Subterranean Termites

Subterranean Termites are by far the most destructive of all wood destroying insects. They strike five times as many homes as fire and do more economic damage than all tornadoes, hurricanes and windstorms combined. They have the longest life span compared to any other household pests. Termites eat, breed and move in their sealed passages and consume enormous amount of structural wood before they are detected. There are a number of termite species which feed on cellulose and therefore occur in dwelling houses and other buildings. They do not move about outdoors or on the ground surface and are therefore difficult to detect. They build their nest in the ground and travel from there, through the galleries and attack the wood through which they tunnel. Termites cause extensive damage to structural timber, plastics, furniture clothing and almost anything they come across.

Control Treatment
When discovered at this stage it is considered as being very advanced and is expensive to remedy. However remedial treatment against subterranean termites is considered as one of the basic forms of termite control. This is done by chemical dusting at the infested areas with the help of a duster executed manually. The purpose is to allow the toxic particles of the chemicals to get entangled to the feet and bodies of the living termites which are subsequently transported from one destination to another during the scavenging process for food. With such movements the toxic elements are quite easily distributed within their mud tube system and the transmission of the dust provides 60% eradication of the termite colony

However this mode of treatment has its limitations and disadvantages and is only effective if the infestation is noted at a much earlier stage and is on a small scale. It also does not offer long term protection against fresh re-infestation from the neighboring areas.

Ideally all properties in the tropical zone should be soil treated with the correct chemical in the correct quantity to prevent termites from infesting before commencement of any construction. After that the property should be inspected regularly for any signs of infestation and treated accordingly. Nevertheless property owners who have not had their soil treated, but are interested in protecting their property should consult us to provide them with the necessary protection and insurance. Properties that have been soil treated fetch a much better resale value

Rodents/ Rats

Rodents are major pests in almost any country because they cause serious structural damage and spread dangerous diseases. The two species which are wide spread are the common rat - rattus and the brown rat - rattus norvegious. Both species attack almost any food or stored commodity. Rats are renowned carriers are disease organisms and their presence near food creates a severe health risk. In addition they are destructive pests and cause substantial property damage by gnawing away at all types of materials. All rodents can spread diseases to both humans and livestock. The majority of rodents carry bacteria which causes leptospirio, known as Weil’s disease – an increasing common and dangerous disease and pneumonic plague. The recent outbreak of pneumonic plague in India is a classic case of how dangerous rats are to mankind.

Control Treatment
Initially rat bait stations are set up extensively at strategic locations with special attention paid to storage and canteen areas. The rat bait used is coumatetralyl. It is green colored for easy identification. Baiting points will be laid along the perimeter of the building to intercept rodents from penetrating from the adjoining areas. These baits will be checked and replenished as and when necessary

Cockroaches

Crawling insects of such species are divided mainly into three categories

1. American Cockroach (Periplanetta American)
2. Oriental Cockroach (Blatta Orientalis)
3. German cockroach (Blatta Germanica)

Cockroaches represent one of the most serious risks to public health because they spread diseases such as gastroenteritis, diarrhea and salmonella which contribute to food poisoning. They present a problem not only in food stores, restaurants and catering establishments but also in the home, living in kitchens, drains and sewage outlets. They all carry filth and disease from refuse to food preparation areas and contaminate the food we eat. Cockroaches are common in commercial premises associated with the preparation and handling of food. By day they hide in cracks and crevices around the areas such as sinks, drains, cookers back of cupboard, refrigerator motors compartments and other unseen areas. By night they come out of their hiding areas in search of food. They particularly favor buildings with service ducts dry risers and complex plumbing installation that allow them to move from one area of the building to another with considerable ease.

Control Treatment
Roaches are controlled by through spraying of their harborage areas, breeding grounds and runways with residual insecticide. It is essential to avoid contamination of food or surfaces on which foods are handled. Sensitive areas such as toilets, gully traps and sewage manholes are harborage areas where they breed by the thousands. Application of chemical concentration with strong residual acidity will be the only effective way to deal with this breed of insects

Chemical Application and Methods of Treatment