Evening star., 1936-07-09
Invasion Of Houses
By Termites Becoming
Very Serious Problem
Pests Should Be Tracked to Their LARS
and Scientifically Exterminated By
Various Means.

mology Of the United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture stands ready at all
times to assist home owners in pro-
tecting themselves against insect in
festations by giving advice as to the
best methods of determination and
also by identifying questionable speci-
mems. When in doubt. take up your
problem with them In the mean
time, here are few high lights on the
subject that may assist you in pre-
hminary canter."
X X
TERM1TES have long been trou-
BILE in some parts of the United
States, attacking trees, buildings and
even vineyards. Fairly recently their
presence here in Washington has been
recognized and some of our newest
and loveliest buildings have been weak
ened and seriously damaged by their
subterranean hordes.
The termite, although resembling
the ant. in reality belongs to the
same family of insects as do the
reaches. In the Spring and also at
times in the Fall the males and fe-
males, which have white wings and
broWnisff- black bodies, swarm to new
sites, where they may establish col
onies. These flying termites, however,
do not attack wood or other articles
in the houses and must reach the
open if they are to be successful in
founding new colonies. 1t is their de-
scendants, the cream -colored, wing
less white ANTS" that do the damage.
These are usually blind, stunning the
light and remain concealed within
the tunnels which they are boring.
There are non-subterranean termites
adults which have lost their wings
which do not stay hidden. but will
attack wood openly and boldly. These
appear, however. to be in the minority.
Egg-laying occurs over a consider
able period during warm months,
among colonies established in trees,
decayed vegetation, etc. out of doors.
Unfortunately. in heated buildings,
the egg-laying may well continue at
an appallingly rapid rate throughout
the entire year.
THE invasion of a building by ter
mites almost invariably springs
from an outdoor source. Contact with
wood is an open invitation for them
and entry Is usually made through
basement timbers that rest upon
earth. Even in the better type Of
buildings, constructed on stone or
concrete foundations, one cannot be
too secure and complacent-for ter
mites have charming little trick of
being able to construct for themselves
shelter tunnels and bridges Of earth
that will carry them across unappe-
tizing materials to reach their para
disc of moist wood.
And right there. thank goodness, we
find the Achilles heel of thes termite
world. These pests must have a GER
tain amount of moisture to live and If
the contact Of wood with moist earth
Is broken then they shrivel up and
die in heir honeycombed dens. The
outside" wingless workers manage
to exist without this moisture ele-
ment, but as they are usually visible
and easily controlled it doesn't make
much difference in their case. But for
the blind. steadily-gnawing miners
that are hard to find, at least we have
one weapon at hand against them.
And tomorrow-space having come
to an end-I will try to give you
few suggestions for depriving them of
their necessary humidity and for pro-
tecting your houses and trees against
their invasion.