August 2009 / Vol.6 / Issue 8

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

Contents

1. Pest Talk.
2. Intrigue dust.
3. No dust? Termidor Alternative..
4. Termite report cards.
5. Monthly Special.

Pest Talk

Around the world a race is on to find a termite control solution that is both practical and affordable.  The race is conducted by a small group of elite scientists and possibly some unknown backyard DIY termite enthusiasts as well.  Some of the scientists work in dedicated university research departments, some with specialist research facilities such as the CSIRO, and some for the giant chemical companies such as Bayer and BASF that currently have huge vested interests in the worldwide supply of termite control chemicals.

Last month we quickly discussed 'termite vibration theory' currently being researched by Dr Theo Evans and his team at the CSIRO.  The ideas may lead to valuable solution or they may lead nowhere.  Many years ago the CSIRO patented the 'granitguard' method of termite prevention for new homes and on-sold the technology to commercial business that then returned a royalty to the CSIRO.  Granitguard is still available and used in new homes and is a good idea realised and put into practice.  It has its weaknesses mainly due to difficulty with installation or directly resulting from poor installation and there is a host of other physical barrier systems available for new home owners that directly compete with them.

Of course this is about one good idea leading to another and so on.  The refinement and evolution of an idea which leads in turn to better and better products.  Of course you may think that by now the human race would have solved the termite problem, but alas this isn't the case if you desire to build a home with timber or timber components.  In previous newsletters we have clearly shown how it is possible to build a home that is virtually "termite proof."  Yet the simple solutions are mostly ignored by the building industry that continues to turn out new homes that are bound to be termite fodder in years to come!

We are not complaining - they keep the pest control / termite control industry thriving - generating literally billions of dollars worth of business every year.  Fortunately for us, even if people got smart and built every home 'termite proof' from now on, there is still the 90% of existing homes that will need termite management for the life of the home.... unless...

Unless a scientist invents a product to keep termites out.  Wouldn't it be great if you could just plug in an unobtrusive gadget to the wall and it repelled termites?  Well don't be surprised if someone from China starts flogging one soon.  It won't work but it won't stop millions being sold to the gullible.  Modern snake oil salesmen will have a field day.  We already have the sonic cockroach and rodent repellers which don't work.  NOT AT ALL.  Total cons, but still they sell despite tons of research that show they don't work at all.

We aren't going anywhere in particular with this line of reasoning, but we thought we'd put a line in the sand now so we can say "I told you so" when it does happen in the probable near future.

Dr Evans was kind enough to mention some other 'blue sky' termite control research being investigated by scientists in the USA which you might find interesting.

One idea concerns the bacteria that live in a termite's gut, one of the most inhospitable places for bacteria to live due to the complete lack of oxygen in the gut.  These unique bacteria are found nowhere else and have adapted to survive without oxygen.  In fact these bacteria die in presence of oxygen.  Research is underway to find a genetically modified bacteria that can be introduced to the termite’s gut that will disrupt the termite's life process and kill it.  The GM bacteria will of necessity need to work slowly so it will have time to be transferred from termite to termite through the common sharing of food from the gut.  Even if they succeed with this research they no doubt will run into a load of difficulty having the technology accepted due to the reluctance of many to embrace the hotly divided topic of genetic modifications and the long term effects of releasing these 'man-modified' bacteria into the natural world.

Another possibility is the introduction of an oxygen producing bacteria that can survive in a termite’s gut.  The oxygen would then kill the bacteria that the termites need to survive.  Of course it’s a suicide mission but then again many bacteria and viruses already kill their hosts.

A slightly similar idea was tried ten years ago in Australia with the introduction of parasitic nematodes to a termite colony by trained pest controllers.  It didn't take off - mainly due to the impracticality of keeping a supply of healthy nematodes on hand.  Nor was it easy to introduce them to termites without a high level of nematode mortality.  Strangely enough there some companies in the USA who still offer this form of termite control despite its high failure rate.  In many ways the USA is backward because they are yet to embrace termite 'dusts' such as 'Intrigue' and 'Termidor' which are proven to have a high success rate at colony control when applied correctly by a qualified technician.

Other ‘blue sky’ research is working on the possibility to interfere with a termite’s immunity system.  As mentioned in last month’s newsletter; the termite environment is harsh and full of potential dangers from a vast array of micro-organisms.  Termites have a robust immune system combined with other natural protectants which enable them to survive.  Plainly if just one of these defences can be compromised, then the termites will become vulnerable to natural forces that may be their undoing.

Somehow I think it maybe mankind that will be undone by natural forces long before we figure out a way to dispatch Armageddon on the termite world.  And on that cheerful note...

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Selling Intrigue® Dust - is it legal?

We sell Intrigue® Dust for termite control to both pest control companies and DIY customers who have the confidence to use it themselves.  There are some pest controllers who are under the mistaken belief that this is illegal.  It is not.  When Intrigue was initially released in 2000 it was put about by the manufacturer (Bayer) that only pest controllers could purchase it.  In fact anyone could buy it, but Bayer restricted it to pest controllers even though it wasn’t enforceable by law.  Why did they do this?  The main reason was to separate themselves from frivolous potential damage claims from non-professionals who might chose to purchase and in ignorance use the product incorrectly then blame the product rather than the themselves for poor technique.  There are a range of less obvious reasons also which we won’t list but a little thought should make them plain.

We have been in touch with the APVMA and the only problem we have with selling Intrigue is that we must stick to the registered pack sizes which are 5 or 10.

We cannot sell just one tub of Intrigue even though we sell it with the exact same labelling as 5 or 10 tubs.  Nor can we sell 4, 6 or 11.  But we can sell 5, 10 or any multiple of 5.  So you can buy 1 million tubs legally, but if we sell you 1 million and one tubs, we would be in trouble.

Who suffers?  It’s the poor end user (i.e. you the DIY public) who may only need one tub - enough for 5 -10 treatments of active Green Termite Baits but you have to buy five to please a nonsensical enforcement of a ridiculous law; just another example of bureaucracy gone mad.

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No dust? Termidor Alternative.

Overseas customers who don’t have access to either Intrigue® Dust or Termidor Dust® need to remember that another perfectly good way to treat an active Green Termite Bait is with just 5 drops of liquid Termidor concentrate mixed with water to label specifications and trickled into a pre-dampened Green Termite Bait.  There is sufficient active ingredient to destroy a termite colony with-in a month.

In Australia, we understand that Termidor concentrate is restricted to licenced pest controllers only.  In many other countries and some US states, these restrictions don’t apply.

Interestingly enough, there are many products readily available to consumers that contain the identical active ingredient (Fipronil) found in Termidor.  These products range from flea collars to insect control products for the garden.  Restrictions on trade are put in place when it suits a chemical company rather than because the products are dangerous.

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Termite report cards.

At Green Termite Baiting Systems we are confident that we have the best and most economical termite baiting system in the world.  We are pretty sure that our sister company ‘Green Pest Control’ located in South East Queensland offers the finest full service program of any baiting system in Australia.  It has been refined many times in the past 13 years and we believe we can make it even better with no extra cost to existing or new clients.

Over the next 12 months we will be contacting every customer with a personalised report card that outlines how their Green Termite Baiting System is performing around their home.  It’s quite a bit of work for us, but John Fleming, our termite manager has worked hard on creating a system that allows us to transfer data collected from each and every inspection we carry out into a report that more clearly outlines the long term results and benefits of having a Green Termite Baiting System around your home.

If you would like one of these reports sooner than later, then simply ring our office and we’ll be happy to oblige.

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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 2009 Green Termite Bait Systems & Green Pest Control. All rights reserved.

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