Termites and termite control

Abstract

In view of the increasing destructiveness of termites in the southwestern United States from California to Texas, the Termite Investigations Committee was formed in 1927 (as stated in an introduction by A. A. Brown) to direct a comprehensive study of their bionomics and control on the Pacific Coast. This report, which is written in nontechnical language, is the result of co-operation between those interested in the large-scale production and utilization of wood and specialists in individual phases of the subject. It is divided into four main sections, entitled respectively: Termites and their Biology, Chemical Investigations, Termite Resistivity of Wood and Building Materials, and Prevention and Repair of Termite Damage. The papers contained in the first section are: Biological Backgrounds of the Termite Problem, and Climatic Factors affecting the local Occurrence of Termites and their Geographical Distribution, both by C. A. Kofoid; The Constitution and Development of the Termite Colony, The External Anatomy of Termites, A World View of Termites, The Termite Fauna of North America with special Reference to the United States, Habitat and Habit Types of Termites and their Economic Significance, The Desert Termites of the Genus Amitermes, Dry-wood Termites, their Classification and Distribution, The Southern and Mountain Dry-wood Termites, Kalotermes [Calotermes] hubbardi [Banks] and Kalotermes marginipennis [Latreille], The Desert Damp-wood Termite, Paraneotermes [C.] simplicicornis [Banks], Termites and growing Plants, The Termite Fauna of Mexico and its Economic Significance, and The Termite Fauna of the Philippine Islands and its Economic Significance, all by S. F. Light; American Subterranean Termites, their Classification and Distribution, and The Desert Subterranean Termite, Heterotermes aureus [Snyder], both by Light and A. L. Pickens; The Distribution and Biology of the Common Dry-wood Termite, Kalotermes minor [Hagen], I. Distribution and Means of Identification, by Light, II. Life History of Kalotermes minor, by P. A. Harvey; Economic Significance of the Common Dry-wood TerimiteI. General Economic Significance, by Light, II. Colonization of the Common Dry-wood Termite in wooden Stfucfures, by Harvey; The Biology and Economic Significance of the Western Subterranean Termite, Reticulitermes hesperus [Banks], and The Barren-lands Subterranean Termite, Reticulitermes tibialis [Banks], by Pickens; Some Factors limiting the Distribution of Termites, by O. L. Williams; The Internal Anatomy of Termites and the Histology of the Digestive Tract, by H.J. Child; Protozoa in Termites, by H. Kirby, jr. ; Hydrogen-ion Concentration in the Termite Intestine, by M. Randall and T. C. Doody; The Association of Termites and Fungi, by E. C. Hendee; American Subterranean Termites other than those of the Pacific Coast, The Dry-wood Termites of eastern and southern United States, and The Termite Fauna of the West Indies and its Economic Significance, by T. E. Snyder; The Termite Fauna of the Canal Zone, Panama, and its Economic Significance, by Snyder and J. Zetekj The Damp-wood Termites of western United States, Genus Zootermopsis (formerty Termopsis), by G. B. Castle; The Termites of Hawaii, their Economic Significance and Control, and the Distribution of Termites by Commerce, by E. M. Ehrhorn; and Wood-boring Insects whose Appearance or Workings resemble those of Termites, by E. C. Van Dyke. The papers contained in the second section are: The Toxicity of Chemicals to Termites, by Randall, W. B. Herms and Doody; Wood Preservatives and Protective Treatments, Commercial Proprietary Preservatives, Treatments with Poison Dusts, and Ground Treatments, by Randall and Doody; Paints and Termite Damage, and Treatment by Fumigation, by Randall, Doody and B. Weidenbaum; Tests of Wood Preservatives to prevent Termite Attack, conducted by the Bureau of Entomology, U.S. Department of Agriculture, by Snyder and Zetek; and The Toxicity of various Poisonous Dusts, by Kofoid and Williams. Those in the third section are: Seasonal Changes in Wood in Relation to Susceptibility to Attack by Fungi and Termites, by Kofoid; A Standard Biological Method of testing the Termite Resistivity of Cellulose-containing Materials, by Kofoid and E. E. Bowe; Distribution of Extractive in Redwood [Sequoia sempervirens], its Relation to Durability, and The Crystalline colouring Compounds in Redwood Extract, both by E. C. Sherrard and E. F. Kurth; and Wood Preference Tests, and Tests on Wallboards and Insulating Materials, by Williams. Those in the fourth section are: General Recommendations for the Control of Termite Damage, by Brown, Herms, A. C. Horner, J. W. Kelly, Kofoid, Light and Randall; Inspection and Maintenance, by Kofoid and G. E. Chase; Buildings, by Horner. Rowe, W. Putnam and Chase; An Audio-amplifying System for Termite Detection, by R. C. Barton; Power, Telephone, and Telegraph Lines, by Barton, .H. Michener and W. H. Hampton (with two appendices); Railroad Structures, by W. H. Kirkbride; Miscellaneous exposed Structures, by Homeland G. A. Rader; Lumber Storage Piles, I. Recommendations for preventing and repairing Damage, by Horner and Bowe. and II. Experimental Studies of Methods for the Protection of new Lumber from colonizing Dry-wood Termites, by Williams; Legislative Action, I. Municipal Laws, by Bowe, II. State Laws, by W. C. Tacobsen and A. C. Browne, III. Federal Quarantine Laws, by Snydejr; Prevention of Wood Decay in Buildings, by R. H. Colley; and Termites as a Factor in Earthquake Damage, by W. T. Steilberg.