Evening star., 1942-04-29

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Though they are often called flying
ants" or white ants" they are not
ants at all but first cousins to that
other obnoxious creeper, the cock
roach, which just about makes the
case complete against the termite
They live in a highly communistic
system. yet have casts more in
violable than the Hindus. The one
that does the damage is the worker"
caste; he is also the most numerous
and can make a sponge out of a 10
inch timber in no time at all. Ter
mites in the flying stage are not
dangerous but are just to remind
you that they are out to "see the
world" and start q new colony of
their own.
The workers will eat almost any
thing containing cellulose, but wood
Is their favorite food. All they need
beside this is water, and right here
is the key to their elimination. With
modern methods OF determination
designed to poison the food they
eat, and to block them off so that
they cannot travel from the wood In
the house to the earth outside for
the necessary moisture their time is
limited. With enough people
warned Of the danger and fighting
them with modern weapons the
twentieth century might be the end
of the world for the termite. After
all-having been worm for SO long
should be reason enough for ex-
termination.
No halfway methods will do in
getting rid of termites. A famous
lumber company, experimenting to
protect the lumber industry against
this insect, has perfected a method
which, with perseverance, is sue
cessful. They train their own opera
tors, use q chemical that is deadly
only to the termite, inject this
under high pressure into wood,
foundations, and the ground sur
rounding the house-and give q
written guarantee for five years to
protect your house against termites.
This includes an inspection every
six months and any further i'm
pregnation with chemical and new
work that may be necessary. This
guarantee is bonded by the parent
company so that If for any reason
the local company ceases operation
the main company fulfills the guar
antee and;earries out the obligation.
Generally speaking the end Of five
years should see your property
safely guarded for your lifetime
against termites, as every bit Of wood
In its foundation walls would be
most indigestible to the insects and
all the surrounding territory act as
q block, whether they work from the
outside in or the inside out. Ter
mites cannot be exterminated any
more than flies or mosquitoes, but
your property may be insulated from
them just as you may live happily
and reasonably safely when your
home Is properly screened from
disease-bearing insects.
In modern termite control in
spectors study the plan Of the
building and observe all points and
areas that are vulnerable to termite
attack, that is, places where termites
must pass in going from the nest
in the damp ground to wood. Small
holes are drilled into timbers and
a highly toxic long-lasting chemical
Is forced In under high pressure
permeating the wood. In this way
a toxic barrier Is placed in their
path. When the solvent evaporates,
crystals of the tOxicant remain deep
within the wood and the ground,
an effective chemical barrier to ter
mites. Those in the timbers cannot
reach the ground to get the neces-
Sary moisture and soon die. Those in
the nests are unable to get back
into the wood and must move else
where.
Anything less than this type of
service cannot reach termites efiec-
lively and is merely waste of
money for temporary relief. To
protect foundations of your house
as well as the lifelong treasures you
have stored in it be sure to get
a thorough inspection by a respon-
sible company who is bonded to
carry out his written contract.