Termite Trends

Over the last decade the termite market has seen good days, and, more recently, not so good days.  According to a recent article in PCT Magazine, “Trends of the Past Decade”, the termite industry benefited from improved chemicals and from the housing boom; while the housing bust has contributed to its decline.

The industry was thrilled with the introduction of non-repellent termiticides. They provided excellent results. Since termites cannot detect soil treated with a non-repellent termiticide, they tunnel into a treated zone, come into contact with the active ingredient and contaminate the rest of the colony. Fewer re-treats are also necessary. In the February 2003 issue of PCT Magazine a study was released noting a retreatment rate of only 0.7 percent when professionals used a non-repellent product.

They Say It Can’t Be Done!

They say it can’t be done – but the Bug Off Family can’t be kept down!

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Chemistry Trends

Referring back to a recent article in PCT Magazine, another trend seen in the last decade is the loss of chemistries.  Over the last 10 years the EPA removed two major classes of pesticides from the industry: the organophosphates and the carbamates. The pest control industry relied heavily on these chemical families. Without them we have to work harder; some insects have become tougher to eliminate due to resistance issues; some species are making a comeback; and new, hard-to-control pests are gaining a toe-hold.

Dr. Roger Gold, professor and endowed chair in urban and structural entomology at Texas A&M University, is quoted in this article as saying “loss of chlorpyrifos, an organophosphate, was particularly impactful. I wish we had it back for bed bugs and some other things.”

Ant Trends

According to a recent report in PCT Magazine, ant activity is on the rise. “PCOs were reporting a marked rise in ant work, with ants replacing cockroaches as the most economically important pest in many parts of the country. Research commissioned by PCT also indicated the ant segment tied or surpassed termite work as the largest growth segment for much of the decade. Early on, the ant increase was blamed on warmer weather patterns throughout the U.S. as well as an increase in homeowner watering systems.”

This report indicated not only warmer weather patterns being the cause but also an increase in worldwide trading. More shipments arriving in our ports are introducing a variety of new ant species to the US. Dr. Roger Gold, professor and endowed chair in urban and structural entomology at Texas A&M University is quoted in this article saying “The boom in ant work has been characterized by a number of invasive and problematic ant species having been introduced from other parts of the world. It just seems like in the last few years with a lot of trade going on internationally that we have a lot more introductions than I remember in my whole career.”