December 2004 / Vol.1 / Issue 7

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

Contents

1. Pest Talk
2. Is it toxic? Is it safe?
3. Customer Question of the Month.
4. Quote of the Month.
5. Monthly Special

Pest Talk

Termite Talk.
 
Season's greetings and welcome the final installment of Termite Talk for the year.  I hope you enjoyed your Christmas day.  Since it's such a busy time of year that I will write this newsletter very fast so it won't take you so long to read.  :-) 

A lot has happened in the last 12 months and I'd like to do a quick recap of the progress we've made to improve our overall service.

As you can see that we are constantly looking for ways to improve the Green Termite Bait System .  We often say, "It's not just the baits, but the whole system that makes Green Termite Bait Systems T the best."

2005 promises to be even better.  In 2000 we changed from using arsenic trioxide to Intrigue®.  It was a great move.  Our already successful termite bait system worked even better.  Needless to say, we want you to have the best and most cost effective termite risk reduction system available.  In 2005 we will continue to research, investigate and trial new methods.

We are looking forward to testing two new termiticides that are soon to be released.  Both look very promising and our preliminary investigations indicate that they should be superb at killing termites and their nests when applied to a Green Termite Bait.  Of course we will trial them first and if they prove to be better than any of our current termiticides we will very quickly be bringing them to you.

Does this mean we are dropping Intrigue®?  No.  Intrigue® has proven itself time after time.  It is very effective, though it can be a little slow with certain low risk termite species.

Last week, in another new development we designed a 100% child-proof termite bait for a special need in a kindergarten.  Presently our baits are child resistant, but in this case the baits were going into the ground right under the noses of 100 super-inquisitive pre-schoolers.  Eeeek!  We were able to make them totally childproof for just $11 extra.

Finally I'd like to thank the many clients who have given us positive feedback as well as some excellent suggestions on ways we can improve our system and our service.  Especially a big thank you to those who have taken the time to write a testimonial.  If you too, can find a little time during the Christmas break to put a few words in an email, I would greatly appreciate some more testimonials for our web site.

Thank you.

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Is it toxic? Is it safe?

Many people believe that a natural product is safer than a non-natural product.  Would you agree?

In many cases it may be quite true, but when it comes to pesticides it is often just the opposite.  Most people have heard that natural pyrethrins (botanicals) are extracted from certain daisies.  So it must be very safe, right?  Maybe.  There are some people who are sensitive to pyrethrin, and goodness knows, you wouldn't want it sprayed over your plates or food!

There are also synthetic pyrethroids which are not natural. (Of course that is what synthetic means... doh!)  Are they safer?  Maybe.  You see, the answer depends on whether we are talking about concentrates or the product as it is applied within a home.  We use a powder called Permethrin as part of our regular cockroach treatment and it is so low in toxicity that it is actually exempted from poisons scheduling.

Your natural pyrethrin however is not (permethrin is not pyrethrin though they sound the same).  Natural pyrethrin is rated as a low toxic product, but it only just scrapes into that category.  It is almost rated as moderately toxic.

Arsenic is highly toxic, as are some organochlorines previously used for termite control on houses prior to 1996.  Some organophosphates commonly found in over the counter ant killers are moderately toxic.  Most fly sprays contain bioresmethrin which is very low toxic.

If you want completely non-toxic, then you need to drown the insect in water!

What else is toxic?  Caffeine is.  So are exhaust fumes from cars.  Most of the fresh fruit and veggies you may purchase in the supermarket contain some insecticide residues.  What I am driving at is that the definition of toxic has to be placed in perspective.  Caffeine in high doses will kill a cockroach.  Exhaust fumes in high doses will kill us.  It would be great if we could avoid all toxins in our life, but it simply isn't possible.  Fortunately our mammalian human bodies are equipped with sophisticated means to filter out and break down many of the toxins that we consume.  In very simple terms, a cockroach's body doesn't have the same means to breakdown a toxin.  What is safe for us is deadly to a cockroach.

At Green Pest Control we aim to use the safest and most effective products available.  We also apply the products correctly so as ensure your family's safety.

We don't necessarily use natural products.  In fact, we are "green" because we use products that are as environmentally friendly as possible. The synthetic pyrethroids that we use are bio-degradable.  Over several months they will break down into harmless elements.

Now to answer the second part of the question.  Is it safe?

Is a car safe? It really depends on who's driving.  Similarly, treating pests in your home is no different.  The correct application of insecticides is a big part of safety.  Our licenced staff are very careful to ensure your safety.

In another life, about 30 years ago as a RAAF cadet at Point Cook, I was assigned to help a mess sergeant set up a buffet for senior officers.  It was to be consumed after a major parade.  There were a few flies buzzing about the food.  I watched aghast as he proceeded to empty a full can of Baygon surface spray in the air over the food.  That wasn't safe nor was it smart.  His comment when I protested about his action was "Who cares, I'm not eating any of it anyway!" 

In those days Baygon was the surface spray of choice. It worked better than any other brand and it sold like hot cakes. It was the most effective surface spray because it contained a poison (dichlorvos) that is now restricted from public use.  If you ever used the old Baygon, you might remember how you'd have to cover your mouth just to spray it, or you would end up coughing your lungs out.  The current Baygon surface spray is not the same as the original.  It is much safer.

Green Pest Control cares very much for your safety.  We have health food shops, restaurants, and food production factories as our clients.  We've also successfully treated many homes where one or more of the occupants was hypersensitive to chemicals.  And of course we also treat the most difficult client of all. the pet shop.  "Kill everything - except my stock!"  ...Yikes.

To summarize: Is it toxic and is it safe?  Most modern insecticides that professionals use are low toxic.  Natural chemicals are not necessarily the lowest in toxicity.  The three most important factors in making a product safe are:

Customer Question of the Month.

Question:

Dear Jerry,
I have your green termite bait system installed at my home in Robina.  When Andrew came to inspect the baits I mentioned that I liked to check them myself once a week.  He told me (in a friendly way) that I was doing the wrong thing.  Why is this?  I only want to help, but he explained that I was probably doing more harm than good.  Is this really true?

Mrs Betty G.  (Robina - Gold Coast.)

Answer:

Termites are a shy creature.  That's because almost everything out there (including us) is their enemy.  They are pretty defenceless and are a great meal for other hunting insects and animals.  Termites hate to be discovered.  If they are exposed, they will run, especially the workers.  They run to a place of safety further underground and then seal up the tunnels leading to the nest.  Any soldiers or workers trapped outside are left as sacrificial food to keep the invaders busy whilst the breach is repaired. 

Termites also have a very thin exterior membrane which means that they will easily desiccate when exposed to humidity levels less than 68%.  This explains one of the reasons why termites are found randomly foraging through garden mulch in the summer months, but not in the winter (drier) months.  Termites also like high temperatures, which is why there are no termites of economic significance to be found in Tasmania. 

Termite workers are blind.  They travel along underground tunnels that they create, following special pheromones to a set source of food.  The food source (eg a Green Termite Bait) is marked with a set of pheromones that says "This is a good place to eat."  If the termites are disturbed too much they will become alarmed and mark the food source with a set of different pheromones that say "Danger - keep away."

 Although termites are blind, they can sense light.  They are also sensitive to drops in humidity and temperature levels.  And if that isn't enough, simple vibrations can upset them too. 

When our fully trained and licenced termite bait inspectors check and service your termite baits, they do it quickly and with the minimum amount of disturbance.  Dust is applied, humidity and temperature is retained, and darkness is returned.  All done in under 10 seconds, now that is quick!  This ensures that the termites remain active in the baits, which is vital.  Why?  Because the active termites will then transfer the termiticide dust back to the queen which will lead to her death and subsequently the eventual destruction of the termite nest.

There are several other bait systems on the market and one common weakness they have as opposed to the Green Termite Bait System is that the treatment process often disturbs the termites so much that the termites withdraw from the bait before it can become effective.

The Green Termite Bait System is very effective IF the baits are checked once a month every month, no more no less.  It's been designed that way.  But it breaks our hearts when we come to a bait that WAS active but is no longer active because our well intentioned but naive customer has been popping the plugs off every week to take a peek and see how the baits are going.  In so doing, their (not so little) peek has caused the termites to shy away. 

We always advise new customers of the following:

• Leave the inspections to our trained servicemen, because that is what you are paying us for - expert servicing of your bait system.

• We will keep you informed about any termite activity as well as:

  • The types of termites we find.

  • Whether they are high risk.

  • Where they are located.

  • The general progress of your bait system. 

• Remember you can simply make a progress check by viewing your Service History Book in your meter box or by speaking directly to the technician who serviced your bait system.

• Please, don't touch.  Fight the curiosity urge.  Your curiosity may sabotage your results.

The Green Termite Bait System is proven to work and is very effective, so please resist the urge to tamper with it and it will serve you well.

Quote of the month (aka Opportunity Lost)

"We only took a quick look."   Said to me by a retired gentleman as we both peered into his vacant termite bait.

"How long was quick?"   I asked.

"Only 10 minutes or so, there were lots of them yesterday."

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

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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.

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See you again next month.

Always... At your service,

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

Copyright 2004 Green Termite Bait Systems & Green Pest Control. All rights reserved.

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