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Hybrid invasive super termites menacing Florida

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Florida doesn't care. California though... (Score: 0)

by Anonymous Coward on 2015-03-28 07:48 (#5YCQ)

Nearly all homes in Florida are concrete block. Of the remainder, all the newer ones are **poured** concrete. Yeah, you can slam a big truck into the house and it won't matter. Maybe 1% is wood frame.

California is all wood frame. It keeps the firefighters employed I suppose. California will love these new termites.

Re: Florida doesn't care. California though... (Score: 1)

by evilviper@pipedot.org on 2015-03-28 08:11 (#5YDT)

Concrete block structures don't fare well during earthquakes... They require extensive retrofitting and typically need a massive steel support structure before they are allowed to be re-occupied. Wood structures survive far better, without nearly so much extra effort. HurriQuake nails are one very inexpensive upgrade that can help wood structures, substantially.

With California's many extensive wooded forests, most of the firefighters will remain employed, no matter what materials homes are built from.

Re: Florida doesn't care. California though... (Score: 1)

by reziac@pipedot.org on 2015-03-29 04:28 (#600P)

A better alternative in termite country is the metal-framed, metal-covered house, which is both flexible like wood, and rather more fireproof as well as pestproof. Unfortunately as of the last time I checked, metal houses were not yet insurable!

In the SoCal desert where I lived for 28 years, you don't need super-termites; the native ground termites will eat everything just fine. Any cellulose (including lawn clippings, cardboard, dead weeds, and flour) they can get to will be eaten. Lay a 2x4 on the ground and it will be infested within a week (literally). Termite control is a way of life.

Re: Florida doesn't care. California though... (Score: 0)

by Anonymous Coward on 2015-03-29 05:49 (#6033)

What kills them then? Sulphur?

Re: Florida doesn't care. California though... (Score: 2, Insightful)

by reziac@pipedot.org on 2015-03-30 02:19 (#61F7)

Termites are fairly sensitive to a variety of pesticides (also to cold and dehydration). The problem is that the core of the nest, along with the queen, is usually well underground, therefore safe from the usual pesticides.

The solution is to treat the area with "Termidor" which they'll take home to mama, and eventually this kills the entire nest.

But the problem with the desert is that there are always more termites, so killing 'em off one colony at a time is an exercise in futility.

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Time Reason Points Voter
2015-03-30 12:20 Insightful +1 wideglide@pipedot.org

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