ll be back to check on your progress.

He will fill out a Termite Control Service Ticket that outlines what he did and when he’ll be back to check on your progress.

Defying the Average in the Arab World

Marcus Noland and Howard Pack

The Arab Economies in a Changing World

In The Arab Economies in a Changing World . Marcus Noland and Howard Pack examine the economic performance and prospects of 10 Arab countries: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, the Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, and the Republic of Yemen. The presumption is that"Arabism" affords a significant degree of homogeneity to compare economic performance and prospects. As someone who wrote a book in 1976 on the region that stretches from Morocco to the Islamic Republic of Iran, I can say that the"Arab" region affords little homogeneity. I found the same to be true in 1997 in the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. These countries did not afford the hoped-for homogeneity (Saudi Arabia and Bahrain can hardly be compared). Later, in 2006, I felt that maybe the oil exporters of the Persian Gulf represented the best indicator of homogeneity, but even this has its limitations. Noland and Pack have silently arrived at a similar conclusion that their countries are too varied to afford neat generalizations.

Key insights The main conclusions of this book are that (1) although most of these countries have achieved significant success according to social indicators, their economic performance has been average; (2) the reasons for their economic performance vary; (3) the contributing factors are bad institutions (high degree of corruption, lack of cross-border integration, limited application of technology and innovation, below-average education and skill enhancement, and so on), authoritarian rule, political uncertainty, and large government sectors; and (4) in the case of the oil-exporting countries, oil has created special opportunities and pitfalls. In summary, the authors conclude that"at issue is not the extent of past achievements. but rather whether the existing economic and political models. are adequate to successfully address the current demographically driven pressure to deliver jobs. The answer is almost surely no."

While their analysis is thoughtful and highly significant, I have some differences with the authors. For instance, the authors shortchange the importance of women's labor force participation in future unemployment. Also, because of the diversity of their countries, Noland and Pack miss the fact that the performance of the Persian Gulf oil exporters was not average, but below average during 1975–2004.

Errors of omission In assessing the reasons underlying average economic performance, Noland and Pack fail to stress the role of conflicts and wars. Iraq, Lebanon, Kuwait, Algeria, Egypt, the Syrian Arab Republic, and Jordan have all paid a heavy price, and certain GCC countries have footed some of the bills.

The authors also ignore the negative role of outside powers, whether in support of dictators, isolation of countries, sanctions,"pushing" of sophisticated military hardware, or simply a divide-and-conquer policy. The authors say,"Because of the unusually long-standing stable nature of Arab political regimes, this legacy (i. e. authoritarianism) appears to have persisted considerably longer in the region than equivalent tendencies did in other regions." But they don't say why."The issues being contested are fundamentally 'internal' in nature. In this case, the international community can do little." The answer is that foreign powers must shoulder some of the blame for authoritarian rule and for the so-called internal issues in a number of these countries.

And, finally, although the authors state in various places that Islam is not a factor in the economic performance of these countries, they appear to also hedge their bet:"It could be that the negative interpretations of Islam's historical legacy reviewed earlier are correct but that enough convergence in institutions, policies, and behavior has occurred that the effects have been attenuated in the contemporary world." They quote only one group of commentators, without offering the balancing perspectives of another—who believe that Islam clearly stresses the importance of economic prosperity and economic justice for the Muslim community.

Hossein Askari Iran Professor of International Business and International Affairs George Washington University

Rivals How the Power Struggle Between China, India and Japan Will Shape Our Next Decade

Harcourt, 2008, 352 pp. $26 (cloth).

For 13 years, Bill Emmott labored as editor-in-chief of The Economist . a lofty position he ascended to after a stint as the magazine's correspondent in Tokyo, where he served during the 1980s. At the time, Japan's economic expansion was arousing fears in the United States and elsewhere that the country was determined to remake the world in its image. But in 1989, Emmott wrote a counterintuitive book, The Sun Also Sets: The Limits to Japan's Economic Power . forecasting that the country's growth was unlikely to continue in the 1990s.

With that bulls-eye prediction, Emmott comes to Asia discussions with a healthy dose of credibility. His departure from The Economist in 2006 enabled him to return to reporting, and he has unleashed a fresh dose of illuminating observations in Rivals: How the Power Struggle Between China, India and Japan Will Shape Our Next Decade . Heavy on nuance and light on cliché-ridden cheerleading, Rivals is a valuable and accessible contribution to the (often turgid) discussion of Asia's economic and political future.

Who is right? Emmott begins with the insight that Asia has never before been home to three powerful countries, all at the same time, and thus central to the continent's future will be how well they can manage their political and economic relationships with each other. The book quotes a senior Indian official, from the Ministry of External Affairs, expressing the zero-sum view:"The thing you have to understand," said the official,"is that both of us [India and China] think that the future belongs to us. We can't both be right."

China's grievances against Japan's conduct during World War II remain an open wound, with many Chinese charging the Japanese with failure to repent for their war crimes. And China still lays a claim to the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh—a claim that led to war in 1962—while India says it is the rightful owner of a remote parcel of Himalayan land that today belongs to China.

Against this backdrop, China's decision to increase its military spending by 18 percent a year, and India's to increase its by 8 percent (while also signing a nuclear energy pact with the United States), looks ominous. Even Japan, although limited in what it can do to bolster its military, signed a security declaration with Australia last year—the first time Tokyo has entered into such an agreement since signing a peace treaty with the United States in 1952.

The tie that binds The encouraging news is that the three countries are being woven together through economic integration. In July 2008, for example, Japan exported more to China than to the United States—the first time this has ever happened. As high growth continues (at least in China and India), this integration should deepen, uniting Asia to a degree without precedent since the exploits of Genghis Khan.

But will the integration continue? That depends on the ability of each country to pursue reforms that will catalyze economic growth.

China's capital markets are, for example, riddled with weaknesses. Indeed, the vice-chairman of the National People's Congress declared last year that 70 percent of the country's publicly traded companies are worthless and should be de-listed.

India's economy is still handicapped by a phalanx of regulatory measures that stifle business activity (it scores a lowly 134th in the World Bank's Doing Business rankings). And the country's infrastructure and inefficient governing system threaten investment and economic growth.

Japan's economy is still plagued by widespread inefficiencies, and the Nikkei index recently fell to its lowest level since 1982. In 1998, while editor of The Economist, Emmott published a cover story with the headline"Japan's Amazing Ability to Disappoint." The headline would still work today.

Making peace Emmott closes with a number of recommendations for managing the rivalry between the three nations. These include initiatives involving security (persuading India to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty), environment (reducing emissions and increasing investment in clean energy), and diplomacy (encouraging U. S. support for the East Asia Summit launched in 2005, because it is the only regional body encompassing China, India, and Japan). Given Emmott's past success as a predictor, his failure to declare whether he expects the three nations to emerge as self-destructive rivals or as mutually beneficial allies is a curious omission.

But he rightly observes that relations between the three countries will be dictated by the behavior of China. The successful staging of the Beijing Olympics will do wonders for China's image, though more meaningful for the long term are the words of Deng Xiaoping when asked about China's approach to governing:"Stability overrides everything." Japan and India, and other nations in Asia, can only hope this means a commitment to regional partnership—and peace.

Matthew Rees President, Geonomica

Robert J. Samuelson

The Great Inflation and Its Aftermath: The Past and Present of American Affluence

Random House, New York, 2008, 336 pp. $26 (cloth).

The U. S. Federal Reserve—"the Fed"—has committed two major blunders in its 95-year existence. The Fed worsened the Great Depression of the 1930s by refusing to inject liquidity into a global economy thirsting for it. And in the 1970s, the Fed permitted the Great Inflation to unfold by not soaking up liquidity from a global economy drowning in it. The Great Depression looms large in public consciousness, but the Great Inflation has faded from memory.

Robert Samuelson's book is a successful attempt to reclaim the"lost history" of the Great Inflation, an episode he regards as the U. S. government's"greatest domestic policy blunder [emphasis in original]" in the post–World War II era. But the book is much more than the story of the conquest of inflation; it provides one of the best narratives of U. S. and global economic history since 1960.

Never-ending rain From 1960 to 1979, annual U. S. inflation increased from less than 1 1/2 percent to nearly 13 1/2 percent. Price increases, says Samuelson, were"like the rain that never stopped." At the time, U. S. citizens protested vehemently against this rise in inflation. And in public opinion polls of the time, inflation was described as"more upsetting" than either the Vietnam War or the Watergate scandal.

Samuelson argues that allowing inflation to drift into double digits had devastating consequences for the U. S. economy in the 1970s. High inflation"incontestably destabilized the economy, leading to four recessions of growing severity." High inflation—and the accompanying high and volatile interest rates—stunted the increase in living standards by lowering productivity growth, causing stagnation in the stock market, and leading to a series of debt crises that affected"American farmers, the U. S. savings and loan industry, and developing countries."

Was the rain that never stopped simply a run of bad luck? No, says Samuelson, it was the"perverse consequence of well-meaning policies, promoted by some of the nation's most eminent academic economists." In the 1950s and early 1960s, economists came to believe that there was a stable inverse relationship between inflation and unemployment, implying that unemployment could be reduced by accepting a bit more inflation. The Fed was a"prime accomplice" in triggering the Great Inflation. All major inflations involve too much money chasing too few goods, and the worst U. S. peacetime inflation occurred, writes Samuelson,"because the government, through the Fed, created too much money."

Morning in America? How was inflation reduced from double digits in 1980 to a mere 4 percent by 1982? Samuelson argues that this"was principally the accomplishment of two men—Paul Volcker and Ronald Reagan." But what they had to do to lick inflation was not pretty. Essentially, the Fed under Chairman Volcker tightened liquidity enough to bring about the most"punishing economic slump" since the Great Depression. Former U. S. President Reagan's role was to allow the Fed to maintain this policy"long enough to alter inflationary psychology." Even today, Samuelson says, the social costs of what the U. S. economy had to endure between 1980 and 1982 to reduce inflation"seem horrendous."

Samuelson credits the conquest of inflation with ushering in"the past quarter century's prosperity," reversing much of the adverse effects of letting inflation rise to double digits. These years were marked by U. S. income growth, which outstripped that of other advanced nations; entrepreneurial vitality reflected in the emergence of companies such as Microsoft; and revived confidence in the U. S. dollar. This vitality helped transform international finance by encouraging a dramatic surge in cross-border capital flows.

Los cielos se oscurecen de nuevo. Ningún éxito es sin barnizar, ni dura para siempre. Samuelson concedes that the 25-year run of good economic performance had its blemishes and may now be coming to an end. The years following the conquest of inflation were ones of economic growth, but it was"a starker society that had reverted to the rough-and-tumble existence of a more market-driven economy." And prolonged prosperity—continuous economic growth with only two mild recessions—helped"spawn a complacency and carelessness" about the consequences of the increased complexity of international finance, culminating in the present turmoil.

Samuelson says that the links between the financial system and the rest of the economy, which over time have become"larger and less predictable," will have to be better understood to restore the prosperity of recent decades. While new lessons have to be learned, Samuelson is keen that the lesson learned from the conquest of inflation not be forgotten:"The lesson from the Great Inflation is that inflation ought to be nipped in the bud: The longer we wait, the harder it becomes."

Prakash Loungani Advisor, IMF Research Department

Termites in the Trading System: How Preferential Trade Agreements Undermine Free Trade

A Council on Foreign Relations book, Oxford University Press, 2008, 160 pp. $24.95 (cloth).

Challenged by the mathematician Stanislaw Ulam to name a single proposition in all of social science that was both true and nontrivial, Paul Samuelson—the undisputed titan of 20th century economics—offered the principle of comparative advantage:"that it is logically true need not be argued before a mathematician; that it is not trivial is attested by the thousands of important and intelligent men who have never been able to grasp the doctrine for themselves or to believe it after it was explained to them." As Jagdish Bhagwati, a titan of 20th century international economics and author of Termites in the Trading System . might point out, these thousands of important and intelligent men have not done much better in grasping the distinction between free trade and free trade areas (trade agreements between a group of countries, described more precisely below), although that distinction also follows from a short set of axioms, and the failure to grasp it imperils the global trade system.

Bhagwati has been alerting the important and the intelligent to this distinction, and its relevance, for a long time, through both scholarly contributions and accessible writings in the popular press. In the early 1990s, when the recent drift in the direction of preferential trade agreements (PTAs) had only just begun, he stood as a lone cautionary voice against this fragmentation of the trade system (see his 1993 article"Regionalism and Multilateralism: An Overview," in New Dimensions in Regionalism . edited by Jaime DeMelo and Arvind Panagariya, New York: Cambridge University Press). Now, with the number of preferential agreements in the hundreds, and with the complexity of regulations governing the flow of goods and services into these countries growing proportionately, Bhagwati's caution seems particularly prescient.

Although the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), established in 1948, held nondiscrimination between member countries as a key principle, it sanctioned—through Article XXIV—exceptions to this principle, by permitting PTAs in the form of free trade areas (FTAs) and customs unions (CUs). According to the prevailing definitions, members of FTAs, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) group, and CUs, such as the European Union, must eliminate internal trade barriers, but members of CUs also agree on a common external tariff against imports from nonmembers. Although FTAs and CUs are expected to eliminate barriers to trade between their member countries, doing so is not tantamount to multilateral free trade. The discriminatory tariffs that member countries impose on nonmembers imply that there may be inefficient sourcing of imports, with important (and possibly adverse) normative consequences for both members and nonmembers. Specifically, as Jacob Viner demonstrated in his classic 1950 analysis (in The Customs Union Issue . New York: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace), some trade may be"created" between member countries in goods that they produce efficiently relative to the rest of the world, but trade may just as easily be"diverted" from efficient nonmember countries because of preferences member countries grant each other. Thus, member countries may well worsen themselves.

In 100 brisk pages imbued with his characteristic wit and wisdom, Bhagwati dissects the PTA question with scholarly precision, historical depth, and attention to policy detail. In Chapter 2, he analyzes the historical origins of GATT Article XXIV and the political imperatives that led the United States to abandon its once-principled stand on nondiscrimination and admit Article XXIV's exceptions. His arguments in Chapter 3 about the negative consequences of trade diversion in practice, drawing on recent findings, add empirical heft to the theoretical case against trade preferences. He also discusses in depth the consequences of preferential trade to the multilateral trade system, and he is surely right that the current evolution of the trade system into a chaotic network of overlapping and intersecting PTAs (what he has famously called the"spaghetti-bowl" phenomenon) could not possibly be efficient. In Chapter 4, he lays out an appeal for countries to eschew bilateral initiatives, for broad-based multilateral liberalization to dilute the distorting effects of trade preferences, and for moving us closer to global free trade.

But will they listen, these thousands of important and intelligent men and women? Over the past few decades, Bhagwati—like an Indian classical virtuoso—has generated every variation of the argument for free trade and for multilateral approaches to achieve it. Termites contains some of Bhagwati's most striking arguments for the distinction between free trade and free trade areas, strongest refutations of those who confuse the two, and passionate descriptions of the consequences to the trade system that have arisen from this confusion. His arguments deserve serious attention.

Pravin Krishna Chung Ju Yung Distinguished Professor of International Economics Johns Hopkins University

It's your home. Defend it.

A menos que llame a Alaska a casa, su casa no está a salvo de las termitas. Subterranean termites are a huge problem because there are so many of them and they eat continuously. The cost of damage to homeowners is estimated at $5 billion per year вЂ” which means termites cause more damage than fires, floods and hurricanes combined.

Take action.

Eliminate the termite colony and its queen to protect against the threat of attack for good with the Sentricon В® System.

Eliminate the colony.

Sentricon is the new standard of success. With proven and conclusive independent research done by 30 universities and independent research contractors, and reported in 70 published scientific articles, along with nearly two decades of real-world success, no other termite product kills the Queen, destroys the colony and protects your home better.

Proven effectiveness

Sentricon begins protecting your home the moment it is put into place. And, with proper servicing by a Certified Sentricon Specialist, it retains its effectiveness 100 percent of the time. It not only eliminates termites that are present but also eliminates colonies that attempt to attack later. This around-the-clock protection has been proven for nearly two decades in all areas of the United States and against all species of subterranean termites that attack and damage homes.

Put an end to unwanted advances.

A protective ring of Sentricon stations around your home eliminates attacking termites and protects against the threat of future attack. Your Certified Sentricon Specialist will expertly install and service Sentricon.

Termite Treatment

Liquid Application with Bait and Monitoring System

This service includes liquid treatment at the entry points and infestation sites around a home, plus termite monitoring stations at various locations around your house to detect activity. If your termite professional find signs of termites, he or she will replace the monitoring stations with bait stations. Termites who ingest the bait will share it with their nest mates, leading to effective control of the colony .

Liquid Application with Repellent or with Non-Repellent These types of treatments can be used inside and outside your home, and also can be injected directly into an infested area. Repellent products do not attract termites, but instead make an area unappealing to termites. Termites who come into contact with repellents are directed away from the home.

Non-repellent products are not easily detected by termites, so the insects do not know to avoid the treated area. Forager termites are the first to confront these non-repellent products, which are then shared with the rest of the colony during feeding and grooming – effectively controlling the colony’s members.

Wood Treatment Odorless and immediately effective, wood treatment also offers protection against further termite infestations. This treatment can be applied directly to the wood or injected into bare wood. Entire Structure Treatment or Fumigation

With the ability to treat every area of your home, entire structure treatment, or fumigation, is often recommended when multiple termite colonies are found in one structure. Fumigation involves a tent that envelops your home or business before termite specialists pump in gas, which spreads throughout the home to reach cracks and crevices that may be harboring termites. Since each infestation is unique, be sure to partner with a termite specialist to create a customized plan to treat your home.

How to Choose Subterranean Termite Treatment for Your Home

Liquid termiticides are popular materials used for subterranean termite control. There are two general types of liquid termiticides used to treat termites around homes, the older repellent products and the newer non-repellent products.

Types of Liquid Termiticides

Repellent Termiticides

Prior to 2002, liquid termiticides often were applied in a similar manner with techniques that were established more than 50 years ago. When used with the older repellent termiticides, these conventional techniques sought to create a repellent barrier in the soil to prevent termites from entering a home.

A repellent barrier treatment requires a thorough soil application to treat as many termite entry points as is practically possible. For many homes, this treatment may require extensive drilling through slabs and foundation walls in order to reach and treat vulnerable areas in the soil where termites may enter.

The “Achilles heel” to this type of treatment is that some termite entry points may be difficult to find and even the smallest gap in the barrier, until closed, could allow termites to enter and have the chance to damage a home.

Also, these repellent termiticide treatments have virtually no effect on termite populations near a home. Repellent termiticides are designed to control only those termites who in come into direct contact with the product.

Non-Repellent Termiticides

Compared to repellent termiticides, the newer non-repellent termiticides have a different mechanism to control termites. Termites cannot detect soil treated with a non-repellent termiticide. Instead, they tunnel into a treatment zone, unaware that they are coming into contact with the treated soil.

Gaps in treatment application are less of a problem with non-repellent termiticides compared to repellent termiticides. In addition, some of the new non-repellent termiticides can be transferred from termites that have come into contact with the treatment zone to nestmates that have not. The result of this transfer effect is control of more termites than just those that enter a treatment zone.

New non-repellent liquid termiticides and extensive field research have brought new treatment options to the table. Some non-repellent products can be applied both with the conventional treatment approach and a new treatment approach referred to as exterior perimeter plus localized interior treatment (EP/LI).

Types of Termite Treatment

Conventional Treatment

This type of treatment has been available for more than 50 years. A conventional treatment seeks to treat all potential areas where subterranean termites may enter a home. It is considered to be the most extensive liquid treatment for termites. Conventional treatment includes treating the soil on both sides of foundation walls, the voids of cinder blocks in foundation walls, and the soil under plumbing penetrations in slabs and bath traps.

Drilling is usually required to treat the interior foundation wall, cinder block voids and plumbing penetration areas. The number of treatment areas and the amount of drilling vary based on the home’s construction type.

Exterior Perimeter Plus Localized Interior Treatment (EP/LI)

Only certain non-repellent liquid termiticides can be used for EP/LI subterranean termite treatments. Because most termite attacks come from areas surrounding a home, EP/LI treatments primarily are aimed at treating the soil adjacent to the exterior foundation wall of a home to intercept these attacks.

Los tratamientos interiores no son necesarios a menos que haya termitas vivas en áreas interiores, que generalmente se detectan con una inspección minuciosa. The result of this targeted treatment is a substantial reduction in the amount of drilling required to control termites. According to the label of one non-repellent termiticide – Termidor – there also can be an up to 60 percent reduction in the amount of termiticide needed for control with EP/LI, when compared to a conventional treatment. The exact percentage of termiticide reduction varies based on the home construction type.

Which Type of Termite Treatment Is More Effective?

To determine the effectiveness of termite treatment, industry experts analyze the number of times pest control companies need to retreat a home to ensure effective termite control. University of Kentucky’s Dr. Michael Potter and Anne Hillery compared conventional treatments using repellent and non-repellent products in a February 2000 Pest Control Technology article and determined non-repellent products offer more effective termite control. In this study of nearly 1,200 treatments, repellent products had a retreatment rate of 21.8 percent vs. 5.7 percent for the first non-repellent product to hit the marketplace.

A study of over 3,800 EP/LI treatments published by the same experts in the February 2003 issue of Pest Control Technology indicated a retreatment rate of only 0.7 percent when professionals used an even newer non-repellent product, Termidor. This study also demonstrated EP/LI-type treatments with Termidor offer similar results to conventional treatments with Termidor since retreat rates are approaching 0 percent.

What Termite Treatment Plan Is Right for Your Home?

A thorough inspection of your home by a trained pest management professional is key to ensuring the success of any treatment approach. After treatment, your professional should provide inspections to confirm the treatment’s effectiveness over time and determine if the treatment zone has been altered.

Before deciding which termite treatment approach is best for you, discuss your options with your pest management professional. State and local regulations regarding termiticide treatments may affect treatment options. A qualified termite expert will be aware of these regulations and can explain their impact on various treatment options.

What to Look for in a Termite Specialist

You may realize that you have termites in your home after you identify certain warning signs. Similarly, you can also recognize a qualified termite specialist by certain signs. A qualified termite specialist should possess the following qualities:

Ability to provide a free, on-site inspection before providing a quote for treatment

Employment with a licensed pest control company

Advanced knowledge of construction and home building

Expert knowledge of termite identification and biology

Understanding of the local and state ordinances regarding pest control

Knowledge of the various treatment methods and resources to customize a treatment plan for your home

Awareness of EPA-approved materials and environmental standards

Ability to provide detailed written notes of the preliminary inspection

Confidence in a guarantee of service from a stable company with a reputation for providing effective termite prevention. treatment and control

Termites are one of our most ancient insects and are related to roaches. Fossilized termites have been found, aged at some 55 million years old.

They actually eat wood and do more damage to wood structures in the United States than fires and windstorms combined.

The Romans referred to these insects as "Termes" which aptly means woodworm.

The reproductive termites are winged.

Termites are sensitive to touch, odor, taste, and pressure due to tactile sensory hairs and specialized sense organs.

Termites live in colonies, are social insects and divide their work among specialized members. They have a rigid caste system which are the reproductive, the worker and the soldier.

Queens are believed to live up to 25 years and can lay up to 8,460 eggs a day.

A queen weighs at least 100 times as much as a worker or soldier.

Termites live in darkness, in narrow passageways, where the temperature, the moisture and probably the oxygen pressure to some extent are under their control.

Each colony is distinct from any other colony of termites, and when two colonies meet the members will slaughter each other.

Termites can be distinguished from ants by noting that they do not have a narrowly pinched waist as ants do.

Termites can detect vibrations through their legs and when alarmed, the soldier termites rattle their heads against the tube walls, thereby initiating vibrations which instantaneously warn the entire colony.

There are three main types of termites that we control. They are dampwoods, drywoods, and subterranean.

The dampwood termite is the largest of the three. It requires damp wood to feed on.

They are usually found in logs and damp or decaying wood.

These termites are found in the West and are most widespread on the Pacific Coast.

Aunque el enjambre puede ocurrir a lo largo de todo el año, el bosque húmedo suele enjambre de julio a octubre.

Drywood termites can live in dry wood as their name suggests. They are mainly found in the southern regions of Northern California. They are usually found in the Bay Area.

Drywood termites are usually detected by the piles of pellets that collect below holes in walls and or windows.

They are smaller than dampwoods and larger than subterranean termites.

Swarming occurs in June and July in Northern California and September through October in Southern California.

Subterranean termites are the most common termites that we deal with. 1 in 20 homes is infested every year by them.

Subterranean termite colonies are usually located in the soil from which the workers build mud tubes to the wood in structures on which they feed. However, on occasion an above ground colony is found.

Subterranean termites can be identified by seeing their swarmer (winged termites), or by seeing mud tubes attached to the wood.

Soil treatment with long residual insecticides to provide a chemical barrier is the most commonly used control or prevention method for subterranean termites.

Drywood termites are usually controlled by whole house fumigation or local treatment such as microwave.

Termites Control Products

Termite Control

If you have come in search of information on how to get rid of termites or the best termite treatment, you have come to the right pleace. Pest Mall offers a myriad of Termites control methods with all the professional grade termite killer products that are available on the market. With the right termites treatment, you will easily be able to complete an effective termite control program for your house.

Termites are small to mid-sized frail insects. Classified under a caste system, termites are defined by three main social classes; reproductive termites, soldier termites and worker termites. The reproductive termites are the only termites with wings and are dark brown to blackish in color. Soldiers and workers are creamy white in color. The best way to distinguish the two is to compare its jaws size. Soldier termites have noticeably large pinchers called pincers. For more information on how to kill Termites or the best termite treatment, please continue to read further to find how to kill Termites or do not hesitate to contact us with questions on Termites control.

Termite Control Products

How to Kill Termites: Termite Identification

The best termite treatment comes as you are able to identify the species. To get rid of Termites, it is important to know what species you have, what termite killer is appropriate to use, and where/how to use the termites treatment products that we offer. The following is information on the behavior of termites, which will help you to find the best methods of Termites control for your home.

As we all know termites are considered one of the most destructive pests for homeowners. This is because of their wood diet, which can lead to destructive behavior on the house. If you do not detect or act quickly, termite treatment can become very expensive. History records billions of dollars worth of damages each year caused by these pests. Even though we stereotype termites as wood eaters, termites also crave for paper, insulation and other components of a house. Very few homeowners are not aware that termite damage is not widely covered under their homeowner’s insurance policy. When termite infestation is obvious, we encourage our patrons to immediately and proactively take steps towards protecting their homes against termites and finding the proper termites treatment products to get rid of Termites as quickly and effectively as possible. First and foremost, you should identify your termite problem. Each termite has its own uniqueness in terms of colony location, geographical location and preference of wood. There are four different kinds of termites you should be aware of: Drywood Termites . Formosan Termites . Subterranean Termites and Damp Wood Termites . For more information about each termite, please click the above corresponding links. Depending on the species of the termites, the method of Termites control will change. To find the best termite treatment for the species that has infested your home, please feel free to contact us.

How to Get Rid of Termites: Proper Termites Control

Termites can potentially show up during any time of the year, but generally problems associated with termites come about during the spring time. Due to warmer climates and rainy days, it is this time of year where termites flourish, which may call for an effective termite killer. Termite colonies start to “spring” up and most of the time it is very difficult to manage. Due to subterranean and inner wood complications, with most termite situations, it is recommended to hire professional assistance for the best termite treatment and a home inspection should be called upon for a thorough check to verify the stage and severity of your termite infestation. Majority of termite problems do require professionals for controlled solutions. However, “doing it yourself” is encouraged when termite prevention is a concern to save money. For a reliable termite monitor and preventive control or the appropriate termites treatment with the baiting termite treatment method, we suggest looking into our Termite Baiting Systems .

Remember, identifying your termite species is crucial before any prevention control method or termite killer is applied due to termites’ location preferences. For instance, Subterranean termites prefer residing underground in soil while others, such as drywood termites will never touch soil and form their colonies within their wood resource. This may mean that, depending on the species, you will get rid of Termites with a ground termite treatment or use a labeled termite killer directly onto the area of infestation. Moreover, choosing the wrong termites control method for a certain termite will be ineffective and above all, a waste of money. After identifying your termite species, you can then select the right Termites control method that will help you achieve the best termite treatment with all the right termite killer products.

Termite Control Products: Termite Killer

How to kill Termites with Termiticide (Termite Insecticide) This type of termite treatment is one of the more popular and sought out types of termites treatment that homeowners inquire about. Termites treatment in repellent and non-repellent forms are available when using a liquid termite killer to get rid of termites.

How to kill Termites with Termite Baiting System This may be one of the most effective termites treatment or perhaps the best termite treatment in regards to environmental safe treatment methods. This termites treatment is intended for monitoring termites and size of infestation.

Get rid of Termites with Wettable Powder Insecticides This type of insecticide is perfect when you are trying to get rid of Termites in cracks and crevices.

How to kill Termites with Termite Aerosol Sprays This is the best termite treatment when it is used for smaller infestations and spot treatments. For more information on how to kill termites in deep cracks or crevices or even more information on spot treatment, please contact us.

Termite Killer: Termite Treatment and How to get rid of Termites

Remember, identifying your termite species is crucial when you are trying to get rid of termites. It is important to identify the termite species before any prevention control method is applied due to termites’ location preferences. Subterranean termites prefer residing underground in soil while others, such as drywood termites will never touch soil and form their colonies within their wood resource. Moreover, choosing the wrong control method for a certain termite will be ineffective and above all, a waste of money. After identifying your termite species, you can then select the right control method. For more information on how to kill Termites or information on termite control products, please call us at 1-800-788-4142.

Do You Have a Question about this Product? Ask Our Experts!

Q. When I Was Rouch Hunting I Found A Female Black Widow!

I found a black widow then i started spraying it somthing that kills ants and spiders but im afraid because it whent inner in it web and im afraid the chickens will get poisen is it possible that if a chicken its a blackwidow will it get poisened?

A. Possibilities may vary because the chickens can either get poisoned by the spider bite or the insecticide. The severity of the poisoning may also vary with different factors.

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Q. flytech 15 if you have a cross ref.

A. Here is the link to all of our fly traps: http://www. pestmall. com/search. php? keywords=fly light Trap&x=0&y=0

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Q. Bayer Merit Application

When is the best time of the year to apply merit?

A. The "best time" to apply Merit would really depend on the pest that you are targeting and also the region that you live in. Consider contacting your local Cooperative Extension System Offices. They are able to give you time frame of the "best time" to apply depending on what you are targeting.

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Q. how scoops of cyber wp goes into a 32oz bottle of water

A. Depending on the target pest, the dilution rate of Cyper WP is 1 or 2 scoops per gallon of water. Please refer to the product label for a list of the target pests and the dilution rate according to the target pest.

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ANR-1022 IPM TACTICS FOR SUBTERRANEAN TERMITE CONTROL

ANR-1022, Revised July 2001. Xing Ping Hu, Extension Entomologist, Assistant Professor, and Arthur G. Appel, Professor, both in Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University; Faith M. Oi, Research Entomologist, with USDA-ARS, CMAVE, Gainesville, Florida, and Thomas G. Shelton, Post Doctoral, Entomology, University of Hawaii

IPM Tactics for Subterranean Termite Control

T ermites are among the most economically important insects in the world. They eat wood and wood-based cellulosic materials. They play an important role in ecological systems by recycling back to soil cellulose-containing materials, such as fallen trees. Unfortunately, termites cannot tell the difference between a pine log in nature and a pine board that is part of your house. They are best known as structural and plant pests that compete with people for shelter and food. Termites cause more destruction to wood and paper products in Alabama than any other insect. They are the most difficult and expensive to control. Methods for control of different types of termites differ greatly. Therefore, homeowners must understand termites and how they can be controlled.

Integrated Pest Management

Using an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach is the best way to control termites. IPM combines the use of multiple available control methods into a pest management program. Control methods include sanitation, exclusion, structural modification, and chemical techniques. IPM focuses on optimization of termite control in an ecologically and economically sound manner. The integration in pest management practices for termites usually involves multiple parties and often requires more effort, information, and management attention than simple application of termiticide. However, once homeowners work through the transition period, IPM methods are often more cost effective and reliable than chemical-intensive systems, and they are safer for home residents, pest control personnel, and the surrounding environment. All chemical treatments should only be done by a professional pest control operator (PCO) who is specially licensed to do termite work. Improper and unauthorized treatments will lead to recurring problems that will cost more in the long run. If termite treatments cannot be documented as having been done properly, expect difficulties with mortgage lending companies during sale or resale.

Types of Termites

In Alabama, there are two types of termites: the subterranean termite and the drywood or powderpost termite. This publication will concentrate on the subterranean termites. A summary of their differences is presented in Table 1.

Table 1. Characteristics of Subterranean and Drywood/Powderpost Termite Colonies and Damage

Months to years

The Termite Colony

The termite life cycle is complicated, including eggs and immatures that develop into either workers, soldiers, or reproductives (Figure 1). Reproductives (alates) are also known as swarmers because they have wings and fly in swarms. Alates are the primary reproductive form. They will become the primary queen and king in a colony if mating is successful.

Figure 1. Typical subterranean termite life cycle

Termites are considered "social" insects because they live cooperatively in a colony. Other examples of social insects are ants and honey bees. To live cooperatively, termites have a well-defined caste system with individuals differing in both form and function. In termites, three basic castes occur: reproductives, workers, and soldiers.

Primary reproductives are the original founders of the colony. These winged adults are sclerotized and range in color from honey to black (Figures 2 and 3). They are about 1/4 to about 1/2 inch in length. They themselves neither cause damage to structures nor physical harm to people. After swarming, they land on the ground, shed their wings, and search for a mate. The successful pair becomes the primary reproductive queen and king (Figure 4). They mate for life and are responsible for producing eggs that become the workers, soldiers, and future alates of the colony.

Figure 2. Native subterranean termite swarmers (Courtesy of Demian Knodo)

Figure 7. Native subterranean termite soldier

How to Submit a Sample

Alates (swarmers) with wings and/or soldiers should be preserved in rubbing alcohol when submitted for identification. Submit at least 10 to 15 insects. Alates without wings and workers are usually not useful in identification.

Native and Formosan Subterranean Termites

The most common subterranean termites in Alabama are the native subterranean termites. These termites are a complex of termites belonging to the genus Reticulitermes . The winged reproductives are day swarmers. Swarming begins around late February and continues through May or June.

Most of these termites tend to nest in soil that provides a constant source of moisture for the founding colony. Since moisture is the most important factor contributing to the survival of subterranean termites, these termites can also nest in areas such as leaky roofs. This results in a colony, called an aerial infestation, with no connection to the ground. Leaky pipes and condensation from air conditioning units also create conditions conducive to termite survival.

Another termite that is of great concern is the imported Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki. The winged reproductives of this species are night swarmers. This termite is known to occur widely in Mobile and Baldwin Counties, and sporadically in Lee and Calhoun Counties. See Extension publication ANR-1035, "The Formosan Subterranean Termite," for more information on this species.

Colony Size and Territory

Native subterranean termite colonies commonly contain between 10,000 and 250,000 individuals. However, the native subterranean termite is known to have colonies as large as 5 million individuals, covering more than one-half acre of land. If a native subterranean termite worker weighs 2.5 mg, the total biomass of a colony of 5 million is about 16.5 pounds, about the size of a small dog.

A Formosan subterranean termite colony can range from fewer than 1 million to more than 10 million termites, covering more than 6 acres of land. A colony of about 10 million individuals weighing 4.0 mg each would result in a total colony biomass of about 88.1 pounds, about the size of a family of beavers (2 adults and 2 juveniles). Ten million individuals is a worst-case scenario.

Identifying the Native Termites and the Formosan Subterranean Termite

Identification of the two groups of termites is simple. Native subterranean termite soldiers have a rectangular head, while the Formosan subterranean termite has a teardrop-shaped head (Figure 8). Also, when breaking open a piece of infested wood, if only a few soldiers appear (less than 5 percent of termites present), you are probably dealing with the native subterranean termites. Whereas, if many soldiers appear (more than 15 percent of termites present), you are probably dealing with the Formosan subterranean termite.

Figure 8. Native (right) versus Formosan (left) subterranean termite soldier (Courtesy of Gregg Henderson at LSU)

Management of Subterranean Termites

Too many homeowners wait until the damage is obvious before taking necessary actions. If houses are constructed and maintained properly and are pretreated correctly, termite pressure and the risk of termite attack can be reduced or eliminated.

Pretreatment during construction typically requires treatment of soil, under and around the home, at least two separate applications of registered termiticides (an insecticide for termite control) at the labeled rate by a reputable professional pest control operator. The purpose of a pretreatment is to create a continuous chemical barrier around the structure that requires protection. The termiticides available today do not provide the same long-term control as did Chlordane, the last effective organochlorine used as a termiticide. It was banned in 1988. Most currently labeled soil termiticides will protect a structure for approximately 5 years.

Pressure-Treated Construction Timber or Add-On Treatment

Recently, researchers and PCOs released data showing that both Borate-treated construction wood and borate application as an add-on treatment resulted in at least 8 years efficacy against termite attack. Add-on treatment means to apply a two-foot-wide barrier of Borate to all exposed wood on the lower portions of a structure. Once again, this job must be done by certified professional pest control operators.

Several termiticides are available for pretreatment purposes and Borate products for add-on treatments. Consult the current Extension publication ANR-500-B, Alabama Pest Management HandbookVolume 2, for specific recommendations.

Homeowners must be aware that there is no termite-proof house as long as there are wood, moisture, and wood-soil connection. Keep this in mind during the design and the construction of a home. Don't give subterranean termites easy access to the three things they need to thrive: food, moisture, and shelter.

Sanitation is critical to maintaining an environment inhospitable to termites and, thus, remains a high priority. Before and during home construction, remove any wood debris in or near the structure. This includes stumps, roots, or other construction materials such as form boards or grade stakes put in place Before concrete is poured. There should be no contact between wood and soil or fill.

Vapor barriers (vapor retarder) should cover 75 percent of the area under a structure to help keep moisture levels down.

Crawl spaces should be well ventilated to keep the ground dry.

Woodwork should be a minimum of 6 inches above ground in slab construction and a minimum of 18 inches above ground in crawl-space construction (to allow space for future inspections).

Exterior insulation and finishing systems (EIFS) or synthetic stucco, stucco, or any other siding material should not run below grade (below the soil surface). Other common building methods that are a problem when foam is below grade include insulation foam between which foundation and wall are poured, rigid board insulation (RBI) that extends below grade, and chambers of foams within concrete blocks. When these materials are installed at or below grade, moisture can wick into the walls of a house creating conditions conducive to termite infestation and wood rot. Termites can use foam as a pathway into the structure by tunneling through the foam. These same conditions make termite inspection, prevention, and control extremely difficult if not impossible. If your house has any of these materials going below grade, get it cut at least 4 inches above the soil. Otherwise, do not expect even a professional pest control operator to take care of the problem.

After home construction, homeowners can do many things to enhance termite protection:

Do not disturb the chemical barrier after soil treatment.

Slope the grade so that the surface water drains away from the house.

Keep plants, mulch, mulched beds, and gardens for landscaping at least 12 inches away from foundation.

Keep any wood-based items, such as firewood, scrap lumber, fencing, and planter boxes, from coming in contact with exterior siding.

Divert sprinkler water, air conditioner condensation, and washing machine water away from exterior walls and foundation.

Promptly repair any water leaks and moisture problems in the roof, attic, walls, bathroom, and kitchen.

Clean gutters and downspouts and keep splash blocks in place.

Inspection and Monitoring

Have a thorough inspection done at least annually to detect possible termite activity, such as mud tubes, swarmers and wings broken off by swarmers, or live termites in an active infestation. Infested wood has a dull, hollow sound when tapped. Monitor stations installed in the ground are another way of Monitoring termite activity around your house.

Subterranean termites are attracted to electrical cables.

In fact, they are simply chewing through these cables in an attempt to get to a food source. Subterranean termites are not attracted to electrical cables nor do they use the cables for a food source.

Methods for Treating Existing Houses

The technique used for treatment depends on whether your house is on a slab or has a crawl space. Make sure your house meets the structural maintenance requirements above, then ask your pest control operator for a copy of the label or MSDS of the liquid insecticide or bait with which they plan to treat your house. The label will contain more detailed information on treatment directions. New nonrepellent liquid termiticides, such as Termidor and Premise, are generating termite control professionals' interest because of the bold marketing programs made by manufacturers promising compensation if companies do not achieve at least 5 years of effectiveness with their products. Liquid termiticides provide a quick knockout of termite activity. The drawback is that they must be applied in the way termiticides have been applied for decades. Often the floors and walls have to be drilled and a large amount of pesticide applied. Termiticides can kill a broad variety of plant and animal life if applied incorrectly.

In general, application methods for liquid termiticides are as follows:

Trenching and rodding slab construction around the structure and treating the trench and the backfill with the amount of termiticide specified on the label (Figure 9).

Figure 9. Trenching around a house

Trenching crawl space construction around the inside and outside of the foundation; treating all sides of the interior supports and plumbing.

Drilling a series of vertical holes (about 1/2 inch in diameter) through the slab at intervals of 6 to 12 inches (Figure 10) or in every void of hollow blocks (Figure 11), especially where termites may be entering. Termiticides may then be "short-rodded" through the drill holes.

Figure 10. Drilling a slab

Figure 11. "Short-rodding"

Slabs may also be drilled horizontally from the outside of a structure and "long-rodded" (Figure 12). Holes should be drilled between 6 and 12 inches apart. Continuous barriers under slabs are also dependent upon the smoothness of the surface beneath the structure (no rocks, tree roots, etc.) because liquids will run the path of least resistance.

Figure 12 . "Long-rodding"

Improper construction practices, such as leaving tree stumps under slabs or burying form boards and grade stakes under the slab, will hamper termite control. There is little that the pest control operator can do to rectify a construction error. However, he or she may attempt to use termiticides suspended in foam in an attempt to obtain a better distribution of the chemical. Foaming machines are not available to the general public.

Baiting systems are a relatively new tool for termite control. They have been successful in most cases. Baits are available as in-ground and aboveground products. These systems use wood blocks to monitor for the presence of termites. When termites are found, the wood is switched with toxic bait that the termites eat and take back to share with their nestmates, thus killing many termites or even the entire colony. Successful baiting requires pest control operators to have extensive knowledge of termite behavior. The toxicants used in baiting systems are insect growth regulators or slow-acting, nonrepellent toxicants, which are safer than most of the soil termite killers.

Successful baiting relies heavily on an intensive monitoring schedule. In-ground bait stations are installed around a house at set distances and around critical areas, according to the bait label. Stations are monitored as often as monthly to quarterly. This rate of monitoring the bait stations is in contrast to the traditional yearly inspection of the structure.

Baiting has many advantages. The system is nonintrusive, consumer-friendly, and dramatically reduces the amount of chemical needed to protect a structure. With a bait, termites can be controlled with milligram quantities of active ingredient. Baits specifically target termites. The drawback is that it may take weeks or months to knock out termite populations. While baits have been successful in eliminating termites from existing structures, it is still being researched if termites can be prevented from entering a structure that does not have an infestation. Researchers are also investigating new baits that will provide rapid colony elimination over a broad range of termite species, geography, and application timings.

Sentricon, Exterra, and FirstLine are examples of trade names for bait products. Bait products are also on the market for homeowner use. However, seldom is it possible for homeowners to correctly monitor and treat their own houses without the proper equipment, training, and knowledge of termite behavior and habitats as well as effective termiticides.

Other Control Methods

A physical barrier consisting of particle-sized rocks, such as basaltic rock or granite, can be used to prevent termite entry. The rocks are ground into a Specific size (16 grit sand) that is large enough so that termite mandibles cannot grasp it, yet small enough so that the termite body cannot maneuver Between the spaces. These particle-sized barriers are used under slabs, around foundations, and around plumbing to create a physical barrier against termites. It is being used in Hawaii during construction. It can be costly, adding several thousands of dollars to the cost of a house. The roots of landscape shrubs can compromise the barrier. Particle-sized barriers are not readily available on the East Coast. Basaltic Termite Barrier and Graniteguard are examples of trade names for these products.

Stainless Steel Mesh

TermiMesh is another physical barrier. TermiMesh is a flexible, corrosion-resistant, high-grade stainless steel mesh that termites do not eat and cannot penetrate or destroy. It is applied beneath and around the critical areas, such as pipes, footers, and foundations, to physically exclude termites, protecting the structure from feeding damage. It is best installed during new construction but can be used as post-construction installation by specially trained technicians. It has been successfully used in Hawaii and Australia for several years. The marketing of this product in the continental United States is underway. It can be expensive.

Insecticide-Impregnated Vapor Barriers

This new technology is currently in field tests. Commercial vapor barriers are impregnated with termiticide and placed under the concrete slab or wrapped around the bottom half of concrete blocks in the same manner as the stainless steel mesh, thus doubling its function as both an insecticidal barrier to termites and a vapor barrier.

Borates for Wood Treatment

At least four products that contain the active ingredient disodium octaborate tetrahydrate are available to pest control operators. Borate products can be used as a supplemental treatment against termites but not as a stand-alone treatment.

Borates can be sprayed, painted, or pressure injected into indoor wood or wood shielded from the elements. The borates diffuse into the wood over a long period of time and provide long-lasting supplemental protection. Termites die after ingesting borate-treated wood. Borates also protect wood against wood decay fungi and have long been used in wood preservation. Borate-treated wood is also more fire retardant than wood that is not treated with borates.

The use of borates, however, is limited indoors because of their proleaching properties under wet conditions. Borates are nonselective herbicides, so even a small amount of borate accidentally sprayed on landscape plantings will kill or damage.

Treatment of Infested Trees

Old trees infested by subterranean termites may be the source of a house infestation. Drill holes into the tree above the soil line and inject or foam termiticides into the void created by the termites to eliminate this threat. Once again, this should be done by a certified pest control professional.

Choosing a Pest Control Company

Call at least three pest control companies and ask for price quotes, how the company plans to treat your house, and what chemical or bait system will be used. Be wary of prices that seem out of line, especially those that are too low. Professional termite control requires specialized equipment and training. A low price may mean low quality. Even when dealing with the Formosan subterranean termite, you can take 2 weeks to make an educated decision.

Call the Better Business Bureau in your area for any outstanding complaints against a potential company.

A good pest control operator will do an inspection of your property, map areas of termite infestation for future reference, and note any areas not inspected (inaccessible) and structural problems that need repair. Ask for a copy of the report and map. Keep this information on record.

Be aware that there are many different types of contracts for termite control. Some will offer a "re-treatment only" statement; others may include a "damage replacement" clause. Some will cover all kinds of subterranean termites; others may exclude Formosan subterranean termites. The contracts will vary from company to company and will also vary with the type of construction treated. In all cases, read both sides of the contract and know what you are getting.

For a fee most pest control companies will offer you an annual renewal service to inspect your house for future termite attack. Unless you feel you know all the potential signs and locations common to termite infestations, it is generally a good idea to contract for this service. Remember, your home is probably the most expensive purchase you will make in your lifetime. With a little time and a little knowledge, termite damage can be avoided (Figure 13).

Figure 13 . Termite damage

Use pesticides only according to the directions on the label. Follow all directions, precautions, and restrictions that are listed. Do not use pesticides on plants that are not listed on the label. The pesticide rates in this publication are recommended only if they are registered with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries. If a registration is changed or cancelled, the rate listed here is no longer recommended. Before you apply any pesticide, check with your county Extension agent for the latest information. Trade names are used only to give specific information. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System does not endorse or guarantee any product and does not recommend one product instead of another that might be similar. For more information . contact your county Extension office. Look in your telephone directory under your county's name to find the number.

For more information, contact your county Extension office. Visit http://www. aces. edu/counties or look in your telephone directory under your county's name to find contact information.

Published by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University), an equal opportunity educator and employer.

If you have problems loading this document, please email publications@aces. edu for assistance.

Termite Control - Overview

The Philippine soil is naturally conducive to wood-destroying termites! 54 species have been identified all over the country but 6 of them are commonly found in our homes.

Topbest offers several methods for termite pest control . The newest approach to termite treatment. Sentricon ® Termite Elimination Bait System. is getting very popular and effective while the tried and tested liquid systems, both repellent and non-repellent alike, are also another option. Each system offers unique differences in order to address individual concerns.

Termite Control - Sentricon Termite Elimination System

SENTRICON ® TERMITE ELIMINATION BAITING SYSTEM is an innovation in termite protection from Dow AgroSciences of U. S.A. It is a new alternative which eliminates the hassle of digging, drilling and injection of chemicals and the biggest hassle of all. the entire termite colony! Sentricon makes use of a small quantity of chemicals only so it is perfectly safe for you, your family, pets, and the environment!

This has been applied to more than a million properties & homes in the U. S. and in the Philippines. It is currently protecting the White House and Statue of Liberty from hungry, worker termites. This is offered as a post-construction treatment.

Termite Control - Premise Termite Control System

PREMISE ® is the first non-repellent liquid termiticide from Bayer Environmental Science with a unique mode of action to control even the toughest subterranean termite infestations. By spreading evenly throughout the soil, PREMISE provides a complete treated zone around your house against intruding termites. a feature called Lateral Soil Movement. PREMISE has no odor because the chemical isn't volatile, so there are no airborne vapors to create an unpleasant smell. You may choose to remain at home with your family during the entire application procedure.

This may be used for pre-construction and post-construction services.

Termite Control - Ceptiva

CEPTIVA ® Ceptiva powder is a newly developed termite eliminator product by Baden Aniline and Soda Factory (BASF), the largest chemical company in the world that is designed for killing and eliminating all subterranean termite species. It was introduced in the Philippines on March 2010 by Upgreen Corporation. According to thorough Australian research, it takes 2-4 weeks to totally eliminate an entire colony.

Termite Control - Termatrac

TERMATRAC ® Aside from our employees' termite expertise, Topbest Pest Services, Inc. believes that investing in the latest pest control equipment is also important to provide the best possible service to our dear clients.

This is why we have the Termatrac, a breakthrough development in the detection of termites, invented and developed in Australia using technology similar to radar. With no drilling, tapping or prodding, Termatrac accurately detects the presence of termites through timber, plaster board, brick or masonry.

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What do they look like?

Isopterans are soft-bodied, usually light-colored insects. The forewings and hindwings are equal in length and held flat against the back of the termite.

¿Dónde viven?

There are approximately 2,300 species of termites worldwide. Most live in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Others live in temperate regions of the world. Approximately 41 species of termites live in the United States, most of which live in the southwest.

What kind of habitat do they need?

Termites are found in dark, damp areas whereby they are not exposed to air. They require a source of moisture to survive. In temperate regions, they are found in dead tree stumps, dead logs, and in the soil. They are also found in dry wood strucures where the termite nest has been established in the soil. Timber-based colonies may contain hundreds of individuals.

In tropical regions, termites are found where cellulose-rich food sources exist, in both living and dead vegetation. Some tropical termite species are known to raise giant mounds consisting of termite feces, soil, and fungi. These mounds may contain millions of individuals.

How do they grow?

Termites develop via simple metamorphosis from egg to nymph to adult. Five to six molts are necessary for the termite to attain maturity. Those that do not achieve sexual maturity become workers or soldiers. The life cycle requires a year for completion.

How do they reproduce?

In termite colonies, there is one king and queen pair which develop from fully winged adults. The queen develops an enlarged abdomen to accomodate her increased egg-laying capacity. She may lay millions of eggs annually. In some species, the king is smaller than the female. These fully winged adults are produced in large numbers, whereby individuals leave the original colony, locate a new nest site and mate, and establish a new colony. This may not happen for 5 to 10 years after the establishment of the original colony.

If the king and/or queen dies, or part of the colony becomes separated from the parent colony, some of the young will develop into a new king and/or queen. The new king and/or queen will achieve sexual maturity without becoming fully winged and without leaving the nest.

Special workers and soldiers care for the eggs and young. Worker and soldier termites are both male and female, sterile, wingless, most are blind, amd sometimes they are polymorphic.

How long do they live?

Queens and their colony may survive for several years. Females may live to 20 years. Non-reproductive termites live for a couple of years. Individual termite colonies have been known to exist for approximately 100 years.

How do they behave?

Workers are chiefly nest builders and repairers, foragers, feeders, and groomers of other members of the colony. Worker termites are those that cause destruction of wood structures.

Soldiers are chiefly defenders of the nest. On their elongated head, some species use their large, hooked mandibles in a scissor-like way to decapitate predators such as ants. Other species with a nasus disperse a sticky, toxic fluid at an enemy. For a few species, soldier termites are absent; therefore, nymphs and workers defend the colony.

How do they communicate with each other?

The king and queen secrete inhibitory pheromones that work synergistically to suppress reproductive development of workers and soldiers. Juvenile hormones in termite eggs influence caste differentiation such that numbers of workers and soldiers remain constant throughout the life of the colony.

For termites that build giant mounds, trail pheromones are used in subterranean tunnels as a means of navigation.

What do they eat?

Isópteros obtener su nutrición de celulosa en madera. Digestion of wood occurs by bacteria and protozoans in the intestinal tract of many termites. Young termites acquire the microorganisms when workers feed them.

Some tropical termites use cultivated fungi to predigest food rather than microorganisms.

What eats them and how do they avoid being eaten?

Termites nests have special members that act as soldiers. They have extra big jaws, or sometimes chemical sprays to use on enemies of the nest. Soldiers and workers defend the nest.

What roles do they have in the ecosystem?

Termites tunnel through wood allowing for decomposition of the wood into humus.

Species (or larger taxonomic groups) that are mutualists with this species

bacteria (intestinal)

protozoans (intestinal)

Do they cause problems?

Termites cause extensive damage to buildings and any other sturcture made of wood.

How do they interact with us?

In some cultures, termites queens are considered a delicacy and source of protein for humans. Termites are recyclers of wood.

Some more information.

Termites are closely related to cockroaches based on a primitative termite species found in Australia. The fossil record suggests that termites have existed for approximately 200 million years. Isopterans are the oldest known social insect.

"Isoptera" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed March 18, 2016 at http://www. biokids. umich. edu/accounts/Isoptera/

BioKIDS is sponsored in part by the Interagency Education Research Initiative. It is a partnership of the University of Michigan School of Education. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. and the Detroit Public Schools. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant DRL-0628151. Copyright © 2002-2016, The Regents of the University of Michigan. Todos los derechos reservados.

Eastern Subterranean Termites

Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar)

Eastern subterranean termites are present throughout Pennsylvania and often damage structural timbers in buildings. When this damage becomes evident (Fig. 1), it is usually the result of years of infestation. Thus, damage by termites is not a sudden onslaught that will cause a building to collapse in a few days. Generally, termite problems only occur some years after construction - usually 10 years or more. Many houses in Pennsylvania are unlikely to ever have termites because they are either located where the risk from termites is low or they are constructed to resist termite infestations. The risk of infestations can be reduced by avoiding certain faults or errors in construction, site grading and maintenance, or controlled through the application of soil insecticides or baits.

Termites feed upon old roots, tree stumps, fallen tree limbs and branches on the ground, and similar materials. They are beneficial when they aid in reduction of wood and similar cellulose products into compounds that can be used again by other living organisms. Occasionally termites attack living plants, including the roots of shrubs and trees. In buildings, they feed on cellulose materials, such as structural wood, wood fixtures, paper, books, (Fig. 2) cotton, and related products.

Descripción

Subterranean termites are social insects that live in colonies within the ground and have specialized castes to perform specific colony functions. The termite colony has three primary castes: workers, soldiers, and the reproductives (kings, queens, and secondaries). The creamy-white workers (Fig. 3) are seldom seen unless a termite tube or infested wood is broken open. It is the workers that feed on the wood and cause damage. Individual workers are believed to survive for up to five years. Soldiers have elongated yellowish heads with large jaws and are about the same size as the adult worker-a quarter-inch (Figure 4). Hay menos soldados que sus trabajadores asociados y deben confiar en los trabajadores para alimentarlos. Whenever the colony is invaded or a hole is made in a tube or piece of infested wood, the soldiers will use their jaws to defend the breach. The secondaries are supplementary reproductive females that occur in mature colonies under favorable conditions. The kings and queens (Figure 5) are dark-brown or black and about 3/8 to 1/2 inch long. They have two pairs of translucent wings of equal length, which break off shortly after swarming. Very often the shed wings are the only evidence that termites are in a building. In Pennsylvania, swarms of winged termites usually emerge between February and June.

Life History

During late winter or early spring, swarms of the reproductive caste may be noticed in infested buildings. These black, winged termites are the stage most commonly seen, since the other castes do not willingly expose themselves to light. Winged termites are attracted to light, and when they emerge within buildings, they swarm about doors and windows. After crawling or fluttering about for a short time, the termites break off their wings and locate a mate. Each pair attempts to locate moist wood in contact with the soil to start a new colony, but few succeed. Although they alarm the homeowner and can be a nuisance, no damage is done by the winged forms.

How to Recognize Termites and Termite Damage

The presence of swarming termites or their wings alone is a sure sign that termites are working in a building. Winged termites are often confused with winged ants. Most species of ants in the house are only nuisances and, except for carpenter ants, do not damage wood. For this reason it is necessary to know the differences between winged termites and winged ants. The easiest way to distinguish the two groups is to look at their waists. An ant has a narrow, wasp-like waist; a termite has a broad waist. The antennae or feelers of ants are L-shaped, whereas those of termites are straight. Furthermore, the four wings of termites are of equal length and nearly twice as long as the termite body, while ant wings are approximately equal to the length of the ant, and the fore and hind wings are of unequal length.

Wood attacked by termites has runways or passages that are coated with an earth-like material glued to the wood. Where the wood has been infested for some time, it may be largely hollowed out with passages and may be rotten in appearance (Fig. 6 & 7). Upon probing such wood with a screwdriver or similar tool, many of the hidden worker termites may spill out.

Another sign of termites in the house is the presence of termite tubes (Figure 8). Termites make these earth-colored tubes for a number of reasons, primarily as a protected runway from the earth to the wood they feed on. Moreover, these tubes may serve as swarming exits for the winged termites. Look for these tubes on the cellar walls, on wooden posts, wall studs, mudsills, and door and window trim. Wood embedded in earth or in concrete cellar floors is especially susceptible to termites.

Where Are Some of the Places You Should Look If You Believe You Have Termites?

In Pennsylvania most termite infestations occur in the basement or cellar areas and in the structural timbers immediately above the cellar walls, such as the mudsills, studs, joists, subflooring, and the floors. Wooden posts, steps, door frames, and trim embedded in an earth or concrete floor are especially susceptible to termite infestation. Wood siding, window frames, steps, and similar materials covered by earth or resting on the ground may also be attacked by termites. Where the termite infestation is extensive, the flooring and framework in the walls can be damaged by termites; this is often the case where houses are built on concrete slabs. Termites especially favor areas around furnaces, chimneys, hot water heaters, and hot water pipes that provide warmth during cold months.

The extent of damage to structural timbers and woodwork can be determined by a careful inspection of the building. Although you may choose to make the inspection yourself, we recommend you have a professional pest control operator inspect the building. Licensed pest control companies have individuals with experience in detecting termite infestations that many laypeople would otherwise overlook.

All woodwork in suspect areas should be probed for soundness and visually inspected for any sign of mud tunnels. An awl, ice pick, screwdriver, or similar instrument is commonly used to probe the wood. After the area and extent of infestation are determined, control measures can be planned.

Termite Control

First, contact at least three or more licensed pest control operators to obtain estimates. Be advised that it is common for pest control companies to offer different control treatments and warranties. The Better Business Bureau, neighbors, friends, and colleagues may be able to recommend a reputable firm. Those firms that are members of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) and the Pennsylvania Pest Management Association have access to specialized training and materials and will generally exhibit a higher degree of professionalism.

Termite control in a building can involve structural or chemical (soil treatment and/or baiting) methods. Either method when used alone may provide the desired results, but when structural and chemical methods are combined, the most satisfactory results are often obtained.

Structural Modification Methods - The less suitable the site or structure is for termites, the less likely a colony will become established and flourish. Therefore, the following are considered beneficial in preventing and controlling termites:

1. Remove all wooden debris (stacks of lumber or firewood) from the vicinity of the building. Replace any wooden posts, steps, trellises, etc. that are in contact with the soil with non-cellulose materials or pressure-treated lumber.

2. Replace badly damaged timbers with sound materials. Use pressure-treated wood at places where wood must be in contact with soil. Where possible, do not permit any wood within 18 inches of the soil.

3. Provide adequate drainage for basements, cellars, and crawl spaces. Be certain that the grade level will drain away from the building.

4. Fill all visible cracks and voids in the foundation with concrete or suitable caulking compound.

5. Reduce soil moisture near the structure by directing runoff away from the foundation. Gutters, downspouts, and French drains should be correctly installed and operational; surface drainage should flow away from the structure.

Soil treatment/barrier control - The principle of soil treatment control for termites is to establish a treated barrier of soil between the wood in the building and the termite colony in the soil. Such a chemical barrier will kill or repel any termites attempting to move through it. Treatments may involve the trenching of soil adjacent to the exterior foundation wall down to the footers, and replacement of the soil after it is mixed with the termiticide; soil injection of a liquid termiticide, under pressure, through a hollow rod to saturate the soil adjacent to the foundation; and the drilling of concrete slabs, porches, and patios to reach the soil adjacent to the foundation beneath these structures.

Many different soil termiticides are available. However, because of the great number of variables at any location, it is difficult to predict which chemical will perform best at your site. A partial list of the most recent soil termiticide efficacy tests conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service (USDA-FS) is included in the USDA-FS termiticide report data. The table lists common chemical names, date that the test originated for a particular chemical, the number of years that the treatment was not breached by termites, and the level of termite pressure at a particular site. Note that the control percentages for fipronil (Termidor 80 WG) are low. This occurred because fipronil had an impact on not only the test locations but also on those control sites in the near vicinity. Subsequent USDA-FS trials on firpronil kept the other tests and controls away form the fipronil test site.

Note: We do not recommend that homeowners attempt to treat their own homes because of the difficulty in obtaining termiticides, the specialized nature (and costs) of the equipment necessary to properly apply these insecticides, and the human experience factor involved in establishing a continuous barrier within the soil.

Termite Baits - In recent years, termite baits have gained in popularity. This alternative to liquid barrier treatments is a welcome addition and will assist in the battle against termite infestations. Baiting involves the use of an attractant (wood stakes, cardboard, or other cellulose-based material) to establish termite feeding. The active ingredient (insecticide) is either added after feeding begins, or may be included in the initial baiting. Termites feeding on the treated material will carry the toxicant back to the colony where it adversely affects the colony, possibly eliminating the entire colony.

Baits are especially important in treating structures with wells or springs close to the foundation; drainage tiles around the foundation; air ducts under or imbedded in the slab; or in situations where a perennial high water table makes conventional soil treatment ill advised. Although data suggest they may be valuable as a stand-alone treatment, many of the factors that affect baiting efficacy are poorly understood. As with soil application of termiticides, it is recommended that licensed, experienced pest control companies be hired to provide a baiting service. Baiting, in conjunction with a partial (or complete) soil treatment may be advisable. The USDA-FS does not perform efficacy tests on termite baits.

Termite Treatment Warranties - Most licensed pest control companies provide warranties for termite treatments. You should carefully review the conditions, limitations, and yearly costs associated with warranty renewals. Warranties for subterranean termite control will not extend to control of any other wood-destroying organisms such as wood-boring beetles, carpenter ants, or other termite species (i. e. drywood termites). Companies will also limit their liability on buildings that have structural alterations that have disturbed the soil adjacent to the foundation or where additions to the original structure have not been treated.

Probably the most difficult aspect of warranty coverage involves the replacement of items damaged by termites subsequent to treatment efforts. It is understandable that termite companies would not want to be held liable for damages that have occurred before their treatment. However, even a very thorough inspection of the premises may not uncover all existing damage. Therefore, it is important to have a thorough examination performed before treatment and have an accurate and detailed accounting of all current and past termite activity. Whenever possible, obtain a damage replacement clause with your warranty.

Finally, you should determine the yearly termite warranty renewal fees to maintain your home. It is common for companies to charge a yearly fee of ten percent (10%) of the original treatment price each year to renew the warranty. Obviously, after 10 years you have paid for an additional treatment, but with the current high treatment failure rates (20-30 percent in some areas) for subterranean termites, it may be advisable to keep the warranties in effect for long periods of time. It is advisable to maintain warranties for at least one to two years to determine if control efforts were successful.

Warning

Pesticides are poisonous. Read and follow directions and safety precautions on labels. Handle carefully and store in original labeled containers out of the reach of children, pets, and livestock. Dispose of empty containers right away, in a safe manner and place. Do not contaminate forage, streams, or ponds.

Authored by: Steve Jacobs, Sr. Extension Associate

December 2008, Revised 2014

Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences research, extension, and resident education programs are funded in part by Pennsylvania counties, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the U. S. Department of Agriculture.

Visit Penn State Extension on the web: http://extension. psu. edu

Where trade names appear, no discrimination is intended, and no endorsement by Penn State Cooperative Extension is implied.

This publication is available in alternative media on request.

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to minorities, women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and other protected groups. Nondiscrimination .

&dupdo; The Pennsylvania State University 2016

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Termite Treatments

Tri-S Termite & Pest Control has been providing Tampa Termite Treatments for over 25yrs. Our termite inspections performed by our highly trained termite inspection technicians is second to none in Tampa Fl. If you live in Tampa or the Tampa Bay area and need a Home Termite Inspection or Termite Treatment call us today for our Free Termite Inspection . In Tampa (813)936-5850 or in the surrounding Tampa Bay area 1-800-410-5850.

When springtime rolls around in Tampa, Florida, residents can expect the termite swarms to make their yearly appearance. Tri-S Pest Control Service has more than 25 years of experience in combating Drywood, dampwood and subterranean termites. We have made it our goal to not only provide you with the best termite treatment and termite control services, but eliminate your problem whether you live in Tampa, Clearwater, Sarasota, or in Hernando, Polk or Pasco counties.

The termites typically found infesting Florida homes are subterranean and dry wood termites. There are different termite pest control methods for both subterranean and dry wood termites. Subterranean termites live underground in the soil and feed off of structures from the ground up; dry wood termites live in isolated wood pieces of a wooden structure and usually cause extensive damage before detected. Most of the time, homeowners are caught unawares, leading to significant damage and cost; it is this inability to detect an infestation that makes a reliable termite pest control method vital.

Tri-S has various applications to provide your home with termite control, such as:

Not only provides termite control, but eliminates termite colonies

This interception and baiting system has its stations monitored on a quarterly basis. Reports show results.

Does not use liquid poison, which is environment-friendly. Instead it contains a molt inhibitor that is consumed by the worker termites and fed to the rest of the colony.

Termidor Termite Control:

Has treated 2.6 million American homes

Perfect for homeowners on a budget

Low-dose treatment that leaves no odor

Treatment is less invasive since rods are used

Is a non repellant termite control treatment

Safer since it has no documented fatalities

Can be applied in the home without homeowners vacating

Is injected into the walls with a needle

Protects wood for up to 25 years

Our experienced technicians are “cross trained,” meaning they are not only experts in pest control but also termite control. When Tri-S technicians visit your Tampa home or St. Petersburg beach house for regular pest control, they’re also trained to look for potential termite problems. This type of termite control is preventative since the immediate detection can minimize the damage and lessen the cost of the treatment. Our technicians can also suggest ways for the homeowner to prevent future infestation.

If you suspect your home has termites, call us today for a free estimate Tampa: (813)936-5850 or in the Tampa Bay area call: 1-800-410-5850 . We offer simply superior service, guaranteed!

Additional information

02/23/16 | All Termite Treatments Are Not the Same. Read More >

Termites

Eastern subterranean termites are a destructive wood-destroying insect that is commonly found in Nashville, throughout Middle Tennessee and most of the U. S. They are social insects that live underground in large colonies with three distinct divisions of labor: workers, soldiers and reproductives. The workers are creamy white in color and are blind; the soldiers look about the same except they have an elongated yellow head and large jaws to protect the nest. The reproductives or kings and queens are dark brown or black, larger in size and have two pairs of translucent wings that eventually break off; these discarded wings can be a homeowners’ first sign that they have a termite infestation.

Are termites dangerous?

Termites do not bite, sting or carry diseases that can be transferred to humans. Termites can, however, be extremely dangerous to the structural integrity of your home. They live in large colonies with thousands to millions of termites and because of this they can cause massive amounts of damage to the wood in your home, which can lead to costly amounts of structural damage.

Why do I have a termite problem?

Termites feed on the cellulose in wood, leaves and soil; wood is especially attractive to them if it is moist or has water damage. You will find termites in and around your home looking for these food sources.

How do I get rid of termites?

At All-American Pest Control, we offer termite control for homes infested with termites. To learn more about our home termite control services. our green pest control for termites. or to find out how we can help you combat termites in your commercial establishment, please contact us today.

Can I do it myself?

Termites are extremely difficult to eliminate from your property without professional help. Termites are rarely seen outside of their tunnels and nesting areas, making it difficult to assess how extensive the damage truly is. If you do not completely rid your property of all the termites, you will have a re-infestation. At the first sign of termites in your home or business, contact All-American Pest Control .

Why choose All-American Pest Control?

With over 50 years of experience, we know the time, effort and commitment it takes to solve your termite problem. With All-American Pest Control, you’ll receive trained professionals, serious commitment and thorough treatments.

How can I prevent a termite problem in the future?

Termites feed on wood, leaves and soil; these items are found around most every home and property and because of this, preventing a termite infestation is very difficult. Your best course of action if you suspect termite activity is to call for professional help as soon as possible.

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Our knowledgeable Customer Care Team is waiting to answer your questions. Contact us today!

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Expert termite inspectors on the Sunshine Coast

Termidor accredited

Thanks to our years of product field-testing and hands-on experience, we’ve built a leading reputation for providing consistent quality termite control services. All of our termite inspectors are fully accredited Termidor installers through BASF, and are well known for being some of the best.

We have worked in close association with BASF The Chemical Company and have been witness to the extensive research and development of Termidor over the last decade. Expect the Best Pty Ltd is proud to have seen Termidor evolve into the world’s number 1 in termite protection.

Termite control services

When it comes to solving your termite problems, you need to be confident that you’re dealing with Termite control experts you can trust. On the Sunshine Coast, they don’t come better than us. Our professional services include:

Termite inspection

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We take this opportunity to thank you Ben, and all members of staff involved in the treatment carried out at our home. From my first phone call to your business (when you answered the phone), to our recent request to have our certificate emailed, you and every person at Expect The Best Pty Ltd has shown pure professionalism and a real willingness to be of as much assistance to us as possible.

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Termites

Also commonly known as white ants, Termites on average are found in 1 in 3 Australian properties.

Annually termites damage more than 180,000 Australian homes and buildings, with an estimated combined cost of over 1 Billion dollars.

The most common destructive Termite species uses tree stumps, living trees, spaces under buildings and even walls as nesting sites.

From the nest site, any wooden structure within a 50-metre radius can be attacked via underground tunnels.

Termites enter walls from foundations and concrete slabs and can destroy structural wall timbers between two levels of a property on their way to warmer roof timbers.

Termite damage can be hard to spot, with once termites having gained access to timber, they excavate it internally.

To maintain the high level of humidity and temperature necessary, termites leave a thin layer of timber around their activity, concealing their presence.

Damage may also be concealed by gyprock and may only be evident when walls are opened or there is a collapse or distortion of flooring or internal joinery, which affects the closing of doors and windows.

Bearers and joists may also be damaged beneath flooring.

Treatment Chemicals for Termites

Treatment Chemicals for Termites. Several different types of chemicals are available for treating termites. La técnica más eficaz de control de termitas es el tratamiento a presión de la madera antes de su instalación. Once structures are constructed, insecticides are available for application in trenches or as injections. The latest developed chemical treatments are baits that have been shown to be effective in controlling termites. Most termiticides are labeled for professional use only, but there are products available for the do-it-yourself people as well. Except for the bait systems, all termite-control chemicals will be listed in this article by their common names and not their trade names. Common or chemical names are found on product labels in the active ingredient statements.

Pressure Treatments

Wood is pressure treated by placing it in a horizontal cylinder that can be up to 150 feet long and 7 feet in diameter. There are two processes used in pressure treating wood: empty cell and full cell. In the full cell process, a vacuum is drawn on the cylinder after the wood is placed in it. After air has been evacuated from the cylinder, it is filled with a wood preservative and pressure is applied for several hours. At the conclusion of the pressurization period, the preservative is drained from the cylinder and another vacuum is applied. This second vacuum cleans excessive chemical from surfaces of the lumber. Applying pressure to the treatment cylinder is the first step in the empty cell process. A chemical is applied to the cylinder while it is pressurized. After the cylinder is filled with the chemical, the pressure is increased and held for several hours. At the end of the pressurization period, a vacuum is drawn on the cylinder to remove excessive preservative. Wood preservatives used in pressure treatment of dimensional lumber include chromated copper arsenate (CCA), ammoniacal coper zinc arsenate (ACZA, disodium octoborate tetrahydrate (DOT) and copper naphthenate. Lumber, pressure treated with one of these compounds, can be purchased at most home centers.

Trenching and Injection

Application of insecticides by trenching and injection are effective on subterranean termites that nest in the soil. In trenching, a ditch is dug completely around the outside of the foundation and deep enough to expose pipe and conduit that run under the slab. The chemical is mixed with water according to the instructions on the product label. The mixed solution is applied to the bottom of the trench while taking extra care to thoroughly treat the foundation around pipe and conduit. To be effective, the chemical must be applied so that it provides a continuous barrier around the foundation. Injection treatments are made by forcing a chemical solution through holes drilled either into walls or floors of a structure. Usually, upon completion of the treatment, the holes are repaired to restore the original appearance of the structure. A family of chemicals approved for trenching and injection treatments are the pyrethroids such as permethrin and cypermethrin. These insecticides repel termites so they act as a barrier. Imidacloprid and fipronil are two additional insecticides that control termites, but are not repellents. Termites get the chemical on their bodies and carry it to the colony queen. Once the insecticides kill the queen, the entire colony dies. Varias formulaciones de borato están disponibles para los tratamientos de inyección, y muchos de ellos pueden ser adquiridos por individuos. The pyrethroids are also sold across the counter and several pest control companies advertise do-it-yourself products. These products can also be purchased on the web.

Drywood Termites

Drywood termites spend their entire life cycles above-ground, so their control methods are entirely different from subterranean termites, which live in the soil and only feed above ground. The most effective treatment of drywood termites is whole-structure fumigation. The entire structure is covered with a plastic tarpaulin, which is sealed at ground level with sand bags. Once the building is completely covered with the tarp, sulfuryl fluoride fumigant is released through a plastic tube into the structure. Before the structure is covered, all foods must be sealed or removed. All indoor plants, pets and people have to remain out of the building until the tarpaulin is removed following fumigation and aeration is completed. Natural gas or propane/butane must be turned off before fumigation and not turned back on until after aeration and no fumigant is detected within the structure. This treatment can be performed only by professional applicators.

Baits

The most extensively tested bait is the Sentricom Colony Elimination System, which entails a three-step process. A hollow, green plastic cylinder, with slits along the sides for termites to enter, is placed into an augured hole with the cover flush to the soil surface. These cylinders are placed around the outside perimeter of a building's foundation at 10 to 20 foot intervals. Additional stations are installed in suspected termite foraging areas. Initially, an untreated wooden block is placed in the cylinders to monitor termite activity. When termites start feeding on the blocks, they are removed and replaced with a perforated plastic tube containing the bait. The bait consists of a white paper towel treated with hexaflumuron, a slow-acting termite growth inhibitor. Once termites quit feeding on the bait, it is removed from the cylinders and replaced with untreated wooden blocks so that monitoring can continue. Recruit AG termite bait is an above-ground station of the Sentricon Termite Colony Elimination System. These bait stations are placed on interior and exterior surfaces of buildings, crawl spaces, fences, utility poles, decks, landscape wood, trees or other areas that could be damaged by termites. Bait stations must be left in place as long as there is termite feeding. If one-third to one-half of the bait is consumed and feeding continues, an additional station should be attached to the one in place. FirstLine Termite Bait Station is another available system intended for installation on active termite tubes. The station consists of a 4-by-4-by-1-inches plastic housing with slots at the base. It contains corrugated cardboard treated with diflubensuron. These stations are installed on flat surfaces at the leading edge of broken, active termite tubes. Termites rebuild their broken tubes into the bait station and feed on the treated cardboard. New stations need to be installed when bait is depleted. The Sentricon in-ground system is only available to professional pest control companies. The above ground systems are available to the general public.

Precauciones

A decision to apply your termite treatments should seriously be considered. Professional applicators receive continuous training on detection of termite infestations, their biology and the newest available methods of treatment. When attempts are made to save a small amount of money by applying termiticides ourselves, we are gambling with the value of our homes and the possibility of expensive repairs due to structural damage caused by termites. Without the proper training, it is easy to apply termite treatments in the wrong places and incorrectly.

Termite Control

Termite Terminators

Subterranean termites, they’re more than just pests; they actually eat and destroy your home. These types of termites, common in the Southeast, emerge from the ground and feed on the wood that supports your home! As if that wasn’t bad enough, termite damage is not covered by homeowners insurance.

If you are not currently covered by a termite program, have questions about your current protection or think you may have termites, call Pestban for a free inspection. During this time, one of our professional termite specialists will examine your home and discuss options for the best program to keep you safe from these tiny home wreckers.

In-Ground Termite System

Pestban’s Advance Termite Bait System is the next generation in termite baiting, providing superior technology and performance. The Advance TBS is also the environmentally responsible solution because it uses very little active ingredient to eliminate an entire termite colony. It poses no hazard to groundwater and has no label restrictions for use around wells and cisterns.

Installed around the perimeter of your home with a low profile, the system is buried discretely in the soil, hard to see for you but easy to find for termites. Our technicians service and maintain the stations routinely.

Once termite activity is detected in the station, the active ingredient cartridges are loaded in to the stations. As the termites feed in these stations and bring the “food” back to the colony, they are also passing along the active ingredient - introducing and spreading a deadly “virus” which results in the elimination of the temite colony and preventing the damage they may cause.

Pestban continues routine inspection and service of the stations. This includes maintaining the station components, monitoring termite feeding and re-loading the active ingredient when necessary.

Liquid Non-repellent Program

Non-repellent technology has been a huge advancement for conventional liquid treatments. As opposed to conventional liquids, non-repellents can’t be detected by termites. That means termites are not “repelled” and do not avoid the treatment zones. Rather they continue to move through the treated soil and go about their normal routines.

As termites come in contact with the non-repellent material, they become “carriers” transferring the deadly material like a virus, eliminating the termite colony and preventing the damage they may cause.

Liquid Supplemental Program

This program combines the best of what In-ground termite stations AND Non-repellent liquid have to offer while reducing unnecessary pesticide use. Our termite stations are installed and inspected regularly and is the primary treatment. In addition we will supplement with non-repellent liquid in targeted key areas around your home.

To learn more about our Termite Programs and Warranties please email us at customerservice@pestban. com or call 770-592-1121.

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Termite Baits

By: Phil Koehler and Tom Weissling, Department of Entomology and Nematology, UF/IFAS

Many pest control companies are offering termite baits as a method of termite prevention and control. People are trying to decide whether to protect their homes with soil termiticides or baits. This information is designed to provide information about termite baits so they can make an intelligent decision about termite control options.

Termite baits use small amounts of insecticide to knock out populations of termites foraging in and around the structure. Some baits may even eradicate entire termite colonies. Termite baits consist of paper, cardboard, or other termite food, combined with a slow-acting substance lethal to termites. Regardless of which bait is used, the customer must be prepared and willing to accept the possibility of a lengthy baiting process.

Some bait products are inserted below ground out in the yard, whereas others are installed above ground level on the inside of the structure. Baits are applied below ground by enticing termites to feed on wooden stakes, cardboard, or some other cellulose-based material. The toxicant-laced bait can either be installed initially, or substituted after termites have been detected in an untreated monitoring device. The more below ground baits installed, the better the chances of locating termites. Planning, patience, and persistence are requisites for successfully using below-ground termite baits.

Termite baits may also be installed above ground in known areas of termite activity. Typically, the stations are installed directly in the path of active termite tunnels after the mud tubes have been broken. Effects tend to be more rapid with above-ground baiting because the procedure does not depend upon "chance" termite encounters with the stations.

The SentriconВ® System. Este método de cebo de termitas ha sido el más ampliamente probado de los actualmente en el mercado. The Sentricon Colony Elimination SystemВ® was developed by DowElanco (Indianapolis, IN; 800-888-5511) and is sold only through authorized pest control firms. The Recruitв„ў bait contains hexaflumuron, a slow-acting ingredient which disrupts the normal growth process in termites (i. e. termites die while attempting to molt). Termite control with the SentriconВ® System involves a 3-step process: (1) initial monitoring to "pinpoint" termite activity, (2) delivery of the bait, and (3) subsequent monitoring to provide on-going protection. Recruit AGв„ў is a termite bait for use as an above ground delivery system for elimination of subterranean termite colonies. Recruit AGв„ў can only be used in conjunction with the Sentricon Colony Elimination SystemВ® and is not available as a separate program.

FirstlineВ®. Another termite bait is the FirstLineВ® Termite Bait Station, manufactured by FMC Corporation (Princeton, NJ) 800-321-1FMC. The product is intended for above-ground baiting of active termite tubes. The station consists of a semi-transparent plastic housing (4x4x1-inches) with open slots at the base. Contained within is corrugated cardboard treated with a slow-acting ingredient (sulfluramid) lethal to termites.

Another formulation of FirstlineВ® was introduced for below ground use, FirstLine GTВ® ("GT" stands for ground treatment). Label directions emphasize placement of baits in areas where termite activity is known or suspected, i. e. installation may not involve insertion of baits at fixed intervals around the entire perimeter of the building as is required with the Sentricon system. Firstline GTВ® may be installed in the soil initially, in effect, by-passing the unbaited monitoring step utilized with Sentricontm.

Terminateв„ў is a termite bait product sold to homeowners over-the-counter in garden stores. The active ingredient is identical to the FirstLineв„ў product but was developed completely independently of FMC and without FMC's knowledge or approval. The product guarantees termite control or the homeowner can remove the stakes from the ground after nine months and return them for a full refund. The formulation has not been tested by university researchers to determine how well it works when applied according to label directions. See the University of Florida Pest Alert page on the settlement resulting from Federal Trade Commisison action.

Exterraв„ў Termite Interception and Baiting Systemtm is a new termite bait developed by Ensystex (888-EXTERRA). Use of Exterraв„ў is a multi-step process. The first step is the placement of stations in the ground around the perimeter of the structure. The next step is inspection of the stations and baiting of active stations with Labyrinthв„ў (bait that contains the active ingredient). The next step is reinspection of stations and replenishment of consumed bait. When termite activity in the station is eliminated, the station is refurbished and the cycle of inspection and baiting begins again. The toxic bait in Labyrinthв„ў is diflubenzuron, a chitin synthesis inhibitor that causes termites to die while attempting to molt. The biggest advantage of Exterraв„ў is that stations can be monitored or refilled with bait without disturbing termites in the station.

Deciding on baits or termiticide barriers

Buildings with hard-to-treat construction or chronic retreatment histories are logical candidates for termite baits. Some structures have construction features that interfere with conventional soil treatment methods, such as wells, cisterns, plenums, drainage systems, and inaccessible crawl spaces. With baits, gaining access for treatment is seldom a problem since foraging termites are as likely to encounter below-ground bait stations around the foundation exterior as well as beneath the structure.

Homeowners who do not want floors drilled and furniture/stored items/carpeting moved are good candidates for baits. Baiting requires fewer disruptions than does conventional barrier treatment. Installation and subsequent monitoring of bait stations generally does not even require the technician to come indoors. Noise, drill dust, and similar disruptions associated with conventional treatment are avoided.

Homeowners who are strongly opposed to the use of pesticides around their home are good candidates for baits. Chemically-concerned homeowners may find the concept of baiting more attractive. With baits, the total amount of pesticide applied is small in comparison to the high gallonages needed to achieve a thorough and effective soil barrier treatment.

Homeowners on limited budgets are good candidates for traditional termiticide barriers. The average termite treatment is usually about $500-800 and with a renewable service agreement (warranty) costing $80-200 in case the termites return. A baiting program usually ends up costing more than a conventional treatment (averaging about $1,500) because baiting programs require multiple visits to the property for routine monitoring of bait stations. Also, the annual renewal fee for baiting typically will be as much as two to three times higher than for termiticide barrier treatment.

Property owners with a serious termite problem or those involved in a real estate transaction are good candidates for termiticide barriers. They may not be able to wait two to six months (sometimes longer) for baits to suppress or eliminate the infestation.

People living in attached housing (condo's, attached residences) where the entire structure cannot be baited are good candidates for termiticide barriers. Often all the people living in attached housing cannot afford the termite baiting procedure.

Some houses may require treatment with both baits and termiticide barriers. With comprehensive baiting programs such as SentriconВ® and Exterraв„ў. liquid applications (when deemed necessary) are usually made as partial treatments to infested areas, rather than to the entire structure. Other bait products (e. g. FirstLineВ® ) are more suited for spot-treatment of active tunnels, feeding galleries, and localized areas in the soil. Such products are typically used in conjunction with more extensive barrier treatments.

Entomology and Nematology Bldg 970, Natural Area Dr, P. O. Box 110620, Gainesville, FL 32611-0620

Kill termites and white ants without poisons

White ants – or termites – do upwards of a billion dollars’ worth of damage to Entomologist Ion Staunton looks at the foraging habits of white ants, and how householders can use these instincts against them. It’s nothing personal. The reason white ants eat. Lee mas

The Australian home-owner is chiefly concerned with two termite species. Known as Coptos and Schedos, they are avid munchers of timber constructions, but their natural habitat takes the form of a nest built usually in a decaying tree or tree stump. Because we cannot. Lee mas

There’s quite a bit of folk wisdom around the business of termite eradication. One myth is that the presence of ants is a deterrent to termite colonies. It’s just not true. It is certainly true that ants will eat termites if they can – termites are extremely. Lee mas

TermiteTrap’s Ion Staunton is a practical man; he wants to know why things work. His shaft model termite trap had secured the lion’s share of the DIY market, and he was looking for a way to take his system to the next level of effectiveness. Not one to make changes. Lee mas

Here are a couple of photos sent in by a customer who found Nasutes and I told him to go look for a mound. Which he did. And he did (find one). And a queen in it. The worker at the tail end of the queen is 7mm long which makes her about 50mm long by 15mm in diameter. Lee mas

Termite bait contains a chemical called chlorfluazuron that restricts development of the termite’s hard outer shell. Termite workers carry this chemical back in the food regurgitated to the young nymphs in the termite nest. when they fail to form this critical shell. Lee mas

preguntas frecuentes

How do white ants/termites find Termite Traps?

They send out scouts to find wood and, there is very attractive wood inside a Termite Trap. (The one recommended by CSIRO). TermiteTraps are designed to be placed up on the ground rather than be buried in it. For millions of years, there has always has been more wood above ground level than under it, so the acquired habit of scouts is to go out above ground level to find timber. Another survival habit: termites do not rely on just one food source. They are constantly seeking supplementary food sources. Too many times there have been flash floods and bushfires or dinosaurs/mammoths have moved their main meal. To survive, multiple feeding sites became a necessity. And, so it continues… The short answer: the more TermiteTraps you have placed around your home, above the ground where termite scouts are looking, the sooner and more likely you are to intercept scouts.

Do monitors attract termites to my house?

No. Termite scouts find monitors you have placed adjacent to your home simply because they were already there looking about. It could be argued that if they hadn’t found the Trap, they may have kept looking further and found a way inside.

My house is only three years old. It must have been built to meet Codes including termite preventive measures, and anyway, isn’t there a seven-year builder’s warranty to cover me?

Sí. And yes. Building codes, in essence, aim to ensure termites cannot enter unseen into a structure. Codes do not expect to prevent termites getting into a building, the aim is to make termite attack routes visible on the way in. Think of those old ant caps that were/are placed on piers and stumps. Termites cannot get through the metal; they have to build out around and over them where their tunnel can be seen — as long as someone goes looking. Requiring an annual inspection is almost the first paragraph of most Codes). Builders guarantees are full of loop holes. The pest control company only gives the builder a piece of paper to say they applied or installed chemical or other barriers to the appropriate Code. If you haven’t kept up the annual termite inspection (by the nominated pest company) your warrantee is void and there’s nowhere to go.

If termites are already in my house can I use Termite Traps to entice them out?

No es Buena idea. It takes time for scouts to find a TermiteTrap outside and then more time for the ‘construction team’ to build a tunnel to it. Then even more time to bait them. During all that time, they are still hollowing out the timbers in your house. If you can find termites busy eating timbers such as skirting boards, window or door frames, it is best to directly bait them right away. Here’s the link to text and illustrations explaining the process.

What are the dimensions of a TermiteTrap?

They are just less than the size of a house brick: 190mm x 90mm x 80mm high.

Is it legal for homeowners to buy and use your bait?

The Colony Killer Termite Bait is approved by the APVMA in Canberra (the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority) for use by homeowners.

I’ve read about ‘serious’ and ‘nuisance’ termite species. How can I tell the difference?

I’m very wary of generalising, but here is an attempt to simplify, hoping you’ll recognise that in nature there are exceptions to human ‘rules’. There are 300+ termite species in Australia. Only about 10 or so species, the so-called ‘serious’ ones, contribute significantly to Australia’s annual $billion+ damage bill. These species come from just three genera (plural of genus): Coptotermes, Schedorhinotermes and Mastotermes . (Coptos, Schedos and Mastos.) The Mastos are found mainly north of the Tropic of Capricorn (between Rockhampton and Exmouth) and they are big — 13-16mm long. No other solid-wood eating termite is this big. The geography and size quickly rules them in or out as a threat to your home. The Coptos and Schedos are found all over the continent and they specialise in eating solid wood such as in our structures. Which means they definitely are a threat. The rest of the 300+ are ‘nuisances’ because they are either leaf-litter, grass, or decaying wood eaters and they usually build mounds. No one wants to live with a termite mound nearby so even the couple of species of the pointy-headed Nasutes ( Nasutitermes ) that will eat solid timber are easily destroyed by breaking open their mound. We have a free ID Service and there is also a section in this website that gives you some visual clues on the differences.

How do termites get into the Trap?

The bottom is mostly open apart from a ledge to keep the timber slats from falling through. There are also a couple of small holes at the bottom in the back wall. Traps can be placed flat on a concrete path against a wall over the expansion joint. These joints often open up over time (weeds growing there are a good indicator) allowing termite scouts up to snoop about and find their way through those back holes to the timber inside the Trap.

My house was built more than twenty years ago and there has been no termite attack, why would I bother putting monitors around?

The CSIRO produced a Termite Risk Map showing almost all areas of the mainland states of Australia are of Moderate to High Risk. The tiny sliver of land along the Great Ocean Road in south western Victoria is about the only Low Risk area. Which means there are serious termites near you. Annual flights of termites occur in late spring, early summer. Most are unsuccessful in establishing a nest — but some do. Ever seen flying termites at dusk at your place? Twenty years without an attack can be looked at two ways: you’ve been lucky, or, on the law of averages your luck is due to run out. Your decision rests on weighing up the cost of say $440 for 22 Traps that will last for at least 10 years; put them around as ‘sentries’ for an early warning system. That is not a lot of outlay to maybe save you $thousands in repairs. Tu elección.

I understand termites can do $50,000 plus in damage to a house in a short time. Doing something about the termite threat is obviously sensible, however, aren’t chemical barriers better value, even though more costly than termite monitors?

Barriers installed during construction are one thing; barriers re-applied are different. You can’t jack up a building and start again. Holes drilled in slabs and tiled areas are injected to make interconnecting ‘puddles’ of insecticide underneath. If there is a soil crack below the slab, thousands of litres of pesticide could just disappear without puddling. If there has been some subsidence and there is a space under the slab, the puddles may well join up but the termites may be tunnelling upside down on the undersurface of the slab where the pesticide doesn’t reach them. Sure, these are less likely examples, but here is another point to ponder: every year about 130,000 -150,000 houses in Australia are attacked by termites. Every time this happens, (and you see it all too often on TV news programs) termites have come up from the ground, crossed or bridged over barriers and done the damage. Every time. A barrier treatment can cost a couple of thousand dollars and lasts about 10 years before you need to do it again; a carton of Traps costs $440 and are guaranteed to last at least 10 years and, if you get a strike and successfully bait the termites, the Traps can be reused by adding more new timber. You can do the maths.

What is a nest?

If there’s a queen, that’s a nest. The most recognisable nests are mounds rising up out of the ground. Serious termites usually nest in hollow trees or invisibly below soil level. There are often mud masses found under floors or between studs inside walls. Most often these masses are re-hydration areas where termites can recover from the drying out that occurs if they are too long away from moisture. Physically removing, destroying or spraying such masses will kill thousands of termites but, if the nest is underground some distance away, the access to that mass is sealed off by workers still in the safe zone below and away from the mayhem you’ve caused. The nest survives to come back from another direction. A mature queen can be laying a thousand or more eggs every day. It doesn’t take long for the numbers to rebuild. Read more about killing nests in trees, stumps and mounds.

We have lots of ants which we know are the enemy of termites. Do we still have a termite problem?

Sí. Termites are masters at excluding ants from their nests, their tunnels and the wood they are eating. They’ve been doing it since ants evolved. (Termites were here before ants).

Won’t dogs or kids move the Traps?

If you place the Termite Traps around the house with the dog locked in the garage or the car where it can’t see you put the Traps down, there is no reason for the dog to believe they are a movable plaything. When you let the pooch loose, some investigatory sniffing may occur but as it doesn’t play back, the Trap will probably be ignored. In all our trials and after all the cartons we’ve sent out, only one dog story has come back to us. (La trampa fue colocada dentro de la pluma del perro). As for kids? They are supposed to leave things alone if they are told, so tell them. After all, you have your home investment to protect.

Is there a guarantee?

Yes (and no). Sí. If when you receive the product, you change your mind or have second thoughts that it is not what you expected, you can return to us for a full refund — no arguments from us. Just phone to say it’s coming back and to arrange the repayment details. No. we don’t guarantee results that we cannot control such as where you placed them and how you baited them or, whether you misinterpreted instructions. And it is very difficult to prove in court (many have tried) whether termites were already inside a structure before monitors were put in place.

common name: a drywood termite scientific name: Cryptotermes cavifrons Banks (Insecta: Isoptera: Kalotermitidae)

Termites of the genus Cryptotermes were sometimes called powderpost termites because of the telltale heaps of fecal pellets (frass) that accumulate beneath infested wood. Fecal pellets of Cryptotermes . however, are similar in size and shape to other comparably sized species of Kalotermitidae. All are now collectively known as drywood termites. The most economically significant termite in this genus, Cryptotermes brevis (Walker), commonly infests structures and was at one time known as the "furniture termite" thanks to the frequency with which colonies were found in pieces of furniture. A member of the same genus that might be mistaken for Cryptotermes brevis upon a first, cursory examination is Cryptotermes cavifrons . a species endemic to Florida.

Figure 1. A Cryptotermes cavifrons soldier, recognizable by its sclerotized and darkened head, is surrounded by workers. Soldiers make up only 1-2 percent of the typical Cryptotermes cavifrons colony. Photograph by Rudolf H. Scheffrahn.

Cryptotermes cavifrons has an unusually broad distribution for a Cryptotermes species. It ranges from the Florida peninsula to the Cayman Islands, Cuba, the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Turks and Caicos islands. Records from Puerto Rico, St. Croix, Haiti and Central America are erroneous.

Cryptotermes cavifrons is endemic to all of peninsular Florida, from St. Johns County south, unlike Cryptotermes brevis . which is suspected to have been introduced through the Florida Keys in the early 1900s. Cryptotermes cavifrons is common in dry, dead trees, logs, stumps and branches, but it is rarely found infesting structures, due to higher moisture requirements than those of Cryptotermes brevis . A 2002 termite survey of state parks in central and southern Florida found that 45 percent (187 of 416) of all kalotermitid samples taken were Cryptotermes cavifrons .

Because termite workers are indistinguishable from each other to the level of species, most termite keys rely on characteristics of soldiers and alates (winged, unmated reproductives) for species identification.

Like all kalotermitids, the pronotum of the Cryptotermescavifrons soldier is about as wide as the head. The head features a large cavity in front (hence the species name, cavifrons ), nearly circular in outline from an anterior view, shaped almost like a bowl. The rest of the upper surface of the head is smooth, as contrasted with the head of Cryptotermes brevis . which has a similar cavity, but a rough and bumpy dorsal surface. The soldiers use their heavily sclerotized, plug-shaped heads (a condition known as phragmosis) to block entrance and exit holes to the nest. This is their primary mode of defense. Soldiers are 3.5 to 5.0 mm long. Sus cápsulas de cabeza son negras en la parte delantera y gradualmente más rojizas hacia la parte posterior. The rest of the body is brownish yellow with pale yellow legs and nearly white antennae. Unfortunately for those wishing to identify Cryptotermes cavifrons by its soldiers, it may be difficult to obtain a sample as soldiers make up only 1 to 2 percent of a colony.

Figure 2. A close-up view of a Cryptotermes cavifrons soldier's head shows the pluglike, or phragmotic, head that is characteristic of the genus. The dorsal, posterior surface of the head is smooth, characteristic of the species. Photograph by Angela S. Brammer.

Alates are approximately 8.5 to 9.7 mm long, including wings. The head and body are dull, pale brown. The width of the head is less than 1 mm, and the antennae are much longer than the head, with 10 to 14 (usually 11 or 12) segments. The wings have three to four sclerotized (hardened and thickened) veins visible in the third of the wing closest to the body. The forewings also have an unsclerotized median vein that curves upward to the sclerotized veins about midwing. The wings are long, with the tip of the abdomen often reaching only about halfway down the length of the wing. The wing scale (the darkened base of the wing where it attaches to the body) is often about the same length as the pronotum.

Figure 3. Close-up of a Cryptotermes cavifrons wing. Three heavily sclerotized veins are distinctly visible in the basal third of the wing. The unsclerotized median vein curves upward to meet the sclerotized veins about midwing. Photograph by Rudolf H. Scheffrahn.

Drywood termites, like all termites, are eusocial insects. They live in colonies and cooperatively care for young. Responsibilities for reproduction, foraging and colony defense are divided up among castes: reproductives (king, queen and alates), workers and soldiers. In drywood termites, the вЂњworkerвЂќ caste does not consist of true workers that are reproductively sterile and found in the higher termites of the family Termitidae. Rather, immature termites do the labor of the traditional worker caste, and they are known as pseudergates (вЂњfalse workersвЂќ). All the casteshave chewing mouthparts, although the mandibles of the soldiers are greatly modified for defense to the point that they must be fed by the pseudergates. All but the reproductives are blind.

Figure 4. Larvae and pseudergates ("false workers") surround a winged reproductive (alate), left, and soldier, right. Soldiers make up only 1-2 percent of the typical Cryptotermes cavifrons colony. Photograph by Angela S. Brammer.

As with other drywood termites, Cryptotermes cavifrons gradually constructs a maze of meandering interconnected galleries. The brood (eggs, larvae and young pseudergates) are found in some of them - an indication that the king and queen are nearby.

After the eggs hatch into larvae and go through about three molts, the young begin the process of separating into castes. Some molt into presoldiers, which resemble soldiers in form but are unsclerotized and thus white in color. Others become nymphs, which will eventually develop into winged reproductives, or alates. Other larvae molt to become the worker class of the colony, taking care of excavating galleries keeping the soldiers fed. Drywood termite pseudergates are different from subterranean termite workers in that they can continue to develop into alates should a need arise in the colony. In the family Termitidae, workers are sterile adults, and the path to that caste is a one-way street. Once a worker, always a worker.

Figure 5. The presence of wing pads indicates that this Cryptotermes cavifrons individual is a nymph. Eventually it will develop into an alate, or swarmer, with wings and reproductive capabilities. Photograph by Angela S. Brammer.

Eventually, nymphs molt into alates. Swarms occur when these alates leave the colony to start new colonies elsewhere. Cryptotermes cavifrons is an unusual species in that alates are present in colonies throughout the year. Swarms occur in the evenings all year long, but the peak swarming time is March through May. Termites are weak fliers and tend to flutter about on the wind as much as actively fly. It is likely that they will not stray too far from the original colony in their dispersal flights.

When alates land, they twist off their wings, find a mate and burrow into a suitable location in the wood such as a knothole or crevice and mate. Alates who have broken off their wings are called dealates. Eggs then take several months to hatch.

Figure 6. The Cryptotermes cavifrons dealate on the left has already broken off its wings. Note that the scales where the wings attached to the body remain in place. They are about the same length as the pronotum. Photograph by Angela S. Brammer.

Las colonias de termitas de Drywood se desarrollan lentamente. The entire colony may take five years or more to mature. Limited space and resources prevent them from even attempting the rapid growth of subterranean colonies. Even with optimal resources, the growth rate of drywood colonies is slow due to their low inherent reproductive rate. Drywood termites' legs are actually shorter than subterranean termites' legs, as well, and they literally move slower as a result. Also, in their preferred habitat, water is a precious resource in limited supply at certain times of the year. Drywood termites have several adaptations for conserving as much water as possible. Three pairs of rectal glands compress their feces to remove and retain all water possible before waste excretion. This results in hexagonal fecal pellets (frass). These six-sided pellets, usually found in small piles, are indicative of drywood termite infestation. In Cryptotermes cavifrons termites, the pellets are small and feel like grains of coarse sand when rubbed between the fingers. Drywood termites depend heavily on production of metabolic water.

Figure 7. Cryptotermes cavifrons ' three pairs of anal glands extract every last bit of water possible before waste excretion, producing the hexagonal fecal pellets seen here. For scale, the glassy "rock" near the top right of the photo is a grain of sand. Photograph by Angela S. Brammer .

Galleries cross the grain in wood, but the colony remains confined to that wood with only alates emerging during flights. No contact with the ground is necessary for a Cryptotermes cavifrons colony to become established.

External signs of damage are elusive with drywood termites. Often, the only obvious signs of infestation are little mounds of fecal pellets building up underneath the infested wood or the appearance of "kick-out" holes in the surface of the wood. Drywood termites make tiny holes in the surface of the wood that allow them to expel their fecal pellets. Cryptotermes cavifrons soldiers can quickly plug the holes with their phragmotic heads if necessary. Some holes also may be closed off with a temporary paperlike substance. These holes are usually very difficult to see because they are very small (about 1 mm) and seldom open. The diameter of the frass piles is proportional to the height of the kick-out holes. Homeowners frequently mistake frass piles for sawdust.

Drywood termite infestations are difficult to deal with. Most of the time, infestations are localized, as colonies live entirely with a particular piece of sound, dry wood. But sometimes the infestation is not noticed until the colony has matured and produced alates that have already begun new, undetectable colonies in wood nearby. Localized treatment of the first colony then does nothing about the second or third that may already be developing. Treatments are divided into several types: whole structure; compartmental, such as an attic; and local, such as a windowsill. They range from fumigation and excessive temperature to wood injections and localized electrocution. Each method has its own pros and cons. Preventative treatments are generally made only when there has been a prior treatment for an infestation. To learn more about drywood termite management, please see Drywood Termite Control: Weighing All the Options .

Fortunately, although it is very common in natural settings, Cryptotermes cavifrons only rarely infests homes or buildings. Only a few instances have been reported of Cryptotermes cavifrons in structures.

Banks N, Snyder TE. 1920. A revision of the nearctic termites with notes on biology and distribution. U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC.

Craighead FC. 1950. Insect enemies of eastern forests. U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC.

Edwards R, Mill AE. 1986. Termites in buildings: their biology and control. Rentokil Ltd. East Grinstead, U. K.

Fasulo TR. (2002). Eastern Subterranean Termite and Wood-destroying Insects. Bug Tutorials . University of Florida/IFAS. CD ROM. SW 158.

Harris WV. 1971. Termites: Their Recognition and Control. Longman Group Ltd. London.

Howse PE. 1970. Termites: A Study in Social Behaviour. Hutchinson & Co. Ltd. London.

Morton ME. 1949. A Handbook on Florida Termites. University of Miami Press, Coral Gables, Fla.

Scheffrahn RH, Krecek J. 1999. Termites of the genus Cryptotermes Banks (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) from the West Indies. Insecta Mundi 13: 111-170.

Scheffrahn RH, Su N-Y (1997). Drywood termite control: weighing all the options. Pie. Lauderdale REC Research Report 97-1. (2 August 2013).

Scheffrahn RH, Su N-Y. 1996. Key to termite soldiers of Florida. Pie. Lauderdale REC Research Report 96-2.

Scheffrahn RH, Su N-Y. 1996. Key to winged termites of Florida. Pie. Lauderdale REC Research Report 96-3.

Scheffrahn RH, Su N-Y. (April 1999). West Indian powderpost drywood termite, Cryptotermes brevis (Walker). UF/IFAS Featured Creatures . (2 August 2013).

Snyder TE. 1948. Our Enemy the Termite. Comstock Publishing Co. Inc. Ithaca, New York.

Snyder TE. 1954. Order Isoptera: The Termites of the U. S. and Canada. National Pest Control Association, Dunn Loring, VA.

Authors: Angela S. Brammer and Rudolf H. Scheffrahn. University of Florida Photographs: Angela S. Brammer and Rudolf H. Scheffrahn, University of Florida Web Design: Don Wasik, Jane Medley Publication Number: EENY-279 Publication Date: December 2002. Latest revision: October 2007. Reviewed: February 2014.

Termites Pest control Bali

What do we do against termites?

We inspect your property to define if we are actually dealing with termites and what kind of termites. In Bali, the most common species are subterranean termites

We make an extermination plan that consists of at least one of the following methods;

& # 8211; Termite Baiting System

& # 8211; Chemical barrier system method

& # 8211; Treatment for soil

& # 8211; Treatment for wooden ceilings

We will make inspection visits on a regular base to check if the colony is decreasing or exterminated, depending on the method that is used on your property

Why do you have termites?

For a reason that can be guessed, termites are often called the “silent destroyer”. They are an expert in hiding and thriving in your home or yard without any immediate signs of damage. All termites consume cellulose-based plant materials. All homes, regardless of their construction type, can provide cellulose food for termite infestation.

Termites are detritus feeders. They feed on dead plants and trees as well as dead parts of living trees, including wood and wood in the soil. A termite’s mouth is capable of tearing pieces of woody material. This ability is what causes concern in human dwellings: while termite workers only measure approximately 1 cm to a few millimetres in length, their feeding habits are capable of causing costly damage to property. House foundations, furniture, shelves and even books are all possible feeding sites for termites.

Subterranean termite homes in Bali are usually formed in soil. Within these mounds, termites build elaborate tunnel systems and mud tunnels through which they access above-ground food sources. Dry wood termites live within the wood they consume and they often infest walls and furniture.

When a colony has matured, winged, swarming termites can be seen around windows and doors. Winged termites are highly attracted to sources of light and are most active in springtime. After mating, these termites locate a new breeding site and create another colony, spreading infestations throughout multiple locations in the case of dry wood termites.

Explanation of our treatment methods

Termite Baiting System (TBS)

This method is using the method of feeding. We can place two kinds of feeding stations; a station above or a station into the ground. The stations above the ground are installed directly on the building that was attacked. (Only installed if there is already an active termite attack.)

The Bait stations that are planted into the ground around the building every ± 5-8 m. Wood bait stations containing bait to lure the termites who are looking for food.

We check the in-ground station every 2 weeks. If we find any active termites feed on wood, the wood bait is replaced with new bait. Monitoring is also done on above-ground station to ascertain whether the bait has been consumed and the amount of feed is sufficient until the next monitoring. At the time of monitoring, also conducted inspections on the area around the station and other critical areas to determine the existence of a new termite infestations. The whole colony is usually exterminated in 3-6 months.

The advantage of this TBS method is;

Termite Baiting System will not interfere with or alter the structure of an occupied building. With this system does not need to do the drilling on the interior or exterior

Termite Baiting System is not only fortify the buildings from termite attack, but to destroy the termite colony

Can provide protection from termite attack as long as possible

This system is very suitable for highrise building

Chemical Barrier System Method

Is a technical treatment by a hi-pressure injection of termiticide concentrate into the soil that is directly related to the building with the purpose of protecting the building structure and contents of the termites attack the soil/ wood.

Treatment for Soil

Drilling (5 mm) on the left and right sides of the foundation (the walls) with a distance of 10-15 cm from the edge of the wall and the distance between holes 50 cm (or follow the seam of a floor) with a depth of 20 cm (up to penetrate the soil). We inject the hole with termiticide solution by using high pressure sprayer machine tools. After the treatment we close the holes properly.

Treatment for Wooden Ceilings

Spraying anti-termites for subterranean termites infected area or suspected area.

Warranty and regular inspection

We provide a 3 year warranty, which means one times a year inspection from our professional service staff. Service calls for suspected termite infestations in treated areas and if termites are found in or on the covered structure of the treated areas. The warranty will be void if renovation or construction work will be done after the anti-termite treatment

Termite Barriers Brisbane, Gold Coast & Sunshine Coast, QLD

Termi Home & Commercial (QLD) proudly supplies termite control systems for new home and commercial construction.

You will be pleased to know we provides award winning service in the following areas:

The Termimesh System is our proven stainless steel and poison-free termite control barrier for any type of new home or building. Backed by our exclusive Pledge No Dollar limit guarantee, the Termimesh System has been the preferred termite control method for many of Australia’s leading builders and architects for over 20 years. Only the Termimesh barrier uses superior durable TMA 725 grade stainless steel. Our track record in over 400,000 installations means peace of mind for homeowners and builders.

Termi Home & Commercial (Qld), formerly Termimesh Pest Management, has been a leading supplier of pre-construction termite control for over 17 years in South East Queensland. Many of Brisbane and Queensland’s leading builders use Termi Home & Commercial for all their termite control requirements.

Termi Home & Commercial (Qld) is managed by Paul Hutchison who has over 20 years’ experience with termite control and building. He understands what builders need in terms of service and has instilled in all his staff a strong customer-first ethic.

In addition, Termimesh System has earned a strong reputation amongst architects for providing effective and comprehensive termite protection in all forms of commercial construction. This includes hospitals, schools and retirement villages and, in fact, any building where termite control is needed.

It is fair to say that the Termimesh System is considered by builders, specifiers and building authorities as the number one termite barrier on the market. This reputation comes not only from the quality of the Termimesh System offering but also from the outstanding levels of customer service that Termi Home & Commercial (Qld) provides from the design stage, quotation, installation onsite and through to handover.

The Termi Home & Commercial team has been recognised for its outstanding client service by the HIA (Qld) by winning the HIA Customer Service Award two years running.

The centre is also an active, proud and long standing member of the Housing Industry Association (HIA - Qld), Master Builders Association (MBA - Qld) and Building Designers Association (BDA - Qld).

As further reassurance of service quality, Termi Home & Commercial (Qld) is also a quality endorsed company to ISO 9002.

Smartbuilt Brisbane Pty Ltd trading as Termi Home & Commercial (QLD) QBCC License No: 894337

ENVIRONMENT HEALTH COALITION

Alternatives to Toxic Termite Control, January, 2002

Environmental Health Coalition does not endorse any products or services. Although we have made every effort to verify that the information is complete and current, there may be additional alternatives or companies that we have inadvertently left out.

When Do You Need Termite Treatment?

According to the Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides, a large drywood colony consumes about half a pound of wood per year, and it takes seven years for a colony to develop to this size. 1 This means you have time to evaluate options for prevention and treatment before taking action. This fact sheet includes a summary of termite eradication options as well as prevention options. EHC always recommends prevention as the first and foremost approach to dealing with any pest problem. However, if you are a tenant or a condo dweller, you may be in a situation where someone else is proposing to fumigate your home. In this case, the termite eradication alternatives may be the information you need immediately for avoiding fumigation.

First, seal termites out. Cover exposed wood with paint or sealer. Caulk cracks and crevices. Screen windows and vents.

Second, treatment of exposed wood with borates or boric acid provides long term protection against infestation.

Don’t have wood in contact with soil.

Cover exposed wood with paint or sealer.

Remove wood debris from your yard.

Plant trees away from house, and prune away vegetation that provides

a bridge to the house.

Ants are predators of termites. Do not kill ants that are not causing a nuisance

problem in the house.

According to Sheila Daar and William and Helga Olkowski, " The most permanent, most effective

and safest treatment of the problem at the most reasonable cost may require a careful integration of activities carried out by the homeowner and a number of experienced professionals [ such as carpenters] from more than one company." These are the nontoxic or least-toxic options that may be incorporated into your strategy:

Removal or repair of infested wood. For a small infestation, this may be all that is needed.

Heat: This involves tenting and heating either the whole structure or just a part of it up to 140 degrees F o. a temperature that will not harm the structure. A test of termite eradication methods at UC Berkeley in 1996 resulted in a 100% mortality of termites in naturally infested wood boards treated with heat. 3 Care is required to remove all household items that may be damaged by heat, such as electronic equipment.

Microwaves . this is a spot treatment method that also kills the termites by applying heat. The researchers cited above got a 100% mortality rate with this method as well, applied to naturally infested boards. Other studies have had varying success rates. House damage may include warped wood and wood burns.

Cold: cold treatment with liquid nitrogen is a spot treatment method whose effectiveness ranged from 74 to 100% in the above tests, depending on the dose used. This can be an effective method for inaccessible areas, as nitrogen is injected through small holes drilled into the walls. Frost formation within the house may damage some wall coverings. Drill holes must be repaired.

Electrocution: Called Electrogun, this is a spot treatment using volts of electricity, which kills termites in exposed wood. Mortality in the above tests was 95% four weeks after treatment in naturally infested wood. Drill holes and minor wood burns may result from the Electrogun method.

Borates: Borate salts or boric acid can be injected into wood as a treatment or applied to wood surfaces as a preventive measure. Borate dust may be used in wall voids as well. Borate foam is another form of borate that may be applied as a spot treatment. Depending on the product and treatment method, borates may act as a contact poison or a stomach poison. Borates should not be used on wood in contact with soil, as they are water soluble and will leach into the soil. Tim-Bor, Bora-Care, Jecta, and Impel are some brand names of borate products. Ethylene glycol may be added to liquid formulations of borates; this substance increases the penetration of the borate into wood but may be a problem for chemically sensitive individuals.

Fungal pathogens: BioBlast is the trade name of a method that utilizes a fungus that is deadly for termites when sprayed onto the infested wood.

Limonene or other citrus derivatives. Limonene has been used successfully as a pet flea control agent, and is now being applied to termite control. No information was found regarding the effectiveness of this method, whether it provides residual protection, or to what extent it is found in the indoor air of structures treated with it.

Neither borates nor fungal pathogens was tested in the Lewis-Haverty study cited above, so their effectiveness cannot be directly compared to the other drywood termite treatment methods. Both of them provide some residual protection against reinfestations, whereas fumigation, heat, cold, and Electrogun do not.

Pyrethrins: pyrethrins are less acutely toxic (poisonous) than Vikane or Dursban, and they break down quickly when exposed to sunlight, so they are not persistent toxins. However, recent research has suggested that pyrethrins have hormone disrupting properties that raise concerns about human exposure to them.

Nematodes: certain species of nematodes attack insects rather than plant roots and can be used for subterranean termite control.

Sentricon/Recruit II is a Dow Agrosciences product that consists of a termite bait containing an insect growth regulator, hexaflumuron. The product is designed to used as part of an integrated pest management system and sold as a service, not over the counter. Hexaflumuron can cause irritation to eyes or skin but had low toxicity to rats who ate it or breathed it in laboratory studies. It is highly toxic to aquatic life and should not be used in low areas or near water sources.

Termidor is another relatively new product for subterranean termite control, to be used only by licensed termite exterminators. It contains fipronil, a phenyl pyrazole type of pesticide that kills by disrupting nerve transmission. It is irritating to eyes and skin, and is toxic by all routes of exposure (skin contact, breathing, ingestion). The acute toxicity of fipronil is moderately high, based on lab rat studies. Chronic toxicity studies show it is harmful to the nervous systems of both rats and dogs. It is classified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as a possible human carcinogen based on thyroid tumors in rat studies. It is toxic to aquatic wildlife and should not be used in low areas or near water sources.

For more information, or to share your own concerns, problems, comments, questions, contact:

The Lullaby Radio Wave Termite Treatment System

A Safe No Poison No Tent Treatment Alternative

Targeted use of the Lullaby System causes rapid permanent sleep to all exposed termites by protein renaturation and function disruption of cell membranes and enzyme stability. In simple terms, It peacefully puts termites to sleep forever!

Termite Company Advantages of System Use

Easily capture the 30% untapped non chemical preference customer who refuses treatment: Use downsizing times to implement a non chemical, low labor cost, safer and cleaner treatment alternative: Quickly increase company sales plus cut fumigation and treat expenses by 50%: See profits increase greatly and expand company growth: Watch your firm become respected and recognized publicly for their safe non poison environmental actions:

More safe no tent treatment alternative advantages for termite companies and the private sector

One person operational: No bagging or food removal: No tenant overnight lodging: No special permits necessary: Most jobs completed in 4-8 Hr.: No need to remove plants, fish or electronics: The answer to multiple and single unit treatments: High profits & savings plus excellent public support & demand: Avoid the risk of human death due to poison gas or chemical exposure: Treatment accepted by FHA, VA, HUD & Conventional lenders for escrow purposes:

Firms advertising it as an alternative to fumigation, increase the publicвЂ™s awareness of their companies concern for clients safety as well as the environments protection:

Others who also benefit from use of the Lullaby Treat system

Commercial Property, Associations, Corporations, Coop's and Private Owners Hotels, Motels, Condos, Multi unit Apartments and Retirement Communities Resort Lodges, Self Storage Facilities, Schools and Auditoriums, "Plus More"

Manufactured and distributed by WavelengthEMTS Inc

The beginner Lullaby system is perfect for commercial termite control firms who seek to start offering their clients a non-poison gas fumigation alternative. It is also a popular effective in-house termite control treatment cost savings device for commercial property managers and owners that care and maintain income properties as a daily routine or annual maintenance procedure. Now guaranteed to compliment any non fumigation treatment arsenal. System provides years of service without maintenance expense. Small enough to fit into cabinets yet powerful enough to treat large surface areas.

The Safe, No Purchase, Accurate Dry-wood Termite Treatment System

Picture a termite treatment system that can accurately detect live dry-wood termite infestations within a structure and track their exact location via (GPS) technology.

Now picture this valuable information used to precisely target and eradicate the termites located via use of a safe radio wave application method.

Also picture this system available for commercial use without need of purchasing it.

If you can further picture your business benefiting from use of such a system, simply stay tuned for future details as they are posted here and at this page’s Online Store Menu or visit now at: http://www. wavelengthemts. com/onlinestore While you wait release and registration data of the new Lullaby System, feel free to explore our company and it’s other successful termite treatment products in use since 1993.

Please contact us anytime for any reason.

The TDSII Co2 Complete Termite and Bedbug Detector

The first and most important thing necessary in treating termites is to locate where the colonies are. The Lullaby treat system incorporates use of the world’s most accurate termite detection device available to date. View the video below for a brief summary of how this miraculous detection device actually performs.

Wavelength Pest Device Systems Innovation since 1993

View past videos above from 1995 Early System field treat demo “100% Termite kill at treatment target вЂ“ Exterior siding вЂ“ Riverside, California, U. S.A.,”

Also view 2010 Used Dual port system test box treat “Microwave Device Kills Termites deep inside wood - Live Video Reveals”

Watch for additional posted Video Demonstrations.

The New Lullaby Radio Wave Safe Termite Treatment System A Safe No Poison No Tent Termite Treatment Alternative COMING SOON - AVAILABLE IN 2016 – Join Our Face Book Group

Free Termite Inspections

Many home inspection companies offer "free" termite inspections. These "free" termite inspections are not truly "free" since you must pay for a home or building inspection to get your "free" termite inspection. The United States Federal Trade Commission states:

When making "free" or similar offers all the terms, conditions and obligations upon which receipt and retention of the "FreeвЂќ item are contingent should be set forth clearly and conspicuously at the outset of the offer so as to leave no reasonable probability that the terms of the offer might be misunderstood. (16 CFR В§251.1(c)).

More information on the Federal Trade Commission regulations can be found by clicking here .

Under the Federal Trade Commission rules, Heimer Engineering cannot use the word "free" when describing the termite inspections included at no extra charge with the home and building inspections. For 40 years, Heimer Engineering has included a termite inspection with its home and building inspections at no extra charge. In addition, you are provided you with the termite form many banks require when considering a mortgage, also at no extra charge.

Will the Bank Accept the Termite Form?

A termite form issued by the National Pest Management Association is included with home and building inspections performed by the Professional Engineers of Heimer Engineering. Banks generally accept these forms if there is no evidence of termites and there is no evidence of previous control measures.

If there is termite evidence, control measures are necessary. If the house or building has already had termite control measures, the bank often requires that the seller transfer the termite warranty to buyer.

Some homes and buildings have had termite control measures, and there is no evidence of an active termite infestation. In these cases, ask the seller for the termite warranty, and have this it transferred to you. Most banks will accept this transferred termite warranty.

The question often arises as to whether termite found outside a home or building constitutes termite activity that must be reported to the bank. Some banks do not require evidence of termite control measures if the termite activity is outside the home or building. The termite activity will be reported on the termite form, and it is up to the bank mortgage underwriter to determine if termite control measures are necessary.

Contact Heimer Engineering 24/7

To set up an appointment for a home, building, condo, or co-op inspection performed by a Professional Engineer, or to find out about other Engineering services or expert court testimony, Click here for 24/7 contact information . or call 800.605.1500. You can also reach Heimer Engineering by calling 718.544.3000. 212.563.4777. 516.487.2100. 845.638.4900. 631.858.5500. or 914.576.6100. If no staff member is in the office, please leave a message.

Heimer Engineering serves the Metro New York area. including New York City ( Manhattan. Queens. Brooklyn. Bronx. Staten Island ), Long Island ( Nassau County. Suffolk County ), and Upstate New York ( Rockland County. Putnam County. and Westchester County ). Payment can be made via Master Card. Visa. Discover Card. American Express. Personal Check. Business Check. Money Order. or Cash .

We respect your privacy. Some inspection firms share information with insurance, landscaping, snow removal, home maintenance, moving, cable, mortgage, and other companies. Algunas firmas de inspección venden listas de correo electrónico de sus clientes. These practices are unethical. You will not receive phone calls or solicitation emails from third parties as a result of providing personal information.

If you have questions about the inspection, please call 800.605.1500 during normal weekday business hours and speak to a member of our office staff. The staff is happy to answer any questions you have regarding the home, building, condo, or co-op inspection. You can also reach Heimer Engineering by calling 718.544.3000. 212.563.4777. 516.487.2100. 845.638.4900. 631.858.5500. or 914.576.6100.

In the event of a life-threatening emergency (fire, building in danger of collapse, facade with loose bricks, debris falling from a building, gas leak, carbon monoxide detector that is alerting to a hazard, etc.) do not call Heimer Engineering. If there is a life-threatening emergency or other hazardous condition, call 911. Emergency situations need to be handled immediately by first-responders who can evacuate buildings, contact appropriate utility companies to have the utilities shut off, and take other steps necessary to preserve life.

Our Professional Engineers are ready to serve your home, building, condo, or co-op inspection needs. The Professional Engineers perform pre-purchase inspections, which do not include checking or testing for environmental hazards. The Professional Engineers also testify as expert witnesses regarding slip, trip. and falls, building defects, playground injuries, exercise equipment injuries, and automobile and motorcycle accidents.

Inspections are performed only after the client signs a pre-inspection agreement. Click Here to Download a Pre-Inspection Agreement . The use of this Website is governed by our Terms of Use. This Website is made available for informational purposes, and does not represent a professional opinion of your particular situation.

No Engineering company investigates crimes, illegal activity, or terror threats. You need to contact the Police, FBI, Homeland Security, or other law enforcement agency. No Engineering company can help you if you feel that your building is in danger of immediate collapse. In an emergency, call 911 or your local fire department. No Engineering company provides medical advice. No Engineering company investigates government cover-ups, conspiracies, extra-terrestrial sightings, supernatural activity, strange noises, or performs non-Engineering investigations.

Heimer Engineering's engineering services are only available in the State of New York. We do not perform inspections or recommend Inspectors or Engineers in the areas outside New York. There are no one-time exceptions to this policy.

We do not provide appraisal, contracting, installation, expediting, or repair services. We do not perform environmental testing or remediation. We are not associated with any contractor, and do not recommend specific contractors. We do not provide architectural or surveying services, nor can we recommend architects or surveyors.

The Website was designed by Harold Krongelb. Post design review was performed by Matthew John Rapisarda.

The Heimer Engineering and/or and it's Professional Engineers are members of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). the National Academy of Building Inspection Engineers (NABIE). the Better Business Bureau (BBB). the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE). the New York State Society of Professional Engineers (NYSSPE). the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). the International Code Council (ICC). and the American Society of Heating and Refrigeration Engineers (ASHRE) .

We are not associated with the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI), National Society of Home Inspectors (NSHI), InterNachi (NACHI), or any other home or building inspection society. Most of these societies have standards of practice that exclude Engineering, so we cannot provide a comparison of our services to a home inspection society's published standards.

Heimer Engineering PC 2171 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 230 Commack. Nueva York. USA 11725-2947 Heimer Engineering PC PO Box 1078 Commack. Nueva York. USA 11725-0942

International Standard of Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) Revision 4 Classification: 71 North American Industry Classification System (SAISC) Classification: 541330. 541350

Telephone: 800.605.1500. 718.547.2000. 718.237.7777. 212.563.4777. 516.487.2100 , 845.638.4900. 718.544.3000. 718.227.5000. 631.858.5500. 631.549.2500. 914.576.6100 Fax: 631.858.5599 URL: https://www. heimer. com Email: Info@heimer. com

T ermites are the major wood-destroying structural pests in the southern United States. According to some estimates, over $2 billion are spent annually in the U. S. controlling or preventing termite infestations. In North Carolina, our main problem is with subterranean termites . i. e. termites that normally live below ground and may move up into a structure where they cause damage.

Termites are "social insects", i. e. they live in a nest or colony which is typically found underground, often near a tree, stump, wood pile or other source of 'food'. Each colony contains a king and queen who are brown in color. The queen is able to lay thousands of eggs each year. There are also soldier termites which have large heads equipped with large mandibles ("jaws"). The soldiers protect the colony from invaders (such as ants). The majority of the colony consists of thousands of whitish workers who have various jobs within the colony. Some workers take care of the queen and the newly hatching immatures (sometimes called "larvae"). Other workers forage (search) for food. The foraging workers are the ones that we find infesting wood. As the colony grows, the workers expand the nest and their feeding area. A mature colony will contain 200,000 to 2,000,000 workers, although many colonies contain as few as 50,000-60,000. Studies have also shown that termites from a single colony may forage across an area of one-third acre and travel over 200 feet from their nest. One acre of land may support several termite colonies (although this doesn't mean that all of them are invading your home!). A large termite colony does not usually occupy a single underground nest. As the foraging area expands the colony actually splits to form several smaller "nesting sites ".

Without a periodic inspection of your home, termite activity can remain undetected for years. Some signs of their activity show up unexpectedly, while others are discovered by accident or during renovations. Here are some key signs of a termite infestation:

Swarming - A termite colony matures in 3-5 years and begins to produce swarmers (winged adults). In North Carolina, we have at least three species of termites that begin swarming in late winter and continue into September or October. Swarming usually occurs during the day, particularly on warm days following rain. Swarmers found outdoors near tree stumps, landscape timbers, etc. are not an indication that your house is infested, but they serve as a reminder that termites live around us. When swarming occurs indoors, it usually means that you have an infestation somewhere within your house. Several species of ants also swarm at the same times of the year as termites. Winged termites and ants look somewhat similar, but you can tell them apart by certain features. If you're not sure whether you have termites or ants, show them to a pest control professional or bring specimens to your county Cooperative Extension Center for identification.

Mud tubes [ TOP ] Unlike ants, termites do not roam around out in the open. They will either tunnel through wood (or other material) or else travel inside pencil-size (or larger) mud tubes that they build from soil, wood particles and other materials. You will find these tubes on foundation walls, floor joists or other parts of the house. Tubes may also hang from the floor system (see picture below) or may be found protruding from cracks between boards and beams and even through holes termites may chew through sheet rock on walls and ceilings. Break open the tubes to see if termites are still active. An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gone; they may have simply abandoned this particular tunnel. Termites often rebuild damaged tubes, which is another indication of current activity. 'Old' tubes are dry and crumble easily, leaving behind "etching" on the surface that may be visible for years (an indication that a house had termite activity at some time). Without knowing the inspection history of the house, it is impossible to tell or guess at the age of tunnels or etching.

Tubes that are found on ceilings or on the second floor of buildings may indicate that you have a "secondary" or aboveground ("aerial") infestation, i. e. the termite colony actually lives in the building and the termites are traveling up from the soil. Mud tubes built by an aboveground colony usually contain materials other than soil, e. g. wood and sheet rock or whatever the termites are feeding on. Secondary infestations occur when there is a serious moisture problem or leak somewhere within the structure. In such situations, a thorough inspection may require removal of siding or interior wallboards, etc. More importantly for you, secondary infestations cannot be controlled with the usual soil treatment (see below ). Finding and correcting the moisture problem is the first step to eliminating the termites.

Examples of mud tubes: (Note: images made load slowly depending on your internet connection)

What should you do if you think or discover that your home is infested with termites?

No entre en pánico.

Have your house inspected by a pest management professional

Don't rush your decision on how to deal with any termite problem.

If you have a termite protection contract, contact the pest control company immediately and arrange for them to check out the problem. If you do not have a termite contract, call 2-3 (or more) companies and have each one inspect your home and provide you with the details of their findings and any recommendations for a course of action to correct any termite problems that they found. Take your time to evaluate their proposals and determine your best course of action. Termites do not cause significant damage in a short period of time, so spending a few extra days or even a few weeks will not make any real difference in terms how much damage occurs.

There are several important questions you need to ask:

How extensive is the problem?

What should be done to eliminate the termite activity?

How much will this work cost?

What kind of guarantee does the company offer?

Is there damage that should be repaired or at least examined by a contractor or engineer before control measures are performed?

You can find additional information in the publication ENT/rsc-3, Tips on Selecting Pest Control Services .

Simply spraying swarmers or the surface of accessible infested wood may kill the termites that you see now, but it does not stop the infestation nor does it protect your house from further attacks by termites. The most common type of termite treatment involves a "trench and treat" where a liquid insecticide (termiticide) is applied to the soil surrounding critical areas of your house. The most critical area needing treatment is the foundation wall (see the image to the right). The soil is trenched 6" deep and about 4-6" wide. For houses with crawlspaces, the soil along the interior foundation wall must be treated at least within 4 feet of identified signs of termite activity. In some cases, the soil around supports (such as piers) underneath the house are also treated. In order to be effective, this treatment must extend down through the soil to the top of the foundation footer. When applied correctly, this treatment forms a continuous chemical barrier that should prevent termites from reaching the foundation and piers in your house. Current North Carolina regulations also require drilling and treating of:

Concrete slabs that attach to the house, for example, a garage floor, or the slab of an earth-filled porch.

Voids inside foundation walls, piers. etc. within 4 feet of known termite activity.

The side walls of earth-filled porches within 3-feet of the foundation wall and any structural wood.

These specifications are the current minimum requirements for a treatment under state regulations. Some pest control companies still drill and treat the entire foundation wall and piers. Some companies offer "spot treatments", i. e. they treat only the area(s) of the house where termites are found. A spot treatment may seem like a good idea because it costs less than a full treatment. However, there are some important points to remember. First, a spot treatment may not correct the problem. Second, except when done under an existing contract, a spot treatment often carries a very limited guarantee (or no guarantee at all). It's your house, your money, your choice. Don't let economics be your only determining point about how to protect your house from termites. On a new contract (treatment), any treatment procedures that will not be done according to NC regulations must be noted on an official Waiver of Minimum Standards form. You must sign this form as part of your contract. If you are asked to sign a waiver form make sure you understand what each waived item means (i. e. what work is not being done and why it is not being done).

Another option for treatment is the use of a termite bait . These products are used differently from liquid treatments and may be used with a liquid treatment. Click HERE for more information about termite baits.

Regardless of whether you have a liquid termite treatment or a baiting system installed, remember this important point: Before you sign a service agreement or contract, read it carefully . Here are some questions to help you evaluate the proposed service:

How will the treatment will be done?

Does the proposed treatment require a waiver? If so, what treatment specifications will not be done? Why aren't they being done?

What type of guarantee is included under the contract? Some contracts offer a "retreatment-only" guarantee. If there is a repair guarantee, what is or is not covered by the guarantee?

Does signing any waiver in any way affect the guarantee?

What are the terms for renewing or maintaining the contract and guarantee? (see the section below on Annual Contracts )

A list of commonly-used termiticides can be found in the current edition of the North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual. You can also contact the NCDA &CS for a complete list of all currently registered termiticides.

Although there are termiticides available for homeowner use. we do not recommend the "Do-it-Yourself" (DIY) approach for chemical control of termites for several reasons. Many products have instructions for spraying the surface of infested wood. Simply spraying swarmers or the surface of accessible infested wood kills the termites that you see at that time, but it does not protect the interior parts of that infested wood nor does it protect your house from further termite attacks. If you see termites in one area, don't assume that it's the only infested area or that what you see is the extent of the problem in that area. Only a thorough inspection can show if the termites are also feeding someplace else and even then, termites could be infesting your home in areas that are inaccessible (and uninspectable. Also, simply spraying the soil surface and/or exterior foundation wall is not going to stop a termite infestation below ground and possibly entering your home from below ground.

What is needed to do a liquid termite treatment correctly?

As previously explained, a proper termite treatment can be very complex. You must trench and treat the soil along the foundation and on all sides of piers. The trenches must be 4-6 inches wide and 6 inches deep, depending on the depth of your foundation's footer. Crawlspaces can be difficult (and potentially hazardous) places in which to work particularly if you're trying to trench and treat the soil with a pesticide. Most pesticide labels require pesticide applicators working in confined spaces, such as crawlspaces, to wear specific personal protective equipment such as a cartridge-type air filtering respirator (not simply a dust filtering mask)

You need a substantial volume of diluted chemical. Termiticides are applied to the soil at the rate of 4 gallons per 10 linear feet per foot of depth (i. e. the depth from the soil surface down to the top of the foundation footer ). Most footers in eastern and central NC are about 12-18 inches below grade (soil level). Therefore, a house with a 40 ft x 30 ft "footprint" (140 linear feet) and a one-foot deep footer would require 56 gallons of termiticide spray just to treat the soil along the outside foundation wall. The total amount of chemical needed will depend whether the interior foundation wall needs to be treated (in part or all of it) and on other aspects of the building construction (such as attached garage slabs, earth-filled porches, etc.) but could easily exceed 100 gallons . Houses with basements or those built on slopes may have deeper footers and so you would also need the equipment to treat to the necessary depth which could be as much as 4 feet . Few homeowners have the equipment to mix and apply large quantities of chemical effectively and safely.

As mentioned in the previous section, a proper treatment includes drilling and treating concrete slabs (such as porches and garages) as well as voids in foundation walls and piers that are adjacent to the termite infestation. This part of the treatment requires some understanding of construction, plus specialized equipment and training to avoid injuries or damage to underground utility lines or to the masonry. Although you could skip this part of the work, an incomplete treatment may not solve the problem and may leave your house vulnerable to continued or future termite attack.

The cost of the chemical is higher for consumer products. For example, in 2000, one brand of permethrin-based termiticide available at a large retail store in Raleigh, NC was priced at approximately $17.00 per pint. According to the product label, the chemical is applied at a 0.5% concentration which requires adding 5 ounces of chemical per gallon of water . Using the example of the house mentioned above, your cost to purchase the chemical needed to treat just the soil around the foundation (56 gallons) would be nearly $300 .

There are several products including a termite bait. sprayable foam, and a granular insecticide available for consumer use. READ THE LABELS ON THESE PRODUCTS THOROUGHLY AND CAREFULLY BEFORE PURCHASING AND/OR USING THEM. The product labels all contain a statement to the effect that the use of these products is NOT a substitute for mechanical alteration, soil and foundation treatment, but merely a supplement. In other words, these products will kill termites but they will not eliminate an active termite infestation in your home nor will they product your house from future termite infestations.

Difficult or problem situations [ TOP ]

There are situations where a conventional termite treatment is particularly difficult, undesirable, or even impossible. Some situations call require special handling, others may require alternative approaches. Por ejemplo:

Liquid treatment is considered too difficult.

There is a foundation drain

Heating/air conditioning ducts are located under or in a slab floor

The treatment requires extensive drilling of floor slabs through wooden, tiled or carpeted floors, or through other masonry that could be damaged.

Liquid treatment is illegal, e. g. there is a well or cistern under the house

Liquid treatment is considered unacceptable for whatever reason.

The treatment requires extensive drilling of floor slabs through wooden, tiled or carpeted floors, or through other masonry.

You do not want liquid pesticides applied under/near your house.

In these situations, there are few alternatives such as termite baits or mechanical control. Termite baits are discussed in the publication ENT/rsc-20.

Wood Treatments Although local or "spot" wood treatments stop termite activity in the treated area . they are not complete termite treatments and they will not stop termites from attacking wood in other areas. One treatment option uses the chemical disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT). This borax-derived chemical is applied to critical wooden structural components in the crawlspace and parts of the framing in a house under construction. Data provided by product manufacturers suggest that termites do not extend their tubes over treated wood nor do they cause any structural damage. However, depending on the type of construction involved, it may be possible for termites to bypass this treatment and attack nearby untreated wood such as baseboard molding, trim, etc. Chemicals that are suitable for wood treatments are listed in the current edition of the NC Agricultural Chemicals Manual.

Fumigation In North Carolina, structural fumigation (sometimes called "tenting") is rarely used for our common subterranean termites. Most residential fumigations are performed for drywood termites, which are relatively uncommon in North Carolina, or for wood-boring beetles particularly in log homes.

In most cases, the termite treatment on your house includes a one-year termite protection warranty from the pest control company. After one year, you must decide if you want to continue your contract. The cost of a renewal for a house that was treated with a liquid termiticide is typically between $85-$200, depending on the size and construction type of the house and perhaps the type of guarantee (explained below). The most frequently asked question is "Do I really need the annual contract?" Essentially, this is a matter of personal choice, i. e. how much "peace of mind" do you want in terms of protecting your home from termites. Remember: termites are always around us and always looking for "food" (wood). That fact alone does not mean that they are constantly attacking your house. It simply means that there is always some chance that termites might find their way unseen into your house.

The US Environmental Protection Agency requires that termiticide manufacturers prove that their chemicals can remain effective in the soil for at least five years. In most situations, these chemicals usually last longer when applied properly . However, this 5-year requirement is not a guarantee that termites cannot (or will not) invade your house within a five year period. A number of factors such as the quality of home maintenance or the disturbance of the treated soil during renovation or landscaping activities can disrupt the chemical barrier and provide termites with opportunities to invade. These renewals are somewhat like medical insurance policies. You pay to protect your home against the possibility of termite attack. An annual contract can be an effective way of preventing termites from causing significant damage over the years. Likewise, this 5-year requirement by the EPA does not mean that the chemical is totally ineffective after 5 years. This last point will be addressed down below under "Booster Treatments "

An annual contract does not mean that the pest control company re-treats your house every year. Unless there is some evidence of termite activity in the house, annual treatments are actually illegal under most termiticide labels (and therefore illegal under both state and federal law). With a termite protection contract, the pest control company inspects (or should inspect) your house for termites annually. If they find evidence of termite activity or if you find evidence of termite activity, then the company takes some appropriate measures, usually a local or 'spot' treatment of the infested area. You should not have to pay for any additional treatment to correct a termite problem; that cost is covered by your annual fee. In return, the company expects you to do your part in maintaining your house in a condition that does not increase likelihood of termite problems. For example, routine home maintenance helps prevents moisture problems or other conditions that are conducive to termite activity in the area, i. e. if termites find such area, they are more likely to remain active or expand their activity in that area. Make sure that the termite inspector explains any problem areas that he/she finds during the inspections so that you can correct these problems as soon as possible. In some cases, your failure to correct reported problems may void your termite protection contract. If you're not home when the house is inspected, the inspector should leave some sort of notice or report about his/her findings. If you're not clear on the results, call the company's office and ask them to explain if anything important was found.

Does my contract coverage termite damage? An important point about your contract concerns damage. Many people assume that their contract covers damage repairs, but that is not always the case. Some termite protection contracts offer "retreatment only", i. e. the pest control company will retreat areas as necessary in order to correct the problem, but the retreatment is all they are obligated to do under the terms of your contract. Other contracts cover a retreatment as well as the cost of repairs to wood or other structural components that are damaged by the termites. These contracts may have a higher annual renewal fee than a "retreat-only" contract. While a repair warranty may be an important option to you, but it's important to understand the limits of the repair coverage. If your house is infested when you have it treated, then you should assume that there could be hidden damage, e. g. to wood framing behind a wall.

Read your contract carefully . If you have had the contract since the house was built (and presumably it was not built with termite damaged wood), then the damage should be covered by the terms of the contract. This assumes that you have upheld your part by not disrupting the treated soil or allowing termite-favorable conditions to prevail. On the other hand, if you buy an previously-owned home that has not had a contract (regardless of when it was last treated), then the contract likely excludes existing damage . For example, if in the course of renovating your house you find termite damage behind a wall but there are no termites present, this situation is usually considered to be "existing damage" (prior to the start of your contract) and therefore it is excluded from your repair guarantee because there is no way to determine if the damage occurred before or after the start of your contract. We are not aware of any scientifically sound way to precisely determine the age of termite damage. This exclusion is not simply an excuse for the company to avoid their contractual obligations to you. It is legitimate issue that you need to understand and should have it explained to you BEFORE you sign the contract. For your own protection, make sure you receive (and keep) records provided to you by the company. Also, if you sell your house, you should pass these records onto the buyer. Important records to keep include:

Your original contract which should include a graph of the house with details of the initial inspection and the treatment specifications.

All annual inspection reports and any noted changes in the conditions of your house, including new signs of termite activity, moisture conditions, etc.

One other important point of note. Your termite protection contract is strictly that - a contract for termites and termite control. Unless specified otherwise, your contract does not include inspections or coverage for other wood-damaging pests, such as carpenter ants or powderpost beetles (although the inspector may note such problems and bring them to your attention), or even other types of pests such as millipedes, cockroaches, etc.

For additional advice on consumer protection and your termite contract, read the publication A Homeowner's guide to Termite Control Service Agreements and Warranties by the NC Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services.

Preventive Treatments for Termites

Current North Carolina Building Code requires that all residential structures under construction have some sort of termite protective treatment. The particular type termite treatment does not have to be a liquid treatment. It is a matter of choice by the builder and/or owner but it must be a method approved by the NC Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services. Additional information about preconstruction treatments is available at the following links:

As mentioned previously, modern termiticides applied properly to the soil are typically effective for 5-10 years. This doesn't mean that after 5 or 10 years every termite in the neighborhood makes a mad rush at your house. It's simply that the odds favor the termites eventually finding their way in at some point, depending in large part on how you maintain your house and property (see Reducing the Threat of Termites Around Your Home ).

"Booster Treatments" As mentioned earlier, EPA currently requires that liquid termiticides be effective for 5 years. This does not mean that the chemical is completed gone after five years. Many people wonder if they need to have their house retreated for termites after a certain number of years have passed. If you have a termite protection contract, some companies may require a " booster treatment " after some period of time in order to maintain your guarantee. Such a requirement would be specified in your original contract; so read your contract carefully BEFORE signing it. These treatments are usually partial retreatments, such as just treating the soil around the foundation. More importantly for you, the cost for this treatment is usually not covered by your current contract and you will have to pay for the work (often $600-$1200, depending on the size and complexity of the construction). If you decide to discontinue your contract you'll either be without a termite protection policy or you will need to find another company which may or may not require a similar treatment. At that point, you're back "square one" and evaluating what type of service and contract the company (or companies) offer. As an option to having a booster treatment, the company may offer to continue your current contract but at a significantly higher annual renewal (perhaps 25%-50% higher). Again, read your current contract to see if there are terms concerning booster treatments and/or increases in your annual fee.

An important point to consider if you need to decide on getting a booster treatment or switching companies - if you currently have a repair warranty and want to continue with one, you will again have the exclusion of "current/old" damage if you switch companies. In general, if a repair contract is that important to you AND you have had your house under continuous contract with the same company since the day it was built, then you're probably better off staying with that original company because ANY termite damage that is found must have occurred during the period of your coverage and therefore it IS covered by your repair warranty.

Other than with a contract requirement, a pest control company may only suggest that you get a termite treatment if you do not have an identified termite problem . They cannot tell you that need one. If you don't have a termite problem, then a preventive treatment is a matter of YOUR choice . You can follow the old adage of "if it ain't broke. " However, it falls to you to be responsible for knowing "when it's broke", which is why annual inspections are valuable. You can simply wait until a problem occurs and then have a treatment done at that time. On the other hand, if it would make you sleep better at night knowing that your house has been treated and you have some sort of contract, then it's your money, your house, your decision.

Non-Chemical Control of Termites [ TOP ]

Alternatives to chemical control of termites (i. e. to control an active infestation) are limited. Long term, non-chemical approaches to termite control focus on prevention. Here are a few approaches that may help with, but not necessarily prevent or likely eliminate, an active termite infestation.

State regulations require pest control operators to remove termite tubes as part of a complete liquid termite treatment. Removing the tubes provides a way to determine if a termite infestation remains active after treatment or if the termites reappear in the same area later.

Scraping away mud tubes as the sole means of control can be impractical and is probably unwise in many cases (such as with slab construction where much of the termite activity may be inaccessible). Los tubos son una indicación de que las termitas están activas alrededor de la casa. What you can't easily determine, even with a careful inspection, is whether termites may be active in a foundation or wall void or some other visually inaccessible area of your home.

Although it's convenient, it is not a good idea to turn your crawlspace into a general storage area, particularly for items made of wood, cardboard or paper which can serve as food for termites. The same problem arises when tree stumps are left under houses during construction. State regulations require that liquid termite treatments (but not bait treatments) include the removal cellulose debris of a size that can be removed with an ordinary garden rake. Removing the debris helps reduce food resources that could be used by termites. This topic is discussed under preventive measures.

Termites live in an environment that is filled with microorganisms, including many that are lethal to them. One such pathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae has been developed commercially into a product called BioBlast®. This product, which contains fungal spores, is applied to accessible termite infestations aboveground. The spores germinate and the fungus penetrates the insect's cuticle (outer skin). The fungus grows inside the insect's body and eventually kills it. Infected termites coming in contact with other members of their colony can mechanically transfer the fungus to them. BioBlast® is not labeled for application to the soil and there are no data to suggest that such soil applications would be effective. Because the product is labeled for aboveground applications only, it has not been used significantly in North Carolina.

A great deal of research is going on concerning termite-resistant building materials. In most cases, these materials are most easily installed in new construction; however, some materials can be fit to existing houses (although the cost may be significant.) For more information about mechanical barriers see ENT/rsc-25, Preventive Measures for New Construction

If you are not satisfied with the service you are getting from a pest control company or you feel that your questions are not being answered, you have some recourse. First, you should talk to the company's manager or owner to make sure that the problem is not simply a matter of misunderstanding or miscommunication. If you're still not satisfied with the response you receive, then contact the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (919-733-6100) for assistance.

OTHER RELATED WEB PAGES

Termites

Termites are wood eaters and they can cause significant damage to homes and other wooden structures. There are three different types of termites: drywood, subterranean, and damp wood. Because of their different habitats and behaviors, specific control measures are used for each type of termite .

Control tips:

Make sure you have properly identified the termites. Many ants can be easily confused with termites because they look very similar and tend to swarm at the same time. Check out the resources below with pictures and descriptions.

Successful termite control often requires specific knowledge of termite behavior and treatment techniques. Do-it-yourself termite treatments may not be as effective as professional treatments. Some termiticides can only be used by trained and licensed professionals.

Take your time and do your homework when selecting a termite control company. Termite treatments can be costly and time consuming. Getting estimates, inspections, treatment and warranty information from multiple companies can help you make an informed choice between companies, pesticides and methods.

Prevent termites from infesting your home by removing wood stored under or next to your house. It can act as a bridge for termites to go from the soil to your house.

If you have questions about this, or any pesticide-related topic, please call NPIC at 1-800-858-7378 (8:00am - 12:00pm PST), or email us at npic@ace. orst. edu .

Additional Resources:

Identification and Control:

Subterranean/Dampwood

Drywood

How to Kill Termites

Termite fumigation can eradicate up to 100% of a termite infestation. Homeowners must vacate the property while the house is treated.

Treatment Options for Homeowners

So you found signs of termites in your home? That’s okay, homeowners have many different termite management options in determining how to kill termites. Before setting out to eradicate a termite infestation, it’s important to know what a termite is and to understand what kind of termites you are dealing with. This knowledge will guide your control options and should help to limit termite treatment cost because you will be targeting the species in the correct way.

For the purposes of this article, we will focus on outlining four general ways to kill termites. Each method has its strengths and weaknesses and should you decide to hire a pest management professional, they might have their preferred method. Keep in mind that some termite treatments may be limited due to licensing requirements.

Each of these options will be covered in greater detail in the future.

Termite Liquid Chemical Barriers

Liquid chemical barriers to kill termites, otherwise known as termiticide, is the most traditional form of termite treatment, and is effective against subterranean termites. There are two different sub-types of liquid chemical barrier for termite treatment:

Repellent Termite Insecticides

Non-repellent Termite Insecticides

Repellent Termite Insecticides

These insecticides primarily repel termites away from a structure and can often be used as a preventative termite control before a structure is even built. Pest Management Professionals use these when immediately stopping the ingress of subterranean termites is needed. However, it can also prevent termites that are already inside the barrier to remain. Sometimes they could begin a second colony inside the barrier. Other times, these termites might be trapped and die.

Non-repellent Termite Insecticides

Non-repellent chemical treatments are an effective way to kill termites because they are designed to affect termites without termites knowing they have come in contact with it. The methods to kill termites vary with each insecticide. Some are designed to affect an entire termite colony through affecting the growth of nymphs which will prevent new generations from developing. Other termite insecticides change the eusocial behavior of termites so that they no longer interact. In each example, those termites which require others for survival like nymphs or reproductives, even some soldiers, will die because they cannot feed themselves.

Termite Bait Systems

Bait systems appear as hollow plastic stakes which are deployed around a structure. These tubes are filled with material appealing to a termite’s appetite, but also contains slow-acting chemicals to kill termites. This slow action is meant to allow time for the foraging termites to exit the area of the bait stations and to return to the colony to share the bait with other termites in the colony. Sometimes, total eradication of a termite colony can be achieved in this way, but isn’t necessarily required to prevent further damage to a structure. New Zealand has used bait stations to great effect in eradicating invasive Australian subterranean termites .

Fumigation

The first two ways to kill termites are effective against subterranean termites, but will have little to no effect against drywood termites. Because drywood termites colonize the interior wood structure of a home, there would be no interaction with a chemical barrier or bait station. Due to that, fumigation exists as an effective way to kill drywood termites. The termite treatment cost of fumigation is generally very expensive compared to other treatment options, but it can be 100% effective in eliminating entire colonies. Unfortunately, fumigation is extremely toxic and residents must leave the home for the entire termite treatment period while the home is tented and sealed, which can be up to a week. Luckily, there is no residue following a fumigation and any hidden infestations can be eradicated.

Localized Wood Treatment

The final general category for how to kill termites is the localized, or spot treatment of infected wood. This can be a relatively inexpensive termite treatment cost depending on the method chosen, but provides far less assurance that an entire infestation has been eradicated. One of the easiest localized treatments is to remove the infected wood, and the colony along with it. There is little guarantee when doing this that all of the termites have been removed and it can require significant carpentry skills depending on where the homeowner has found signs of termites. The University of California Davis has an article with a great table titled Summary of Commercially Available Drywood Termite Management Options. Other localized treatment options include:

Chemical liquids & polvo

Chemical foams

Liquid nitrogen

Electrocution

Calor

Microwaves

DIY Termite Treatment

Many homeowners feel overwhelmed when considering control methods and termite treatment costs. Because of this, a lot will ask the question, “How can I kill termites on my own?” Many of the treatment options listed require a professional. However, there are a few options that a homeowner can try before resorting to paying termite treatment costs to a pest management professional. In later posts, we will discuss a few of these do-it-yourself ways to kill termites. Until then, consider your infestation and start shopping for quotes.

Have any readers had success with one treatment option or another? Let us know in the comments below!

DIY termite solutions are a great way to cut down cost on pest management in the short run. However, contacting a professional exterminator would be a wiser choice in the long run, as the probability of the termites re-invading your home is lower, when treatment is done by the professional.

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If you realize that you have termites in your home, it’s important that you immediately call us. Our pest control consultants will talk to you about the termite control process, how the removal process will work, as well as the effects it will have on your home.

What Are Termites?

Termites are social insects that live in organized colonies similar to bees and ants. Termite nests are highly structured communities where termites split into two major groups, according to their reproductive ability. The sterile termites are wingless blind workers and soldiers who stay underground to do the heavy lifting such as foraging and nest building. Termites are “social cockroaches” that evolved from a common stem with cockroaches about 220 million years ago. Although termites are often called “white ants” because of their pale color, termites are developmentally related to cockroaches. In fact, ants are the primary predators of termites.

Call General Exterminating today for a free phone quote at (631) 281-2336

Termites are pests because they feed voraciously on wood and may also destroy paper products such as books, cardboard, boxes and a variety of other items. They cause very extensive damage to buildings, and endanger lives when they attack building foundations and beams that are made of wood. Even buildings with steel framing and masonry walls are targets because of the wooden door and window frames, cabinets and shelving within the buildings.

A termite colony is large, composed of the queen, king, winged reproductive swarmers, soldiers and workers. Worker termites are small, creamy white insects. They are the most numerous and the cause of all the termite damage.

DRYWOOD TERMITES establish themselves in wood that is not decayed, or in contact with ground moisture, and which appears to be perfectly dry. This species can live in wood with as little as 3% moisture content. They tend to be found in attics of buildings where they can live without any soil connections whatsoever. Drywood termites are larger than their cousins, the subterranean termites.

SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES are the most damaging species among termites. They must, however, be in regular contact with water. Hence, they nest underground sometimes attacking timber foundations. Subterranean termites differ from the dry-wood and damp-wood termites in that colonies usually need to maintain contact with the soil in order to acquire enough water to survive. In some cases, where structural timbers are sufficiently moist, colonies are able to survive without ground contact. The underground colony lives in a series of chambers and galleries from which they construct mud tubes to the wood which they use as food. They can also nest above the ground if there is a constant source of water such as from a leaking pipe or air-conditioner.

FastKil’s staff are comprehensively trained and equipped to control all types of termites in residential, commercial and industrial areas such as restaurants, hotels, apartments, houses, offices, factories, warehouses, granaries.

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How a Termite Treatment is Done

Termite treatments are only as good as the quality of the work done by the pest control operator. Termite treatments were done from 1948 through 1988 with Chlordane - a chemical so effective against termites that if you had a treatment done in 1988, it will still be good until 2038 and probably longer. However, even termite treatments done with Chlordane were known to fail. How could this be? Was the chemical inconsistent? Did the termites develop immunity to this otherwise lethal pesticide? No, the reason a chlordane termite treatment or any other treatment fails is almost always because of operational error. In other words, the termite treatment you receive is only as good as the execution provided by the pest control operator or business.

It's All About the Barrier, Stupid!

A conventional termite treatment uses liquid pesticides to provide a chemical barrier that the termites have to cross to enter the home. (Bait systems are termite treatments also, but they involve the termites ingesting the termiticide and killing off the colony.) One of the most popular termite treatments for the last ten years has been Termidor, a trade name, or its more common generic name, Fipronil. Fipronil or Termidor is undetectable by termites. They are not repelled by it and when they come into contact with it, it gets on their "skin" (they have exoskeleton bodies. ) and then, because termites rub up against each other constantly in their colonies and shelter tubes, it is communicated to the rest of the colony and then eventually to the Queen. Once she dies, the colony dies.

So, whether it is by liquid treatment or even with a bait system, the termite treatment can still fail if there are areas where the termites access the structure without making contact with the Termidor or Fipronil. Additionally, if the chemical is not mixed correctly and then applied, it is subject to fail then as well.

In the end, all termite treatments are only as effective as the complete barrier they create. If the barrier has gaps or holes in it, then the barrier might as well not be there.

Liquid Termite Treatments

Repeat treatments also mean the pest control treater is not solving the problem of how the termites are getting into your house. If your house is a slab or concrete foundation, then the usual treatment is performed by digging a small trench about 6” -12” deep around the perimeter of your foundation. A termiticide is then sprayed into the trench. The trench is covered back over and that is it for the perimeter. Where there are concrete porches, sidewalks, etc. abutting the house foundation, the pest control treater will drill through the porch concrete and inject termiticide into the ground. The same thing is done for pipe penetrations in the house like sewer lines (toilets), bath tubs and sometimes, water lines. The pest control operator drills a hole through the foundation next to the toilet or other area until he reaches the soil below the slab. Then he injects the soil with termiticide. The idea is to put termiticide in the soil where subterranean termites can enter the house – along the sides of the slab and around pipe penetrations and cold joints between two slabs.

Bait Systems for Termite Treatment

A bait system is where the pest control operator inserts baiting tubes into the ground around the home in theoretically strategic locations. These are called "bait stations" and are put in the ground with wood or other cellulose materials inside the tubes. This is the bait. The pest control operator then, theoretically, monitors these stations on a monthly, quarterly or biannually basis to see if subterranean termites are feeding on the wood or cellulose in the bait stations. If live subterranean termites are found in the bait stations, then the pest control operator replaces the "bait" (the wood or cellulose material) with a termiticide. Ideally, the replacement does not disturb the subterrean termites feeding on the "bait" and they then ingest the termiticide.

In Sentricon® systems, the termiticide is Recruit II® and this agent is brought into the colony where the queen, as well as most of the remainder colony ingests it and dies. Once the queen dies, the colony is considered eliminated, although termites, like most insects, have other colony members capable of replacing the queen if necessary.

Keys to a bait system working are the consistent and careful monitoring of the system. Bait systems are no less fallable than conventional liquid treatments and are generally far more costly.

NEW PHONE & FAX: Phone: 512 221 0121 Fax: 512 233 2559

If you know or even think you have a termite problem in or around your home in Connecticut, winter is the best time to start killing these destructive insects. Why do I say winter is the best time? Simple you can save a lot of money by having a Sentricon termite baiting system professionally installed around your home. Now is a slow time of the year for termite control and elimination, I can give you an awesome deal on a getting rid of your termite problem. Give me a call for a free inspection and quote…. (203) 935-7357. Although we are in the midst of winter and the ground is too cold for termites in Connecticut to be active they are still in the ground…in their colony…waiting for the weather to warm up so they can start eating. Be proactive…be ready for when the termites come out to feed.

The Sentricon termite baiting system came out in 1995, as an alternative to liquid soil treatments. In Connecticut, the Sentricon system is designed to eliminate entire termite colonies, even those of the Formosan subterranean termite. Termite liquid treatments can diminish over time…the effectiveness of the Sentricon system gets better over time. It is also environmentally friendly.

The Sentricon termite baiting system is the only termite control product ever to earn the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award.

So if you know or think you have a termite problem in Connecticut, give me a call for a free inspection and quote…

Save money this winter on your Sentricon termite baiting system and get rid of your termite problem before the weather warms up and they come out to feed on your home.

Termites live in all 50 states except for Alaska. Connecticut has a high concentration of termite colonies. So you think no…it can’t be true….I can’t have termites on my property eating my home. Here are five signs that you have termites.

First off, if you see swarming termites around it is a sure sign you have a termite problem. These swarming termites usually come around in the spring when they try to create a new colony on your property. If you see theses swarming insects it means you already have an existing colony of termites in the ground that is trying to expand their foothold and possibly devour your home.

A second sign of termite activity is seeing termite mud tunnels or shelter tubes. These tunnels made out of a mud-like substance create a moisture rich highway system into and out of your house. Las termitas necesitan humedad para vivir. You may want to break open any termite shelter tubes you see in order to ascertain whether there are active termites in them or not.

Thirdly, you may want to start poking around in any mulch around your house to look for live termites living in the ground. In most instances subterranean termites do not live in your home they live in the ground in colonies of 10,000 to a million insects. Fourth, check any hollowed out wood on your property such as tree stumps and railroad ties used as border. You can use a screwdriver or knife to explore the wood.

Lastly a sure sign of termite activity is seeing dirt in any wood damage you have on your property. Termites will leave behind dirt in the wood where they eat or trail through it. This is how you can tell if it is water damage or termite damage.

If you see any of these signs around your home or property you should call a Connecticut licensed termite inspector. Termites will not stop feeding on your home until their colony or colonies are eradicated.

So you live in Connecticut and you have these bugs flying around in a swarm around your property or worse, in your house. Is it the dreaded termite swarm or are they flying ants? What they are could mean a world of difference on how you protect your home and get rid of them. When termites swarm they are often misidentified as “flying ants”. This is a common mistake because termite alates look very much like ants.

Swarming termites in Connecticut will have beaded antennae, four wings that are equal in size and a broad waist. Whereas, flying ants will have elbowed antennae, four wings of which the front wings are larger than the back wings, and a constricted waist.

If you aren’t sure or think that you do have swarming termites or termite damage in you home it is very important to take care of this problem ASAP. You should have a Connecticut approved termite inspection done on your dwelling in order to save your property from any termite damage or future damage that is bound to occur. Termites don’t just leave they need to be dealt with by a reputable termite company that is licensed by the state of Connecticut.

Subterranean termites in Connecticut maintain their headquarters in the ground and build mud tubes about the size of a pencil which connects their nest to a food source such as wood or cellulose. These mud tubes may contain broken mud particles with fecal materials. Mud tubes or shelter tubes are proof of termite infestation, but their absence does not necessarily mean that a structure is free of termites. These termites may reach window sills and other wood members through cracks or voids in the foundation wall, under the outside stucco, or from earth-filled porches, steps, terraces, or patios. You can break open any mud tubes you find in order to determine if termites are still active inside. Termites in Connecticut may often rebuild damaged tubes, which is another indication of continued activity. Los viejos tubos están secos y se desmenuzan fácilmente. While new mud tubes may be moist and spongy.

Connecticut subterranean termites construct four different types of mud tubes or tunnels. Working tubes are constructed from nests in the soil to wooden structures; they may travel up concrete or stone foundations. Exploratory and migratory tubes come from the soil but do not connect to wood structures. Drop tubes will extend from wooden structures back to the soil.

If you think you may have found termite mud tubes on your building or near it you should contact a Connecticut licensed termite inspector to have a look at them.

So what is the life-cycle of termites in Connecticut? Subterranean termites in Connecticut are social insects. Hay tres tipos de adultos de termitas en una colonia, reproductores, trabajadores y soldados. Reproductives can be winged or wingless. Winged reproductives have 1/4 to 3/8 inch long pale yellow-brown to black bodies and bear four wings of equal size that may be smoky gray to brown and have few wing veins. Termite workers in Connecticut are white and soft bodied. Soldiers resemble worker termites, except that they have enlarged brownish heads and strong, well-developed jaws. Soldiers defend the colony from invaders which primarily are ants.

In Connecticut subterranean termites nest in the soil. The Winged male and female reproductives swarm from the nest in daylight during the spring and summer, usually after a rain and when proper conditions (heat, temperature and light) occur. The king and the queen termites mate and seek a colony site and stay together because periodic mating is required for continuous egg production and to ensure the hive is always expanding. Termite development from egg to adult takes 2 to 7 weeks. Eggs, produced by the queen develop into wingless nymphs that develop through three stages (instars), requiring 10-14 days, 2-3 weeks and 3-4 weeks. At first, only worker termites are produced. Thereafter, there can be three types of nymphs: 1) false workers or pseudergates with no wing pads that molt continuously; 2) nymphs with wing pads that develop into winged male and female reproductives; and 3) soldier nymphs. Reproductive termites can develop from nymphs with wing pads (primary reproductives) as well as from false worker nymphs (secondary nymphoid repro - ductives or tertiary ergatoid reproductives) in the absence of primary reproductives due to the death of the queen or colony fractionation. A termite colony matures in 2 to 4 years and may contain 21,000 to 365,000 termites.

If you see or think you see any kind of termite on your property, whether it be a winged swarmer or a nymph it is imperative to have a Connecticut licensed termite inspector check your home before any damage or additional unseen damage occurs to your investment.

Successful termite management in Connecticut requires many special skills, including a working knowledge of building construction. An understanding of termite biology and identification can help a homeowner detect problems and understand methods of control. In most cases it is advisable to hire a professional Connecticut pest control company to carry out the inspection and control program.

Connecticut termite management techniques vary depending on the size and location of the termite infestation on or in your property. Multiple colonies of subterranean termites can infest a building. Any of these variables will influence your control approach. Subterranean termites can have nests at or near ground level, so control methods can differ.

Use an integrated program to manage termites. Combine methods such as modifying habitats, excluding termites from the building by physical and chemical means, and using mechanical and chemical methods to destroy existing colonies.

It is always best to use a Connecticut licensed termite inspector to uncover your termite problem. He or she can come up with a game plan to best protect your investment.

For a free termite inspection and quote give me a call, (203) 935-7357

In Connecticut building design may contribute to termite invasion. Here are some tips to help prevent from having your house invaded by termites. Make sure to keep all sub-structural wood at least 12 inches above the soil beneath the building, this will help to make it harder for termites to enter the home. Identify and correct other structural deficiencies that attract or promote termite infestations. Keep attic and foundation areas well ventilated and dry. Use screening over attic vents and seal other openings, such as knotholes and cracks, to discourage the entry of termites. Although screening of foundation vents or sealing other openings into the substructure helps block the entry of termites, these procedures may interfere with adequate ventilation and increase moisture problems, especially if a very fine mesh is used in the screening. Inspect utility and service boxes attached to the building to see that they are sealed and do not provide shelter or a point of entry for termites.

Reduce chances of infestation by removing or protecting any wood in contact with the soil. Inspect porches and other structural or foundation wood for signs of termites. Look for and remove tree stumps, stored lumber, untreated fence posts, and buried scrap wood near the structure that may attract termites. Consult your local city building codes before beginning repairs or modifications.

Recent research has proved the effectiveness of foundation sand barriers for subterranean termite control. Sand with particle sizes in the range of 10 to 16 mesh is used to replace soil around the foundation of a building and sometimes in the crawl space. Subterranean termites are unable to construct their tunnels through the sand and therefore cannot invade wooden structures resting on the foundation. Stainless steel screening may also be available soon as a physical barrier for subterranean termites.

It is very hard to completely protect your home from termites but, by taking these steps, at least you can minimize your exposure to these devastating pests. If you think you may have a termite problem in the making it is advisable to have a Connecticut licensed termite inspector to come out.

As a homeowner or business owner in Connecticut you should be concerned about termites damaging your investment. In Connecticut, subterranean termites cause millions of dollars in damage to homes and businesses yearly. According to the National Pest Management Association termites cause more than 5 billion dollars in damage throughout the United States.

Here are some signs to look for that point to a possible infestation of termites in your property.

Of course if you see winged, swarming termites anywhere on your property it is time to call a Connecticut licensed inspection professional. Swarming termites means there is an established colony expanding around and into your property.

Any hollow sounding wood in your structure could be a termite warning sign. Even though the wood does not look damaged these destructive pests are may be inside the wood eating away. If you have cracked or wood with holes in it this is an optimal entry point for termites to get in and start doing their business.

Mud tubes on the exterior walls of your structure are also a sure sign of active termites. Subterranean termites construct mud tubes to provide themselves with a safe environment while traveling from their underground colonies to their food sources. They may also be found in support piers and floor joists for tubes. Dirt tubes are brown and generally the diameter of a pencil or pen, though some may be larger.

If you see or think you may have warning signs of termite activity it is time to call an experienced Connecticut licensed termite inspector. Most times you can have someone come out and do a free home inspection. If it is found that you have termites this professional can recommend a customized treatment and prevention plan that may involve liquid repellents, wood treatments and or baits to protect your structure from termites.

In Connecticut termites typically will have heavy swarming activity in April and May, but termite swarms may occur throughout the year. It seems that termite swarms in Connecticut will usually occur after it has rained for a couple of days and then we get sunny warmer weather for a couple of days. Termites swarms are neither aggressive nor tightly grouped. A termite swarm happens when certain environmental conditions trigger a great number of these winged termites to simultaneously fly from their nest to mate and to locate new nest sites and food sources. These new nesting areas and food sites may well become your home or dwelling. Once these termites are matched together, a “royal couple” burrows into the ground where the queen begins to lay eggs and start a new colony. Termite colonies can range from two hundred termites to two million termites.

When a swarm occurs in Connecticut, winged termite swarmers called alates emerge in large numbers from cracks in buildings, foundations, or holes in the soil through termite swarm tubes made by the workers. Only a small percentage of these survive to form new colonies, but there are enough of them to cause significant damage. Researchers generally agree that it takes years before a newly established colony will produce termite swarmers. With favorable conditions, it may take up to 4 years before a termite colony produces swarmers.

If you see or think there might be termites swarming in your home, business, or property it is imperative to have a professional pest control expert that is licensed in Connecticut to inspect the issue. Termites can cause an extraordinary amount of damage to any structure and you will want to protect your investment.

Subterranean termites are the most destructive insect pests of wood in Connecticut. Termites cause billions of dollars in damage each year in the United States and have a negative impact on a family’s most valuable possession — the home.

In nature, subterranean termites are beneficial because they break down cellulose into usable nutrients. The biomass resulting from this process is recycled to the soil as humus. Subterranean termites are, therefore, considered important in our ecosystem.

The problem occurs when termites attack the wooden elements of homes, businesses and warehouses built by us. The presence of termites is often not readily noticed because their activity is hidden behind wallboard’s, siding or wood trim. Homeowners in all areas of Connecticut should watch for subterranean termites and take precautions against infestations by having the dwelling inspected for termite infestation or possible entry points. To minimize damage from termites, it is helpful to know the description, life cycle and signs of infestation of termites as well as preventive and control measures.

Several species of subterranean termites are found in the United States; they live in every state except Alaska. The major type of subterranean termites commonly found in Connecticut are the Eastern subterranean termite. It is a serious economic timber pest causing millions of dollars of damage throughout the areas where it is located. It is estimated that more than 1 in 5 homes in the high activity areas, been or will be attacked at sometime by these voracious little insects. They are the native subterranean termite and Formosan subterranean termite, and both are serious threats to wooden structures in Connecticut.

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the house is designed according to local pest control regulations

ground floor walls in double storey homes are separated from upper floors with a physical barrier to prevent termites travelling undetected through the wall cavity

wet areas are waterproofed to prevent leaks because termites are attracted to damp timber or soil

houses with suspended floors have a minimum clearance of 600mmВ above ground to allow safe inspection and the sub-floor space is well ventilated and can easily be accessed.

Consider

For additional protection, consider:

usingВ termite resistant materials for the structure and wall cladding, such as masonry, steel, concrete and fibre cement sheets

using termite resistant materials for architraves and trimming around doors, windows, skirtings and for garden bed edges

keeping all cupboards and joinery off the floor

using metal mesh barriers, which termites cannot cross, instead of in-ground chemical treatments

fixing cladding, or some keys parts of the cladding, with screws rather than glue or nails for easy removal to inspect the structure behind for termites

locating the yard taps away from the house to prevent the base of walls and surrounding ground from getting wet.

Real world examples of Solutions

a termite protection system has been installed and a copy of the warranty provided by the builder

When: DESIGN COMPLETED DESIGN AND SPEC STAGE CONSTRUCTION during construction CONSTRUCTION at handover TRADE TEST CONSTRUCTION end of defects period before final completion

termite resistant materials have been used in all concealed and hard to access parts of the house, such as the sub-floor areas and roof space

there is enough clearance under the floor for inspections

there are access hatches or panels for inspections

metal flashings and ant caps on footings and walls are folded down and not torn.

When: CONSTRUCTION during construction CONSTRUCTION at handover CONSTRUCTION end of defects period before final completion TRADE TEST CONSTRUCTION end of defects period before final completion

As part of cyclical maintenance:

check all houses for evidence of termite trails or other termite activity

implement a program of regular termite inspections and treatments by a licensed pest management contractor, with written reports for all houses.

AS 3660.1вЂ“2000, Termite managementвЂ”New building work .

AS 3660.2вЂ“2000, Termite managementвЂ”In and around existing buildings and structuresвЂ”Guidelines .

AS 3660.3вЂ“2000, Termite managementвЂ”Assessment criteria for termite management systems .

About The Design

The Termi-Mite Termite Monitoring and Treatment System

The Termi-Mite Monitoring and Treatment system comes with two distinctly separate types of stations.

The main stations are called the “Termite Coffins”. The Termite Coffins are a dual chambered station designed to amass large numbers of termites and to make monitoring and treatment not only easy but with a minimum of disturbance to the termites. The Termite Coffins are placed wherever you can dig a hole, in the lawn right next to the concrete path, patio, paving or driveway. in the garden etc. The instructions show you where they should go. They are the mainstay of the system.

The secondary stations are called “WAM” (White Ant Monitor). They are designed to go in the critical areas where the coffins wo'nt fit. (see "The Wam Stations" further down the page). They too are easily monitored and treated and are still very efficient at diverting termites away from the building. An added bonus is that they are less expensive than the "Coffins" and as such allow excellent coverage around the house and save you a few dollars at the same time. In fact if you purchase any of the household packs the WAM's are generally provided free.

Together the Termite Coffins and the Wam stations provide comprehensive protection of your home at a very affordable price, especially as they incur no extra annual fees.

The Termite Coffins

The Termite Coffins are unique in that they have two integrated chambers. The inventor decided that no single chambered bait station, as they are commonly known, could be highly effective in dealing with white ants (termites). La razón es simple. Termites require constant temperature and high humidity to survive. With any single chambered system the cap at the top faces the elements. During peak season, in the summer they get too hot so the termites will either vacate the unit or force mud to the top to protect them from the elements. As soon as the cap is removed, to monitor or treat the termites, exposure to the elements sends them scurrying.

Research proves that one of the most critical elements in dealing with termites is to amass large numbers of “workers” to treat or the treatment will be ineffective. Any disturbance will defeat this purpose. By having two chambers you can monitor the activity of termites without disturbing the main feeding group and the safer they feel the more the numbers will build up in the trap. The “Termite Coffin is also designed to facilitate treatment without the termites knowing it's happening. Here’s how it works.

The Outer Chamber

The outer chamber is the “termite restaurant”. This chamber sits below the ground where the temperature, moisture and humidity remain constant. The chamber is filled with a specially designed composite corrugated cardboard wrapped in many layers. The cardboard is much higher in cellulose content than normal timber and will absorb the activator solution making sure it's attractive to all the main breeds of termite.

As each different breed of termite attacks different species of timber it is impossible to pick which timber to use as you don't know which termite is going to turn up. The corrugations are also very similar to the way termites build their own nests. The entry points to the chamber are staggered thin slots around the chamber. They start a good 100mm below the ground as the termites’ predators are most prolific in the topsoil. This greatly reduces predator attack, a feature the most expensive systems don’t have.

The Central Chamber

The Central chamber comprises a 50mm tube with it's own entry slots. This tube protrudes about 30mm above the cap of the outer chamber and has a cap on top to seal it. Inside the tube is a pine rod. This can be easily accessed by you once amonth to check for activity without disturbing the termites feeding in the outer chamber.

It only takes a couple of seconds to check and as you don't physically disturb them you wont set off the termites' alarm bells. As the termites have to eat all the way through the outer chamber to access the inner chamber, if you find termites eating the pine rod or "mud" build up, you not only know that there are termites in the station but that you will have sufficient numbers in the outer chamber for an effective treatment program.

The WAM Stations

WAM stands for “White Ant Monitor. The WAM is a square block of pine, wedge shaped at one end for easy installation. In the middle of the top of the block there is a tube with a sealed clear viewing window inserted into the block. The blocks are made from the more durable varieties of pine, such as hoop pine, as these varieties will last years longer than say radiata. They are also pre-aged with the activator solution before you receive them. This speeds up the time it takes for termites to be able to detect them and provides the termites with the all important protozoa they need to digest the cellulose, just as in the termite coffin. New timber blocks can take quite some time to decay in the ground before the termites know they are there.

The termites will attack the WAM's from the bottom up working their way to the top. When termites eat their way into the tube the sun will hit them threatening them with dehydration so they will block off the clear window with termite “mud” to insulate them telling you have termites in the WAM station.

As our experience tells us that the termite will mostly attack 2 to 3 stations, if there are termites in the WAMs they will virtually always be in the coffins as well. It is still very easy to treat the WAMs but we would not recommend the use of this type of station on its own as there is no way to tell what numbers of termites you are dealing with or to identify the species if necessary. Used together with the Termite Coffins however they work brilliantly as the Termite Coffins will amass enough termites on their own for treatment then whatever number of termites are attacking the WAM's is an added bonus.

The main reason we use the WAM's is to enable you to place them in tighter spaces next to drains and pipes where termites regularly congregate. This way you are able to cover these critical areas where the larger Termite Coffins may not fit. They are also perfect for where you may need to core drill through concrete to ensure a continuous barrier. As an average taken over hundreds of homes, generally every fifth position requires a WAM. If you ignore these spots you take a great risk of giving the termite s a way through.

Termites love driveways and patios due to the protection from predators, controlled conditions and trapped moisture that cocrete and paving provides. The holes required to install the WAM's are smaller (75mm), less intrusive and much less expensive than those required for the larger units. Our constant field research proves that the combination of Termite Coffins and WAM's is every bit as, and in fact more effective than using just the Termite Coffins on their own.

The Activator Solution

With every kit of Termite Coffins and WAMs you receive a bottle of Activator Solution per 16 units. This is our latest innovation to add to the effectiveness of the system. The Activator solution is based on a specific species of Melaleuca mixed with liquid cellulose and then aged to produce a live plant mould which is activated when it is put in the ground, providing the termites with their all important protein containing the protozoa needed to digest the cellulose. This mould, by growing between the layers also stops the cardboard from becoming too soggy and breaking up and prevents the surrounding soil from solidifying around the canister. Added to this is the broken down bark of the main timbers that the house invading termites mainly feed on.

Easy to follow instructions are on the main instruction sheet. All you do is mix the Activator solution with 8 litres of water in a bucket and then add about half a litre to the earth you fill in around both the "Coffins and the WAM's. The solution is drawn into the outer chamber of the Coffins and the main body of the WAM's trapping the all important moisture and high humidity required to make the termites happy so the numbers will quickly swell.

The greatest proliferation of termites around Australia is found where Eucalypts and Melaleuca are in abundance. This is where they love to build their nests; in the stumps of dead trees, under the root crown of living or dead trees or high up in the fork of branches of the tree. The Melaleuca and heavy cellulose have chemical signatures the termites’ readily recognise.

All of the ingredients in the Activator Solution are found naturally in nature and are completely Non-Toxic to the environment.

With the combination of the concentrated cellulose in the absorbent corrugated cardboard and the Melaleuca plant mould we have now provided the best food source in the yard to Termites. The little blighters can’t resist them. Termi-Mite Termite Monitoring and Baiting Stations are guaranteed to amass large numbers of termites, as when termites find a safe and abundant food source they lay a pheremone which serves to guide the other workers to the food source, then the termites send out a message to the rest of the workers to join in the feast by tapping their antennae on each others shells.

To see how the system works and how easy it is to do DIY monitoring follow the link below to How Does Termi-Mite Work?

Pest Control Sydney, Termite Control, Pest Inspections, Building Inspections

Termite Treatments Used in Sydney Australia

All Guard Pest Control uses & recommends Termidor as a low toxic, effective Termite Treatment for your home

There area number of termite treatments available in Sydney Australia, but which are the most cost effective and what works the best to stop termites in their tracks?

The standard termite treatment involves applying termiticide as a continuous barrier in the soil around the house, termite baits, installing continuous termite shields at the top of the foundation, and/or termite reticulation systems. Other termite treatments include termiticide foam, using crushed granite (trade name Granitgard) or steel mesh cloth (Termimesh) as a physical barrier, moisture control, and wood elimination. A combination of methods are used for "integrated pest management," as many times a single technique is not enough.

Termite Baits Termite baits are a great indicator of the presence of termites and are an effective way to kill the colony causing the problem. Sentricon hace tal sistema. FMC makes FirstLine, a termite baiting station using an insecticide stomach poison in a cellulose matrix. FMC is modifying their product to incorporate untreated stations that last longer than treated bait stations. The bait is a cellulose food treated with termiticide, a toxic substance and/or insect growth regulator. The food is wood or laminated-texture cellulose, which is favoured by termites. Termites eat the treated food and carry it back to the nest, reducing the size of the colony. The termiticide in the bait works slowly enough that termites have a chance to go back to the nest instead of dying near the bait, because dead termites repel other termites.

It's not recommended by this firm as a standalone treatment, unless it is obvious where the termites are coming from. Well placed baits are a frontline indicator of termite activity and often used to supplement soil barrier treatments. We prefer to use Termidor for termite treatments in most circumstances, as it is a low toxic alternative which termites wander through treated areas at random and pick up poison to take back to the nest. Unlike high toxic repellents, it does not require a continuous barrier around your home. Termite baits may be used a supplement for effective termite control.

Why are termites a problem in Australia? Termites (often incorrectly called 'white ants') feed on wood and serve an important function in nature by converting dead trees into organic matter. Unfortunately, the wood in buildings and other structures such as wooden power poles is equally appetising to termites, so they can cause serious damage which may be very expensive to repair. There are many species of termites in Australia, of which about 20 species can eat sound wood in buildings; those causing most damage to buildings are social insects that live in subterranean colonies that may contain up to 200, 000 individuals. In order to maintain humidity and to protect themselves from extreme weather conditions, a colony (or nest) of subterranean termites may be up to 6-7 metres below the soil surface and have extensive tunnel networks that can extend up to 100 metres from the nest.

How can buildings be protected against termites? Control techniques for termites can essentially be divided into two types, prevention and treatment. Preventative measures are easily applied during the construction of new buildings, but some (eg. stainless steel mesh, or a layer of granite chips) are not very suitable for existing buildings or structures.

Prevention of Attack Building design can reduce the chances of termite damage. Important strategies include reducing the amount of timber used in buildings, a properly designed concrete slab with edges exposed for inspection for termite activity, or provision for easy under-floor inspections of timber floors. Installation of a reticulated system under the concrete slab can also to allow chemical barriers to be applied and re-applied whenever necessary.

Chemical barriers Chemicals that are used to kill termites are called termiticides. Termiticides have differing modes of action, and several methods are used to apply them. For many new buildings, creation of a termiticide-treated layer of soil surrounding and under the building form an integrated barrier together with the physical methods described above. The termiticide is applied to the soil under the slab and around the footings, pipes, conduits and other structures of the house during construction to create a vertical barrier. El suelo aflojado adicional alrededor del perímetro de la casa, incluyendo alrededor de todas las tuberías e instalaciones de servicio, se trata durante y después de la construcción a partir de una barrera horizontal.

Timber intended for use in the construction of houses, outbuildings, fences and other outdoor structures is often treated with chemicals by dipping and pressure or vacuum impregnation. 1 The Australian Standards relating to termite management are: AS 3660.1— 2000 Termite Management - Part 1: New Building Work; AS 3660.2 - 2000 Termite Management - Part 2: In and Around Existing Buildings and Structures - Guidelines; and AS 3660.3 - 2000 Termite Management - Part 3: Assessment Criteria for Termite Management Systems. Termite protection: available treatments and hazard information about termiticides Page 3 of 25 Treatment of infestation Treatment of a termite infestation in an existing structure also requires an integrated approach, including destruction of termites within the timber structures, measures to locate and destroy the termite nest, re-establishment of a chemical and/or physical barrier, and regular inspections to detect any ongoing or new termite activity.

For existing buildings, where signs of infestation have been detected, chemical treatment is usually the best option for destroying termites and re-establishing a barrier.

Premise Active Ingredient Imidacloprid a member of the relatively new class of chemicals called chloronicotinyls. It is used to create a barrier or treated zone in the soil where it attracts termites, which die within the treated zone. Brand - Premise, from Bayer Type - Chloro-Nicotinyl (an insect nerve inhibitor) Toxicity - Rated S5. "Practically non-toxic" both oral and dermal. Odour - This water-based insecticide is almost odourless. Longevity - The label claims "at least two years". Bayer advise us that they are intending to re-label claiming 5 years.

Bayer’s printed information states "At CSIRO test sites, Premise was effective for a minimum of 2 years with more than 6 years control achieve at some sites. Trial work in infested buildings has shown that more than 90 per cent are still termite free 5-6 years after treatment.

Bayer also claim that Imidacloprid has some indirect colony control effect. In other words, it will kill termites without repelling them, and can have a negative effect on the health and numbers of any colony infesting the immediate area.

Biflex Brand - Biflex Aqua from F. M.C. Type - Synthetic pyrethroid water based termiticide Toxicity - Rated S6, oral - "slightly toxic", dermal - "practically non-toxic". Odour - This water based termiticide is almost odourless. Longevity - the label claims "at least 10 years" when applied at maximum strength. In practical conditions around a typical home, due to water exposure, disturbance of garden beds etc STC recommends re-treatment each 5 years.

A characteristic of Bifenthrin is that it binds very quickly and strongly to the soil particles. This makes it a good option where moisture movement in the soil may be a factor. On the downside, for the same reason, it tends to be filtered out by the soil so that it will not seep through the soil and penetrate some target areas as well as a product like as Imidacloprid.

Termidor Brand - Termidor from BASF Active Ingredient Fipronil - Benzisothiazolin Toxicity - Rated S6, oral-harmful if swallowed, dermal-may irritate skin, does not readily penetrate skin. Repeated exposure may cause allergic reaction. Odour - has a slight vegetable oil smell. Longevity - re-treatment each 5 years should be expected.

Termidor was launched in 2002 after some presentations from the USA, where it is used extensively. It has quickly built up a reputation as "the best" termiticide, because of claims made that it has strong indirect colony control effects. The effectiveness of Fipronil as a termiticide is beyond doubt. Fipronil is an extremely low toxic active insecticide. It is applied by spraying, trenching and soil rodding as a chemical soil barrier around existing structures, and may also be used to protect poles and fence posts.

Accordingly, All Guard Pest Control regards this product as "top of the range" and its cost premium is generally worthwhile on jobs where a continuous soil treatment is unlikely to be achievable due to building characteristics.

nótese bien - All Guard Pest Control Pty Ltd cannot guarantee that colony control will occur, since this will depend on many factors including the termite pressure around the particular areas treated. The best security is achieved by the formation of a continuous soil treatment in conjunction with a regularly monitored termite baiting system.

Is YOUR home protected? Remember All Guard Pest Control for your home's complete termite and pest protection systems. Simply FREE CALL 1800 333 337 or email today for more information, advice and FREE QUOTES!

** This information relates to existing homes **

There are many other options available that can be used whilst a home is being built.

A Termite Management System is a process designed to limit the risk of future termite attacks to your home.

For an existing home there are really only two options:

1) TERMITE BAITING AND MONITORING

COST – On average $2,200 to install and an average of $880 per year for regular station inspections. (Approximate Cost over 8 years – $9,240)

This System has proven to be a poor performer in my personal experience. It is also expensive in the long run with on-going fees.

Plastic stations containing timber are placed in the soil and concrete around your home at intervals of 3-6 meters apart. They are located under the drip line of the gutters of your roof.

This system can require the services of concrete cutters to borer large holes in your concrete areas to install the stations.

I have seen baiting fail many times when it is the only method / product used on normal residential homes.

Baiting requires 4-6 weekly visits on average $110 per visit, there can be annual fees required to renew warranties.

If you stop paying for your ongoing services your system stops working.

This product relies on the stations being opened and the timber inside being checked, if termites are found inside they are treated with any number of products and then continue to be monitored at more regular intervals.

2) INSTALLING A CHEMICAL SOIL TREATED ZONE AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE BUILDING

COST – On average $2500 to $3,500 for an average 60LM perimeter 3B/R house and it last’s up to 8 years with no on-going monthly service visits

This System has proven to be the most effective termite deterrent method and best value for money

A chemical treated zone is installed by method of trench and treating the soils around the footings of the external walls.

Concrete areas attached to external walls are ideally cut away and the soil trenched and treated and back filled.

Most people prefer to have the concrete drilled and injected and the small holes plugged and filled with concrete to try and hide the holes.

From my experience in this trade over the last ten years I have never seen a chemical treated zone fail when installed correctly and the product used is Termidor.

Once this product is installed it can last up to 8 years – Below is a link to Termidor being installed…

SILK’S PEST CONTROL – Your Brisbane Termite Experts

SILK'S PEST CONTROL Your Local Termite Experts

Servicing all South East Queensland Areas including.

Brisbane CBD & Inner City Suburbs Brisbane Southside Brisbane Northside Brisbane East Brisbane Bayside & Redlands Brisbane West & Ipswich

OUR SERVICES INCLUDE.

- Termite Inspections - Thermal Imaging Camera - Pre Purchase Inspections - Termite Treatments - Termite Barriers/Monitoring Systems - General Pest Control Services - Feral Animal Management Services

- Free Quotes Available - Interest Free Finance Available - Residential & Commercial

Phone: 07 3822 7228 Mobile: 0418 733 861 (Adam Silk) Email: bookings@silkspestcontrol. com. au

Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 5:30 pm

Website Created by: www. Hashtagconsulting. com. au

Termite Trap Colony Killing System

Descripción del producto

The Termite Trap Colony Killing System is a complete DIY termite treatment and control solution for Australian homeowners.

Included is a carton of Termite Traps and 6 individual Colony Killer Treatment bait pouches.

There are 22 Termite Trap in a carton, enough for most homes. Place them ON surfaces. No digging or drilling is required. Spreading them is a 10 minute job you do once and they’ll last more than a decade (if termites don’t find and eat them first!). After a successful baiting, they can be refilled with more timber so the monitoring cycle continues.

There are 6 pouches of bait in a carton. This is enough to kill a large colony or a couple of small ones. Pouches can be placed on top of a Termite Trap once termites have attacked, or can be used direct onto affected areas that contain live termites.

Larger kits available.

The 2:1 Kit – $1080 – Envío gratis

This contains two packs of 22 Termite Traps (44 traps in total) and a carton of 6 Colony Killer Termite Pouches. If you live on acreage, you may have have sheds, stables, ramps, bridges and firewood around the house. Usted puede comprar más cebo en cualquier momento y las compras siguientes de Bait consiguen un descuento automático.

This contains three packs of 22 Termite Traps (66 traps in total) and a carton of 6 Colony Killer Termite Pouches. This kit is for you if you have multiple sheds, chutes, ramps, gateposts, bridges and other areas where termites might strike. Usted puede comprar más cebo en cualquier momento y las compras siguientes de Bait consiguen un descuento automático.

Whats next?

When you are ready to order you can order online through our secure checkout, order over the phone on 1800 20 30 20 or fax this order form .

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