November 2005 / Vol.2 / Issue 11

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

Contents

1. Pest Talk
2. Customer Question of the Month.
3. Quote of the Month.
4. Monthly Special

Pest Talk

Do you believe in truth in advertising? Have we come to expect that if an ad on TV says something is such and such, then it must be true or "they" wouldn't allow it? Many of us subconsciously fall into this trap, yet our rational mind sees the small print that flicks on the bottom of the screen for a few seconds and we know there may be a catch.

Some people believe everything they see and hear on TV even when the report is biased. Trial by TV happens every day. Infomercial's are supposed to be believable because a celebrity is paid to endorse it. We are bombarded with facts from so-called experts and sometimes utter nonsense can be made to sound true. It happens every day. As some of you may have already discovered, the termite management industry is also confused. There are truths, half-truths and outright lies being peddled to the unwary. It's no wonder that people don't know which way to turn for sound advice.

Maybe we at Green Termite Bait Systems are also biased. We strive to talk about pest issues honestly and with balance, even if 'telling it as it is' means putting our neck on the line. Yes, we do have a trolley to push, but we push it because we know our system works and honestly believe in its value as a termite risk reduction tool for every home owner who places their trust in us.

Why this preamble we hear you ask? Recently Termidor® (a BASF product) have released a small pamphlet that compares a traditional trench and flood chemical treated zone (using Termidor®), against a generalised termite baiting system. It's a very one-sided story and mixes truth with fiction in a believable way. We feel it is misleading, unethical, dishonest and unbalanced, yet many unsuspecting people with termite problems will read it 'as gospel truth' and may make a poor choice when it comes to protecting their homes.

We have scanned and placed the offending Termidor® pamphlet here for you to read.

We've also published the following comparison sheet on our web site for a few years now and we have tried hard to keep it accurate. Compare prices

We use Termidor® ourselves and think that it is a wonderful product. As you can see from out comparison sheet we rate it highly. There are times when a full or partial perimeter treatment zone with chemicals is the best choice and the most appropriate way to solve a serious termite problem, but not always. Chemical soil treatments also have their limitations.

• They're not always practical, especially in the following situations:
  • Sloping ground
  • Rocky ground
  • Heavy clay
  • Poor drainage
  • Inaccessible areas - e.g. under low decks, etc.
• Not all pest controllers apply it conscienciously according to the Australian Standards. Poor application contributes heavily to failures and ongoing termite problems. In fact many of the readers of this newsletter have experienced a failure of a chemical soil barrier.
• Application drilling and trenching often makes a mess of concrete areas, paving, tiles.
• It wears off and needs renewing.
• People forget to renew it. Do you know exactly when to renew your chemical treated zone needs renewing? No one really knows exactly how long it lasts and exactly when to renew it. It might be good for another 3 years or it might have lost its useful life months ago.
• It might devalue your home. Drill holes in concrete may scare away potential buyers.
• It doesn't suit people who wish to avoid or reduce toxic chemical use around their homes.
• It's expensive.

Bait systems can also be expensive, especially the ones sold by our opposition and we thank our opposition sincerely for keeping their prices so high. They make our fair and reasonable prices look fantastic.

It should be noted that Termidor's® pamphlet was attacking the 'plastic style' bait systems and in some ways we can agree with them, because not all bait systems are the same. You will find further comparisons here: compare.

The only other comment that we wish to make is to confront the foolishly promulgated idea from Termidor® that baits only cover 5% of a home's perimeter. That idea is nonsense and here's why. Although a termite bait is only a small object, it covers an area of 2 - 3 metres. Termites don't travel in straight lines between baits. They forage outwards fanning out looking for food. Termidor® are fully aware of this fact. Termite baits were first developed by the CSIRO and are endorsed around the world because they work. A termite bait is like a restaurant for termites, and just like a restaurant only sits on one small block of land, it draws hungry diners from all around.

Fairness in advertising? Truth in an industry already full of conflicting advice? BASF and Termidor® shouldn't need to resort to half truths and misinformation to promote their great product. It's a good product and it has its place. We also agree that a chemical treated zone with Termidor® is probably a better choice than most of the other termite baiting systems out there, but not all baiting systems are the same.

As you can see from the earlier comparison, the Green Termite Bait System is vastly superior to any of it's rivals. The proof is there for all to see.

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Customer Question of the Month.

Question:

Hi there,

What a fabulous web site you guys have, everything one would want to know about termites, and very well presented too. It's difficult getting such crucial information like this these days. If one in three homes will be affected by termites at some stage then termites are a community problem and I believe every home owner has a right to the necessary information so that informed decisions can be made. Your site provides such information, a great work, I mean that sincerely. I know there are a lot of sharks in the termite business and a lot of people pay a lot of money unnecessarily. I had a termite inspection done a few years back after termites were found in the side boundary retaining wall (sleepers). It took all of 30 minutes, cost me several hundred $, no sign of a "moisture meter" and there was no inspection done in the roof cavity or around the yard. I wasn't that impressed with the inspection, certainly didn't give me a lot of confidence.

Since I had that report done I have researched termites quite a bit and have been doing my own inspections every 6 months or so. (I'm a bit of a DIY, not just to save money, I just like to get a handle on things, and basically it interests me, I mean if there is something out there that can eat my house then I want to know as much about it as I can). I have not seen any sign of termites in the house, I have seen them in the yard (very small white ones in the garden mulch), and they are in the back boundary retaining wall now (sleepers), in fact it looks like it is about to fall over. This back wall will be replaced with concrete or similar over the next few months. I guess it is just a matter of time before they invade the house.

I'm pretty much sold on your Green Bait System, I think that is the way to go rather then pouring chemicals into the ground. As termites have been found in the back retaining wall (my neighbour has had the infestation chemically treated), then I wanted to ask your advice as to whether I should get a full inspection done before installing the bait system? I have a (very nice) timber deck around my pool and I am paranoid about termites getting into that, (it was another DIY job). It is 15 years old, constructed of coppers log posts (directly in the ground, no stirrups), hardwood structure (not treated) and hardwood decking (kwila which I believe termites do not like at all). It still looks pretty good and as far as I can tell there are no termites in it yet. Would you recommend a full termite inspection (yard and house) prior to installing the baits, and if so is there anyone you could recommend. I live in Middle Park, S/W suburbs of Brisbane. I would definitely be looking at installing the baits myself with your DIY kit. Would you guys be able to do an inspection prior to me installing the baits?

One problem I might have with the baits is that my house is pretty much surrounded by concrete and gravel, sounds pretty ugly I know, but it's not that bad really. At the front of the house there is the driveway to a double garage, so the stamped concrete goes right up to the slab there. Also at the front are some garden areas but I have a strip of gravel about 30cm wide between the garden and the house. Actually this gravel sits on a sheet of plastic, is that a good idea? The area around one side of my house is completely graveled (also has a garden shed on a slab and that slab butts up against the house bricks). The other side of the house and the back of the house are completely surrounded by stamped concrete butting right up to the house bricks. Both sides of the house are also double brick (exposed brick walls internally). No weep holes are covered anywhere around the house. With this setup there are not many places I could install baits 20cm from the house walls, what would you suggest? Could I simply place the baits around the extremities of the stamped concrete, this would be quite a distance from the house in most cases. I guess I should also be looking at placing the baits around my timber deck?

By the way, I'm also thinking about using a product like Mabon's Protect Timber (termiticide and fungicide) on any timbers that are accessible within the house, e.g. the roof trusses and beams, under the stairwell, exposed beams and pine ceilings, stair balustrades etc. Just wondering what you thought of that idea, or do you think that is overkill.

Also, just a note on your internal "Ec2c termite window". I have to admit I was a bit sceptical about it when I first read the October newsletter, so just a few questions. If 30 or 40 of these were installed in the house at locations as per your recommendations, then could one safely assume that all that was needed to check for termites in the house is to go around and check the windows every month or so. Wouldn't it be possible or even likely that termites could remain undiscovered for quite a long time because they were active in other parts of the house, like "in between" the windows that were installed. Of course, if I were to go with these internal windows I would use them in conjunction with the baiting system, and with both these systems in place would it no longer be necessary to do the usual 6 monthly donger inspection?

I mentioned before that termites have been found this past week or so in the back boundary sleeper retaining wall and that my neighbour has had that infestation chemically treated. I think it's going to take something like a month or so for that nest to be destroyed. I guess it would not be a good idea to install the baits until that colony has been destroyed?, otherwise I expect any baits I did install would all get hit within a few days or so, and would just be pointless.

Also, if one installed 20--25 baits around the house and they all got hit, would all of them need to be treated with termiticide, or just a few, maybe only a couple. I'm kind of assuming that if all the baits were hit then all those termites would be from the same colony. I guess I'm looking at a cost issue here, treating a few baits at $33 a pop as opposed to 25 baits at $33. Looking at a worse case scenario of having to treat 25 baits every 6-12 months, probably very unlikely but I thought I'd ask anyway. Of course, if all baits that were hit have to be treated for the integrity of the system then so be it.

By the way, just as a point of interest, when I had that termite inspection done a few years back the recommendation was to treat the inside and outside of the house chemically at a cost of something like $7000. They were not only suggesting drilling holes in the stamped concrete outside but also drilling holes inside through my slate floor.

Thanks again

Dave C. Middle Park QLD.

Answer:

Hi Dave and thank you very much for your kind words and interesting enquiry. We'll answer you questions in the order that you have asked them.

The Australia Standards suggest that it's a good idea to have your home checked at least once a year. Some pest control companies insist on doing an expensive full inspection before they commence any termite work including quotations. We don't. The choice should be yours and not because someone has insisted you must have one whether you need it or not. We have heard from several people who have paid for 2 or 3 inspections in one month because they were told it was compulsory before a quote could be given. That's incorrect and an abuse of the regulations. It's optional. We never insist on a full inspection before installing a Green Termite Bait System. However we will always investigate any suspicious signs of termite activity in your home if you bring them to our attention. We always recommend that if you know you have termites in your home, you should get them treated first before you install your Green Termite Bait System.

The Green Termite Bait System is aimed at preventing termites from entering your home, rather than drawing out and killing termites that are already inside your home. (Our baits have been known to kill termites inside a home on some occasions, but that is not the intended use, simply a fortunate side benefit.) We suggest that if you are unsure as to whether or not you have termites in your home and you really want to know, then get a professional termite inspection. Although five our technicians are fully qualified to carry out termite inspections and reports, we don't offer them. Why not? In a nutshell, we prefer to specialise in all other areas of post-construction termite management. We are often asked if we can recommend a good inspection company, but we don't anymore because whoever we recommend may not please all people. It's simply too big a minefield out there and all we can say is 'buyer beware' and be very careful who you choose. This subject has been covered in more depth in our March and April 2005 Newsletters.

Only this week we have been presented with two termite reports in which the inspector (from a big, well established firm) completely misidentified termites and exaggerated the level of termite activity (common to most yards) which in turn led to the collapse of a contract on the sale of one house and a panic attack in another.

Bait locations? Our instruction manual covers the best places for termite bait installation. Simply put, they should be 2 - 3 metres apart and as close to the house as practical but not right up against the walls. They can skirt around concrete areas up to 4m wide, but if it gets much further than that, then you have to decide whether or not you want to core drill or cut the concrete to allow for a better placement. It's a judgment call and a bit of a balancing act between risk reduction, cost and aesthetics. Plastic under gravel is standard practice and used to control weeds. When we install a bait into a gravel path, we make a small slice in the plastic to allow the bait to enter the soil below. It works great and once the gravel is replaced back around the bait, the overall affect looks neat and tidy.

Mabon's is a great product and helps to preserve the timber against damage due to weathering. It looks good and if you want to go the extra mile it is well worth the effort and will give extended life to all timbers to which it is applied. A waterproofing coat is also available which is great for decks.

Our Ec2c Termite Windows are a great tool in helping to identify the early activity of termites inside your home. They are not a stand alone tool or a replacement of any other system. Yes it is possible that termites could be active between two Ec2c Termite Windows. How would you know? Sooner, rather than later, the termites will most likely venture to where you do have an Ec2c Termite Window and then you will know. No single termite control measure is perfect, but the Ec2c Termite Windows can greatly help to detect termite activity in your home sooner than if you didn't have them and that could mean the difference between a small repair bill or a large one. The Ec2c Termite Windows give both you and your termite inspector an added advantage and should be used in conjunction with your regular termite inspections. Don't forget that our special introductory price for the Ec2c Termite Windows ends November 30th.

You can install your Green Termite Baits immediately. You do not need to fear that they will be hit in a day or two by the existing termites. In fact the average time before a Green Termite Bait is 'hit' by termites is usually 1 - 3 months. If the chemical treatment at your neighbour's property is effective then the termites will be dead, dying and in damage mode. They won't have time to search for new food sources. On the other hand if your neighbour's treatment isn't effective, then you'll be glad you installed your baits because when they do hit, you'll be alerted early to their ongoing activity.

It is extremely unlikely that termites would simultaneously hit all 25 baits at once. If they did you would set a new record and we would call a TV crew to record it! The existing record in the 1st month is 7 strikes from 35 baits! On average you will get termites 'hitting' only 1 or 2 at a time. Of course, once the termites inside the bait are treated with an approved non-repellent, transferable termiticide, then the nest is likely to be destroyed which in turn reduces the pressure on the remaining Green Termite Baits including replacement baits.

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Quote of the Month.

Rats Playing Football?

One of our new customers lives on the NSW/QLD border at Tweed Heads and he was describing the sounds of rats at night up in his roof void.

quot;It sounds like they are having a State of Origin match up there!" he said.

Oh yeah... that's sure to keep you awake at night.

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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 2005 Green Termite Bait Systems & Green Pest Control. All rights reserved.

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