Read a thing on a FL forum. Seems that with all the trees destroyed in New Orleans they are making mulch out of them. Anyway seems there is some sort of termite in those trees that is about unstoppable. So if those critters are in the mulch ya spread around your house.... ymmv
Roy
False.
That's good to know.
Roy
Not entirely false. If you take the time to read the article, it concedes that the insects may be spread via infested wood and wood products. It goes on to say the reason it gave the story a "false" is only because the statement about the major home improvement store's mulch being questionable is not necessarily true.
DJ
It also notes that this has always been true, before Katrina, or downed trees in New Orleans. Therefore the "New Orleans" and Katrina aspect to the e-mail is irrelevant to this point.
It also points out that the major transportation vectors for these insects are railroad ties and telephone poles. Again, this has nothing to do with mulch resulting from Katrina-downed trees.
No, it says that's the "key" assertion of the e-mail that's false. Other reasons you shouldn't jump on the termite warning e-mail bandwagon are,
"... the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry imposed a quarantine on several parishes back in October 2005 specifically to prevent the accidental movement of Formosan subterranean termite to other areas..."
"... Entomologists we've contacted also generally have said they doubt that termites could survive the mulch shredding, packaging, and transportation (in shrink-wrapped bags that expose them to high temperatures with a limited air supply and limited moisture)..."
"... the fact that they are rarely found above 35° N latitude because the colder temperatures typical of higher latitudes prevent their eggs from hatching..."
They pretty much sum it all up with,
"... there is always some chance, however small, that termites (and other pests) could turn up in mulch produced just about anywhere at any time, so consumers are always advised to be careful. Inspect every bag of mulch you purchase, and if you find insects in any of them, return them to the point of purchase."
Personally, I'll worry about Formosan termites in my mulch this year as much as I did last year.
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