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The Pest Monitor

Volume 7, No. 1

February 1999

There is no workman, whatsoever he be,
That may both work well and hastily. Chaucer

Quiz Answered

    The questions from the last issue were: (1) describe the Smokybrown cockroach and its controls and (2) review the differences between the eastern subterranean termite and the Formosan subterranean termite.

    Cockroaches. The smokybrown cockroach, (SBC) Periplaneta fuliginosa, is in the same genus as the American cockroach and the two insects are similar in appearance; however, they do have different species names. The American is Periplaneta americana.

    The SBC is about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches long and its color is a uniform dark brown; it might even appear black under some light sources. The American is lighter in color and the pronotal shield will have a light colored edge with a darker center, creating a halo-like effect. The American is a larger cockroach and is 1.5 to 2.0 inches in length. Americans are not as good at flying as are the Smokybrowns.

    Location characteristics will also vary with the two species of cockroaches. The American can be found within buildings as a permanent pest. It is usually associated with warm moist areas such as washrooms, kitchens or bathrooms. A wide range of buildings may become infested.

    Smokybrowns, on the other hand, are usually found on the outsides of buildings but will move in and out depending upon prevailing conditions. This characteristic may hamper control efforts if one does not take the time to properly identify the insect or is not aware of its biology.

    Some think of this roach as occurring in the southern half of the State; however, it probably occurs as frequently in Memphis as it does in Jackson (MS).

    Controls: If you are getting persistent complaints about large cockroaches, don't overlook the smokybrown. Identification and inspection will help determine which species you have.

    Conditions around the house which might lead to SBC problems are:

  • Trees with limbs which touch the roof
  • Old trees with a number of cavities
  • Ornamental plantings to close too the foundation
  • Vines growing on the wall of the structure
  • Gutters which are clogged
  • Poor air circulation from the soffits up through the attic
  • Faulty coverings over ventilation vents
  • Cracks around doors and windows
  • Spaces between facia board and brick

    Some of these conditions can be rectified, such as cleaning the gutters, repairing screens on ventilation vents, trimming trees or caulking any existing cracks. Removing trees would be out of the question. The other approach would be a perimeter treatment. A number of insecticides are approved for this treatment, and I think they are all good. The in-ground bait stations that some suppliers are now offering would be another good approach. A number of baits could be placed in the these stations.

    Gel baits could also be placed at certain locations around the structure, i.e., behind facia boards, between gutters and facia boards, in cracks around doors and windows, etc. The only problem with using gel baits outside is that they will dry fairly rapidly.

    Inside the structure, baiting again would be a good approach. This is where the inspection will be helpful as far as determining where to place the baits. Gels or bait stations would work. These formulations contain fipronil, abamectin or hydramethylnon. Placement will be as important as chemistry so do a good job on the inspection. Don't overlook the attic as a baiting site.

    Termites. The termite swarming season will be here before you can say, "termite."The question "can you tell the difference between an eastern subterranean termite and a Formosan subterranean termite?" This becomes very important if your contract excludes the Formosan.

    Identification is based on either the soldiers or the alates (swarmers). The alates will have minute hairs scattered over the surface of the wing. Be careful with this characteristic because the hairs may be rubbed off if the specimens are fairly old.

    Differences in the soldier caste is the other characteristic which can be used. The head of the Formosan soldier is tear drop shaped, with the fontanel well forward on the head.

    The head shape in the eastern subterranean soldier is rectangular shaped with long straight sides. The fontanel is located back on the head.

    Currently, we have positive Formosan identifications from the following counties:

  •       Jackson
  •       Harrison
  •       Hancock
  •       Forrest
  •       Lamar
  •       Pearl River
  •       Lauderdale
  •       Rankin

    The find in Rankin county was limited to one structure, and they were treated with removal of carton from the wall. Additionally, Formosan soldiers were found east of the structure in association with cross ties. In Lauderdale County, Formosans have been discovered in one structure and two reports of the termite have been associated with crossties. One of the crosstie infestations was actually reported in the early >80's. In addition, Formosans were also discovered at the airport in Memphis in the mid >80's. As far as I know, this infestation still exists.

    There is a good possibility that this species could occur anywhere in the state. If you know an account that has recently installed crossties, be especially wary. There is good evidence to indicate that these timbers have been involved in spreading this species around the southeast.

History of Pest Control

  • 1732: Farmers begin to grow crops in rows to facilitate weed control.
  • Early 1800's: Appearance of the first books and papers devoted entirely to pest control covering cultural control, biological control, varietal control, physical and chemical control.
  • 1840: Potato late blight outbreak in Ireland, England and Belgium, leading to widespread famine.
  • 1860-1890: Grape phylloxera introduced into France early 1860's and about 1890 a massive program by the France government converted the French vineyard over to resistant rootstock from the United States.
  • 1880: The first commercial spraying machine was developed.
  • 1888: The first major success with imported biological control agents for the control of cottony-cushion scale in U. S.
  • 1890's: The introduction of lead arsenate for insect control.
  • 1893: Recognition of arthropods as vectors of human disease.

    At this point, I am going to omit a number of the entries which the Univ. of Fla. sited.

  • 1939: Recognition of the insecticidal properties of DDT.
  • 1946: The first report of insect resistance to DDT (houseflies in Sweden).
  • 1962: Publication of "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson.
  • 1993: More than 504 insect species are known to be resistant to at least one formulation of insecticide and at least 17 species of insects are resistant to major classes of insecticides. Over 150 fungi and other plant pathogens demonstrate fungicide resistance, and several plant pathogens are resistant to nearly all systemic fungicides. Five kinds of rats are known to be resistant to the chemicals that are used against them. Resistance to herbicides has been documented in over 100 weed biotypes and 84 species.

Baits as Termiticides

    During the MPCA meeting in Hattisburg, I was asked the following question, "How would I treat my house if I had a termite infestation?" My answer was that I would use the highest concentration of a liquid termiticide allowed by the label. Some took this as a negative comment against the use of baits (three active ingredients are currently registered, hexaflumeron, sulfluramid and diflubenzuron). My comment was nothing more than my selection of a treatment method. I grew up with the liquid materials, and this would be my treatment of choice.

    I have been involved in some baiting studies, and I know that the baits work. One example. A home in West Point was treated on two different occasions following swarming. Following the third swarm, the home was baited in July of 1995. Termites were not found around the outside perimeter of the house; however, they were found around an attached carport. I do not believe that this was the same colony that was swarming within the house. In late 1996, a feeding site was identified within the structure, and this area was baited with bait stations designed for inside use.

    A total of seven stations were placed at the site; two on the wall of the den, two on the top shelf of an enclosed book case, and three on the bottom shelf. One additional baiting device was added to one of the den wall stations and four were added to one of the lower bookshelf stations. Activity had ceased at these stations by the spring of 1997, and the test was terminated during the summer of 1997.

    I believe that these termites were trapped within the confines of the home due to the two liquid treatments and that they were not foraging to the outside. The inside stations were responsible for the control.

    Termite baiting has undergone several evolutions since the sixties and will probably undergo more changes over the next several years. Each change has been for the better, as will future changes. One thing to keep in mind, currently at least 95 plus percent of the houses you are currently baiting have been treated with a liquid termiticide. And all of the ones built before March of 1988 were treated with chlordane or chlordane/heptachlor. Do you think that this might somewhat skew your results?

    What will happen if the liquids are removed from the market and we go totally to baiting for termite control? I think you will see about the same rate of recalls you have experienced in the last ten years and this figure will vary from company to company. "Baiting recalls" will depend upon how diligent you are in checking the stations.

Yellow Page Advertising

    A number of pest control companies in California are being accused of using illegal and deceptive Yellow Pages advertising. The study, performed by the California Public Interest Research Group and Californians for Pesticide Reform, found 350 misleading ads by 150 pest control companies in the Yellow Pages thoughout the state. It was noted that many companies ignored state and federal laws as well as guidelines barring pesticide safety claims or claims of environmental safety. The investigators found ads with deceptive safety or environmental statements in 56 of 58 counties in phone books used by 24 million people.

    This is not exactly in our backyard, but it might not hurt to check your yellow page advertising just to make sure. California Headline News as reported in Chemically Speaking.

Quiz

    This issue's quiz is related to filling out a wood infestation report. You are called by the local real estate person to do an inspection on a property. During the inspection, you discover active termites and are asked to treat the property. When you complete the WIR, do you check block 8A (subterranean termites) active or inactive?

 

James H. Jarratt
Extension Entomologist


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