Termite Terry recently gave a presentation for a meeting at LeTip of West Orange County. His presentation was titled, “How To Lower Home Maintenance Costs” and it focused on “The 7 Key Areas Of Home Maintenance” which could save homeowners hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in maintenance costs. During the presentation, he showed his [...]
In 1854, among the pioneers moving into the Nebraska Territory was a man named Julius Sterling Morton. He became the editor of a local newspaper called “The Nebraska City News” and in that forum, he was able to spread agricultural information and his enthusiasm for trees.
There weren’t that many trees on the Nebraska plains during those times and trees were needed for windbreaks to help keep soil in place. They were also needed as a source for fuel and building materials.
In his articles, he encouraged individuals, civic organizations and groups to plant trees. He was appointed Secretary of Nebraska Territory by President James Buchanan in 1858 and that provided another opportunity for him to stress the value of trees.
In January, 1872, Morton was at a meeting of the State Board of Agriculture when he first proposed a tree-planting holiday. The date was set for April 10, 1872. They offered prizes to counties and individuals for planting the largest number of trees. The idea was a success and on that first Arbor Day, they estimate that over one million trees were planted.
In 1885, Arbor Day was named a legal holiday in Nebraska and the day of April 22nd was selected because that was Morton’s birthday.
Other states passed legislation to observe Arbor Day and it became a nationwide tradition in schools in 1882.
Today, many countries observe a similar holiday and we all owe a debt of gratitude to Julius Sterling Morton for his inspiration.
“Each generation takes the earth as trustees.” —J. Sterling Morton
It is maple sugaring season in the Midwest and Northeast but the centuries-old tradition of tapping maple trees for sap to make syrup is being threatened by the spread of “Asian longhorned beetles”. These beetles kill maple trees and travel on infested firewood.
Asian longhorned beetles are not native to the U.S. and they have no natural predators. Our native maple trees are very vulnerable to attack because they have no resistance to the beetle’s tunneling and chewing.
Several maple syrup-producing states have been hit by infestations of these pests. The most recent case of infestation was found near Cincinnati, Ohio, and eradication efforts are underway. Tragically, many mature maple trees will have to be removed and destroyed.
The Worchester, Maine area is also facing a serious threat because the beetles were able to infest such a large area before being discovered. Beetle infestations were previously found in both New York and New Jersey, but those states appear to have the situation under control. Throughout the region, state officials are vigilant about looking for new signs of infestation.
“Because some people don’t realize that moving firewood can spread this tree-killing beetle, more infestations may be discovered in other cities and towns in maple producing areas,” said Leigh Greenwood, Don’t Move Firewood campaign manager. “Once an infestation occurs, the only way to stop the Asian longhorned beetle’s spread is to cut down all infested and host trees – impacting property owners and local communities and posing a huge threat to the maple syrup industry.”
These beetles cannot move very far on their own. However, when people start moving firewood from one location to another, it enables these pests to spread to new areas which may be far away from their original location. Detecting these beetles in firewood is not easy because they can be hidden in layers of wood beneath the bark.
“It might seem like a good idea to obtain some firewood from another area, or to take along firewood when going camping, but just one log can start a new infestation of the Asian longhorned beetle or other tree killing pests,” said Greenwood. “By buying locally harvested wood, people can help protect their trees by not risking the accidental movement of insects and diseases that can affect entire forests.”
“Ongoing efforts in awareness and education about invasive insects and the Don’t Move Firewood message are very important. We want to stress as an industry that the potential loss from Asian longhorned beetles will far exceed the upfront costs of prevention,” said Dave Chapeskie, executive director of the International Maple Syrup Institute. “Other invasive insects like the emerald ash borer threaten the integrity of the sugar bush, even if they don’t directly threaten the sugar maples.”
Tips from the Don’t Move Firewood campaign
Obtain firewood near the location where you will burn it – that means the wood was cut in a nearby forest, in the same country, or a maximum of 50 miles from where you’ll have your fire.
Don’t be tempted to bring firewood just because the wood looks clean and healthy. It could still harbor tiny insect eggs or microscopic fungal spores that could start a new and deadly infestation of forest pests.
Aged or seasoned wood is not considered safe to move, but commercially kiln-dried wood is a good option if you must transport firewood.
If you have already moved firewood, and you need to dispose of it safely, burn it soon and completely. Make sure to rake the storage area carefully and also burn the debris. In the future, buy from a local source.
Take care to respect all state and local regulations on firewood movement – some areas are subject to serious fines for violations. For more information, visit your agricultural department’s website.
Tell your friends and others about the risks of moving firewood – no one wants to be responsible for starting a new pest infestation.
Arachnophobia is the fear of spiders and is the most common of all phobias. If the sight of a spider creates fear in your heart, you are certainly not alone. In Western societies, 55% of females and 18% of males are estimated to experience arachnophobia.
Besides scaring some people “half to death”, spiders are also very messy and their webs can make even the nicest home look dirty and appear like a “haunted house”.
Why are spiders such a big problem and why do so many home and business owners have such a terrible time controlling them? If there was one reason, it would probably be that most people don’t understand the basic biology and behavior of spiders. In this article, we’d like for you to learn some of these basics so you can keep your home or business “spider free” this summer.
Spiders 101
There are over 35,000 described species of spiders in the world. In the U.S., it is possible to collect between 400 and 700 different species. Fortunately, Orange County residents have only about three species that frequently invade homes and businesses.
The black widow spider is probably the most feared spider. The female black widow is jet-black with a red hourglass on its underside. Males are smaller and lighter colored. Females will produce 4-9 white silken egg sacs in a summer and each of these contain 300-400 eggs! Add up those numbers and you’ll easily understand why these pests can be so hard to control. When a person is bitten by a black widow, body aches are a normal reaction. Their venom may also cause headaches, high blood pressure and nausea.
The brown widow spider is a specie that recently became established in California in early 2,000. It has a mottling of tan and brown with black accents and you’ll find an orange colored hourglass on its underside. The egg sacs of a brown widow spider are yellowish and have numerous “silk spicules”. The venom of a brown widow is as toxic as the Black Widow’s but their bites are minor in comparison.
Everyone is concerned about brown recluse spiders because their bites can be very painful and dangerous. The good news is that these pests are not found in California.
The “Daddy Long Legs” spider likes to live indoors. These spiders have a small grey, elongated body with 8 very long legs. 20-30 eggs are held in a silk net and this is carried with the female as she moves around. These breed year round. Their venom is poisonous but their fangs are too short to penetrate skin and that is why these are not considered to be dangerous.
What You Can Do To Control Spiders
If you have a spider problem, it means that you’ve got a lot of other bugs that they are eating. Always start any spider control program by eliminating the other pests in your home or business, first.
Knock down major cobwebs. If spiders don’t have webs, they can’t catch anything and this will help encourage them to go elsewhere. This will also improve the appearance of your home.
Use a vacuum cleaner to remove spiders, their egg sacs and webs. Remember how many egg sacs these spiders produce and how many eggs there are in each one? For every egg sac you vacuum up, you could in effect be eliminating up to 400 potential new spiders!! Best of all, this will substantially reduce the amounts of insecticide needed to gain control.
Sanitation and removal of clutter is very important because it eliminates so many places for them to live and breed.
Keep plants cut back away from the exterior of your home or business. Some homes have plants, shrubs, trees and vines growing against and all over them. If this is the case, there is probably little hope that you’ll ever solve your spider problem. Keeping plants cut back is really that important if you want to gain control over spiders.
A residual dust, such as boric acid, can really be effective when applied in attics and subareas. Remember, very little is needed and if you can see the dust after you have applied it, you have used too much.
Some residual insecticide sprays can be very useful for exterior treatments. We especially recommend using granular formulations on lawn and soil areas located adjacent to the structure because they are longer lasting. Also, they are less likely to wash away when you irrigate or when it rains. By using these products, you are helping to reduce run-off and doing your part to protect our beaches.
Are you having a problem with spiders and need help? Call our office at (949) 631-7348 or click onorder form and ask for us to schedule a FREEpest audit. You’ll learn all of the different ways you can help to solve your problem. Our regular monthly or bi-monthly pest control services include removal of major cob webs and wasp nest so your home or business will always look its best. By using this information, you and your family can truly enjoy a “pest free summer.”
“On behalf of the Board of Directors of Hunt Club Estates Homeowners Association, we would like to thank you for your continued service to the Association. You and your staff have always been prompt and courteous in servicing the needs of the community and we appreciate your assistance in keeping our community pest-free.
We look forward to our continued relationship with one another and are happy to recommend your services to any other associations who may be looking to retain a quality pest control vendor.
Please feel free to include our information on your list of referrals. I can be reached via email at heather@pcamlv.com or via telephone at 949-754-4410.”
Heather Hoover, CCAM Community Manager Pinnacle Community Assoc. Mgmt. Irvine, Calif.
“Thank you for the wonderful service that Termite Terry provides for the Bixby Green Homeowners Association. We truly appreciate your responsiveness and follow-up on all of our requests. It is so nice to work with a vendor who is responsive and can be trusted. Very few vendors go out of their way to contact us with follow-up calls and notices on work requests. We appreciate how David always seems to go the extra mile when it comes to pest and rodent management. Again, thank you for the great service!”
Tracy Drivas Community Manager Bixby Green Homeowners Assoc. IDS Asset Management, LLC Irvine, Calif.
Dry rot is a very common problem that most Orange County homeowners have to deal with on a regular basis. It is found throughout homes in structural lumber, eave areas, garage doors, exterior doors, windows, etc. This next statement may shock you;
“Current estimates show that approximately 10% of all
U.S. wood production is used to provide materials to repair damage caused by dry rot.”
Researchers estimate costs to treat and repair damage caused by drywood termites exceeds $300 million dollars in California, annually. But, when you realize that one out of every ten trees cut down will be used to repair dry rot damage, it would appear that dry rot may be much worse.
Dry rot is caused by wood-destroying (decay) fungi. These decay fungi are plants that live on dead trees and lumber products. These plants are rather sophisticated and can grow very rapidly when conditions are right. When you find a piece of wood which has been infected by decay fungi, it is common to see small white/light grey fruiting bodies growing out of the wood and they look something like a “fan shaped sheet” or a “toad stool”. These fruiting bodies produce many microscopic spores which are similar in function to seeds from higher plants. These spores are dispersed by wind or air currents and when one of them lands on a piece of wood in favorable conditions, it will germinate and grow quickly. Decay fungi must have air, moisture and wood in order to flourish. Moisture is the most critical factor.
Cellulose and lignin, which makes up the cell walls of wood, serves as the food source. When decay fungi attacks a piece of wood and starts digesting it, the wood shrivels up fast and becomes spongy (very weak).
How To Help Prevent Dryrot
In areas where the decay hazard is high, it is best to use the heartwood of a decay-resistant species. Redwood and western red cedar are good choices. You may also want to have the wood treated with a good preservative, such as Bora-Care or Timbor.
When building a new home, always make sure your site is “well-drained”. You do not want water seeping under the house. Larger roof overhangs, rain gutters and downspouts can be very effective. Also, remember that you should never place untreated wood within 18 inches of the ground.
On homes with a raised foundation, make sure you have adequate cross ventilation. A good rule of thumb is to provide two square feet of opening for 25 feet of wall. Keep vegetation cut back away from subarea vents so they won’t restrict air flow.
In areas where you have soil with a high moisture content, install a moisture barrier on the soil surface. This will cause the moisture to condense on the bottom of the plastic barrier and return to the soil instead of condensing on the floor and structural members of your home.
Don’t mount wood directly on concrete unless you are using treated wood. On items like patio or porch post, it is a very good idea to use metal or plastic spacers to keep wood up and off the concrete. This will help prevent the wood from “wicking up” water from rain or lawn sprinklers.
Control moisture. If you have plumbing leaks, roof leaks, sprinklers spraying against the house or any other situation where wood is getting wet, have it fixed as soon as possible.
Repair or replace damaged wood because all of those cavities or holes caused by termites are easy places for moisture to collect and start dry rot.
Seal exterior wood with caulk and paint. This will help to keep moisture out.
How To Repair Dry Rot
When doing repairs, always try and control the moisture source, first. If you don’t, the problem will simply continue.
Minor dry rot damage can often be carved out, treated with a registered fungicide and then repaired with a quality wood filler, such as “Bondo”.
Wood members which are heavily damaged should be cut out and replaced. You should always cut out damage at least one foot beyond the rotted areas. Some make the mistake of placing another piece of wood right along side of a dry rotted member so they can “brace it up”. Don’t do this because the dry rot will quickly attack the new wood. The only exception to this rule is when you are working in an area where you can completely eliminate all moisture, such as in a wall or under a house. Remember that dry rot is like cancer and it will quickly spread unless you can completely eliminate all of it.
Have a problem with dry rot damage on your home or business and need help in repairing it? We have some of the finest carpenters in Orange County and they will be happy to assist. Call our office staff at (949) 631-7348 or click onorder form and we’ll schedule an appointment at your convenience.
“I had Joe Johnston from Terry Termite perform a termite inspection on my home in September. Joe was the third inspector I had at my home and Joe was very detailed with his inspection. He spent about double the time inspecting my property vs. the inspectors from the other companies. In November, I entered into escrow to buy another home where there was some obvious termite damage. The seller presented us with a vague termite inspection report showing minimal damage. I hired Joe Johnston from Terry Termite to inspect the property as a second opinion and Joe found damage exceeding the report presented by the sellers by three times. At this point I requested Terry Termite to do the extermination and wood repair as a condition to complete my purchase. Joe followed up and kept all parties informed of the status of the work being done, he even called us during his vacation. Terry Termite and Joe Johnston did an outstanding job and I would highly recommend them. If you are a buyer, protect yourself and hire Termite Terry for a second opinion. I am glad I did, it saved me several thousand dollars in repair work.”
Ron Lehman
Long Beach, Calif.
“My experience with Termite Terry Pest Control was excellent. I had an ant infestation problem completely resolved by Sam and Terry. Sam removed some wasp nests and Joe took care of the termite fumigation. They are good people and they did a nice job. I am happy with the results and I would recommend them to anyone in need of their services. Thank you Joe, Sam and Terry. Everything went perfectly well.
The company is very reliable – they do what they have promised.”
Pesticide use in California was up in 2010 after declining for four consecutive years. The Department of Pesticide Regulation released data showing that more than 173 million pounds of pesticides were applied statewide. That is an increase of 15 million pounds or 9.5% from 2009.
The increase was mostly due to a 15% jump in acres treated with pesticides. 9.7 million acres were added on, raising the total number of acres being treated to 75 million.
Sulfur was the most highly used pesticide in both pounds applied and acres treated. Sulfur, which accounted for 27% of reported use, saw an increase usage of 4.4 million pounds or 10%. Sulfur is a natural fungicide. Conventional and organic farmers use it to control powdery mildew on grapes and processing tomatoes.
Other pesticides with high use were applied to treat a variety of diseases and pests that affected rice, walnuts, oranges, almonds, grapes and strawberries.
“The winter and spring of 2009 and 2010 were relatively cool and wet, which probably resulted in greater fungicide use to control mildew and other diseases,” DPR Chief Deputy Director Chris Reardon explained. “Summer and fall temperatures were also below average, which led to late harvest, more insect damage to some crops and additional treatments.”
Fresno, Kern, Tulare, San Joaquin and Madera were the top five counties where most pesticides were applied and all of these counties are major producers of agricultural products.
At “Termite” Terry Pest Control, we are continuing to look for ways to improve the effectiveness of our pest control services while reducing the amount of pesticides we apply. Fortunately, there have been great improvements in technology over the past few years and some of the newest products are really helping us to meet our goals. With the knowledge we’ve gained, you can really enjoy living pest free and have the peace of mind knowing that we’re practicing techniques that will have the least impact on our environment.
Have pest problems and want to know more about “Termite” Terry’s pest control services? Please call our office at (949) 631-7348 or click onorder form and we’ll schedule a FREE Pest Audit at your convenience!
The FDA has temporarily halted all imports of foreign orange juice because of fears that some foreign orange juice contains traces of carbendazim, a fungicide banned in the U.S.. They are especially concerned about juice imported from Brazil.
Fungicides, like carbendazim, are used to control fungi or fungal spores in agriculture. It is still legal to use in Brazil and the European Union even allows foods to contain up to 200 parts per billion of this fungicide. This fungicide was used as recently as 2008 on Florida oranges. But, the FDA banned the use of carbendazim in all food products after studies linked it to increased rates of cancers and infertility.
Experts are concerned about the response of consumers to this ban. If consumers stop buying orange juice, prices for both imported and U.S. grown citrus could be adversely affected. Of course, if savvy consumers boycott only imported orange juice and fresh fruit, demand for U.S. citrus may see a healthy spike. That would be a good thing for U.S. growers.
“But the real winner could turn out to be the U.S. organic grower as consumers attempt to avoid chemical treatment of commercial citrus altogether,” says Dr. Juan Anciso of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. “It could be a good time to be in the organic orange business.”
For the second year in a row, “Termite” Terry Pest Control was given the Super Service Award by Angie’s List. This prestigious award celebrates our dedication to quality and is highly esteemed by Angie’s List members.
“Termite” Terry was also pleased to learn he was honored four times in 2011 as a “Page of Happiness Nominee” by Angie’s list members.
Angie’s List is the nation’s premier provider of trusted reviews on contractors and doctors in over 500 categories, like roofers, house cleaners and dentists. More than 2 million members check Angie’s List to find the best local service providers and save on projects with exclusive member discounts.
