TERMITE PEST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23769, 24 September 1940, Page 9

TERMITE PEST

THREAT TO HOUSES CORRESPONDENT'S VIEWS PREVENTIVE MEASURES The view that, the destruction to property caused by the termite (white ant) is a problem that calls for immediate attention is expressed by a correspondent, who claims to have spent many years . in countries infested with this pest. He says the discover,' of the termite'in Auckland will be viewed with grave concern by nil who are acquainted with the damage wrought by its activities. The termite works in the dark and when devouring timber it always leaves a thin layer on the outside as a protection for itself, continues the correspondent. This resulted in the ravages passing unobserved until a building or part of it collapsed. "Many times I have noticed what has appeared to bo dust on the glass of a picture, but on touching the picture the whole thing has collapsed, tho inside having been completely eaten out by termites," he says. In a country like Nevr Zealand where timber is so largely used for building purposes, tho menace of the termite was very serious. The Auckland Soil In the correspondent's opinion, eradication could not be hoped for. He feared that the termites would increase and would probably find the volcanic soil of the Auckland Province an ideal home. There were two ways in which their activities could be restricted. The first was the location of the pest, and this could be accomplished by forcing the termite to disclose its presence by having a foot or two of brickwork with cement mortar and a good cement "damp course" above the foundations of a building before any timber was used. If a building was built on blocks, cement or concrete blocks should be used.

The termite's presence would be disclosed by tlio small earthen tunnels which it constructs, similar to the structure of the mason bee, and those could be easily seen and destroyed and poisoned bait laid in the soil beneath. The only method of attack that offered any real hope of success was tlie use of paris green. The correspondent said this remedy had been recommended by_a friend who had spent many years in Western Australia and British Somaliland. It had also been tried with a good deal of success in Ceylon. The utmost care was necessary in the use of paris green. Case of New Buildings

In the case of new buildings a preventive measure was the boring or holes at intervals in tlie_ studs, joists, etc., and plugging them with wood after some paris green had been inserted. _ If the timber did not get damp the poison would remain effective for years, and in the event of termites attacking the building thev would consume the poison and die. The dead termites would be eaten by others and they also would die. At the point where the termites' tunnel left the soil a bag of coarse sawdust mixed with paris green could be buried well below the surface with every prospect of effective results.