August 2006 / Vol.3 / Issue 8

Hello and Welcome to the August Greenpest News. Each month we aim to provide you with some useful information, keeping it short, sweet and pertinent.

Contents

1. Pest Talk - CSIRO research on termites (Part 1).
2. Customer Question of the Month (Ticks).
3. Story of the month.
4. Bindii Warning - Last chance.
5. Monthly Special

Pest Talk

CSIRO research on termites (Part 1).

In the week of 26th - 29th July, Green Termite Bait Systems attended the National AEPMA (Australian Environmental Pest Managers Association) and FOAPMA (Federation of Asian Pest Managers Associations) convention as an exhibitor.

What a mouth full.

Anyway, it was a great opportunity to share our product with pest controllers from all over Australia as well as from our nearby neighbours. It was also a pleasure to meet some of our distant distributors face to face for the first time.

One of the subjects that was covered during the convention was 'Termite Baiting Systems' and there were several guest speakers on the topic. There was good news for us too. Several bait systems were put under scrutiny and some didn't really measure up. The Green Termite Bait System however, passed with flying colours.

One of the reasons for this has been clarified from recent research by the CSIRO on the way that termites use vibrations to measure the size reserves of a food source. We'd love to print the whole article but it's quite long and complex so instead we will give you a general overview.

Many of you will know from our previous newsletters that termites use a behaviour nick-named 'head banging' to alert other termites to the presence of danger. A common species called Coptotermes are especially loud, and can often be heard during the application of termiticidal dust during a treatment. You don't need a stethoscope to hear them.

When they are alarmed, they vibrate.

So why is it that many people report hearing termites in their walls in the early hours of the morning when the house is very quiet? What are the termites alarmed about?

The answer is that they are not alarmed, but instead they are using vibro-acoustics to measure the reserves of timber. Basically asking the question, "How much is left to eat?" A long length of timber has a different resonating frequency than a short piece of timber. That is how these tiny blind insects working in total darkness can tell how much food is left.

Amazing, truly amazing.

How astoundingly incredible these little insects are.

Getting back to baiting systems; it would seem that some baits don't have enough timber in them to recruit sufficient numbers of termites. We always said that many of the systems out there didn't have enough timber in them to maintain the termites there in large numbers, especially if the inspections were too far apart. (All bait systems should be inspected at least monthly - more often if you are north of the Tropic of Capricorn.)

So now we know that it is important for a bait system to have sufficient timber in it for two reasons not just one.

Some may use this argument to promote the much larger bait boxes, and rightly so, but they also need to remember that bait boxes have three major draw backs.

Needless to say we are pretty chuffed about the results from the ongoing research at the CSIRO. We already know that overall our product is the best, but it's nice when independent research supports the practical evidence that we have accumulated over ten years in the field.

Before we leave the subject, there were some other interesting findings from the CSIRO that you might like to know about.

They were able to record and playback a certain sound frequency that mimicked the termite's natural vibration signal. Then the researchers played this signal back to some drywood termites through timbers of differing lengths. They then observed that the termite's normal preference for one long piece of timber over another short piece of timber could be reversed using the different vibro-acoustic sounds.

We will discuss more of the CSIRO's published findings in our next newsletter.

Back to top

Customer Question of the Month (Ticks).

Question:

Hi Jerry,

I found a tick on my dog the other day and I wondered if you could give me some advice on the best ways to control ticks and keep them off my dog.

Jennifer H.
Bonogin QLD.

Answer:

This is a timely question.

Ticks are in season already, especially now, as we head out of our mild winter and back into the warmer weather. Coincidently last week, we also removed a tick from our dog. It was easy to spot because it had lodged just below his eye.

If you live in or near the bush or on acreage then you will be well aware of the problem of ticks and just how difficult they are to prevent. There are several products available from your vet or pet suppliers that can be applied to the skin of your pet, Frontline and Advantix® to name just two. There is only one problem. If you also want to keep the dreaded paralysis tick Ixodes holocyclus off, you will need to reapply the solution to your animal's skin every two weeks and that can become very expensive.

Tick control products are not cheap.

So, what else can you do?

Here are some ideas.

If you do find a tick on your pet, don't dose it with methylated spirits and try not to disturb it too much just in-case the tick injects saliva into the skin, which could make the situation worse. The best way to remove it is to spray it with an aerosol insect repellent preferably containing pyrethrin or a pyrethroid (available in supermarkets - just read the label). The combination of hydrocarbons and the pyrethrin acts like a sleeping pill, and prevents the tick from injecting its saliva. The tick should be sprayed again about a minute later and left to die. After 24 hours it should drop off naturally or be gently removed with tweezers by grabbing the tick by the head (avoid squeezing its body) and then just pull it steadily until it lets go and pops out.

It is possible that you might slip up and pull off its body leaving its head embedded in the skin. If you do, apply a little Detol cream. If there is any infection over the next few days, see a vet.

For many of us with pets, we are thinking, what a hassle, I'll just buy the tick control product and put it on the animal. If that is your inclination, please remember that the labels on the products don't guarantee to keep ticks off and that they still advise daily grooming/checking of your pet, just in-case.

There are also tick collars but they are not cheap either and only last a couple of weeks before they need replacing. Finally there are tick and flea sprays and a few flea shampoos that help. Problem with all of these is that they are slow acting and if your dog is like ours and enjoys swimming regularly then their overall effect is greatly reduced.

Two days after removing the tick from our dog I woke up in the early hours to find a tick on me. Turns out that it took a bite on my arm first, then my neck, then settled on my chest. The dog sleeps beside the bed and the tick probably made its way up my arm after I patted the dog before going to sleep.

For the first 36 hours the bite was painful, and now three days later, including the other two spots where tick took samples, there are three pea sized lumps that are extremely itchy.

Removing the tick from my chest 24 hours later was not easy, even though it was dead from the fly spray squirted on it after it was discovered at 3am the previous morning. The first two bleary eyed pulls with the tweezers only resulted in painfully pulling out some hairs. Believe me, that'll wake you up. You need to grab the head of the tick very firmly and apply constant steady pressure until the mouthparts which are shaped like grappling hooks finally release.

They are similar in appearance to bed bugs, except that bedbugs 'bite and run' every night, whereas a tick 'bites and rides'.

This is a picture of the little lady who paid me a visit.

Oh, didn't you know? It's only the females that put the bite on you!

Story of the month.

Termite Honesty Costs...

Written by Jerry Furnell.

Many real estate agents and property managers use Green Pest Control for their pest control requirements. Not because we're the cheapest, but because we're reliable.

One instance occurred some years ago that I would like to relate. We had been servicing the pest control requirements of one particular real estate firm for several years. The property manager was happy and the sales people would refer us to their clients for pre-purchase termite reports.

One day we handed in a report in which we expressed our serious termite concerns for the property being sold. It had to be said, the house was a disaster. It cost them the sale, so they shot the messenger.

We were asked, 'How could you write this report this way, showing all these problems, especially after all the work we give you?' Then we were told, 'We no longer need your company for any of our pest work. We will find someone who will look after our interests and write reports that help us.'

We lost quite a lot of business, but we kept our self-respect and can sleep at night. It's just one of several reasons why we no longer involve ourselves with pre-purchase termite inspections.

The final twist to this story was that in the end, the buyer went ahead and bought the property anyway from that agent, AND the client called us to rectify the termite problems and minimise the termite risk for the future!

The principal agent (without principles) never rang to apologise, and they did get a new pestie, yet for many years most of the staff at that agency continued to use us for their personal pest control requirements and inspections for their own homes. The property manager who moved on a year later to work at a new real estate agency also re-engaged us.

If there is a lesson to be learnt, it is probably this, always get your own termite inspector to carry out a pre-purchase report and avoid the inspectors recommended by the agents, thus avoiding a report that is too soft on the truth. As much as we hate to point the finger, there are still a few unscrupulous agents that pay under the table kick-backs and bribes to equally corrupt termite inspectors for untruthful termite reports.

---

Bindii Warning.

Last chance: If you didn't heed this warning last month here it is again:

Every year we give the Bindii Warning. There is nothing worse than having your own yard off limits because of bindii, especially if you have young children. Bindii are a nuisance even for dogs and cats, especially if they get into the folds between the pads on their paws.

Now is the time to spray for weeds in general and Bindii in particular. Don't wait any longer because once the Bindii go to prickle it is too late to spray. Do it now or if you don't feel up to it give us a call and we will do it for you. Remember, that if you do a good job of spraying for Bindii this year before they get a chance to flower and go to seed, then next year you will probably not have any Bindii at all.

The price is still only $165 to spray an average size family yard. (Southeast Queensland only)

Bonus: This treatment will also help to control other broadleaf weeds such as clover.

Monthly Special Promotion - For Newsletter Subscribers Only.

This special is no longer available. Please go to our current newsletter for this month's special.

If you wish to read previous newsletters, or if this newsletter has been forwarded on to you and you would like to subscribe, please: Click here

Got a question or some feedback? Please send it here: Feedback/Question

The Greenpest News is Published by J & A Furnell Nominees P/L; Shop 23a Franklin Square, 60 Railway Street, Mudgeeraba, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. The opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of Jerry Furnell. The reader is encouraged to seek further information from appropriate government and statutory departments before taking any action based on this material alone.

Privacy: We're committed to protecting your privacy. We do not sell, trade, rent or otherwise disclose any personal information you provide to us. This newsletter is sent to our customers, subscribers and potential customers who have made enquiries with us.

Unsubscribe: If for any reason you do not wish to receive this email please simply hit your reply button and enter unsubscribe.

To update your details please click here.
See you again next month.

Always... At your service,

Jerry Furnell
Green Pest Control & Green Termite Bait Systems.
Phone 1800 6 12345.

Copyright 2006 Green Termite Bait Systems & Green Pest Control. All rights reserved.

back to top