This document provides an overview of structural pest control, focusing on common wood-destroying insects like termites and carpenter ants. It discusses the three main license classifications for structural pest control work: Branch I (fumigation), Branch II (general pest control), and Branch III (termite control). Each branch is authorized to control and treat different types of pests using various methods and materials like inspections, pesticide application, and fumigation. The roles of operator, field representative, and applicator are also defined according to their allowed tasks.

1. ST
RUCT
URAL P ST CONT
E
ROL
(T
ermite and Insect Infestation)
By: Karlo Bauzon
Arjay Garlan
1

2. Common Wood Destroying Insects
Termites
Carpenter Ants
Powderpost
Beetles
Longhorn Beetles
Flatheaded Borers
Wood-boring
Weevils

3. Termites
Major destroyers of wood and wood product
materials. Normally associated with buildings, but
can also infest wood that has been stored for some
time. There are three basic kinds of termites:
Subterranean
Dampwood
Drywood

4. Isoptera
(termites)
[social insects, winged reproductives with both wings same
size and membranous; straight or curved antennae consists
of beadlike segments; abdomen broadly joined to thorax; no
cerci; chewing mouthparts]

5. Termites are sometimes called “white ants”
because they are ant-like in form. Termites
differ in antenna form and having a broad
waist.
Ant or Termite?
Figure 3-5

6. Subterranean termite colonies live in the
soil from which they construct exploratory
tubes in search of wood.

7. Termite Swarming is usually the first evidence
of an infestation noticed by most people.

8. Drywood Termites
Can live in dry, sound wood
Usually tropical and subtropical
Kick out characteristic fecal
pellets
Subterranean (left), Drywood
(right)

9. Drywood Termite Fecal Pellets

10. Carpenter Ants
Camponotus
Figure
3-9

11. Carpenter Ants build nests in
wood, they don’t eat it!

12. Carpenter Ant Damage
Carpenter ants need
water
Usually build nests in
damp or partially rotted
wood, but can extend their
nests into sound wood
Keep lumber dry and
properly stacked.

13. Powder Post Beetles
Three Families
Lyctids
Bostrichids
Anobiids

14. The main sign of powderpost beetles is powdery
sawdust.

15. Powderpost beetles turn wood to dust!

16. Lyctid powderpost beetles:
Attack sapwood
Attack hardwoods only, rarely maple
Require 8% to 32% moisture

17. Anobiid powderpost beetles:
Prefer old woods, 10-20 years old!
Attack hardwoods and softwoods including maple
Require 13% to 30% moisture

18. Wood-boring weevil, Hexarthum:
Frass looks like powderpost beetles
Attack hardwoods, including maple
Require high wood moistures, often wet!

19. Wood-boring Beetle Management
Detect early! (regularly inspect powder)
Keep lumber at less than 5% moisture
Keep lumber off of moist floors or
ground
Resaw to remove sapwood
Don’t purchase infested lumber &
destroy lumber that becomes infested
Fumigate high cost lumber

20. BRANCH /LICENSE
DIFFERENCES
20

21. WHAT IS STRUCTURAL
PEST CONTROL ?

Definition:



Contain and control the condition of household
and wood destroying pests which invade
households, other structures and their contents
Conduct Inspections
Identify infestations

write reports, make recommendations, submit bids and
estimates
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22. LICENSE CLASSIFICATION
The SPCB issues licenses in three
specialties or branches….



Branch I Branch II Branch III -
Fumigation
General Pest
Termite Control
22

23. LICENSE CLASSIFICATION

Branch I - Fumigation



Branch II - General Pest




Operator
Field Representative
Operator
Field Representative
Applicator
Branch III - Termite Control



Operator
Field Representative
Applicator
23

24. 24

25. BRANCH I -FUMIGATION

Use of lethal gases to control:



Termites
Wood boring insects
Other household pests
25

26. BRANCH I -FUMIGATION

Two most commonly
used fumigants :



Surfuryl Flouride (Vikane® )
Methyl Bromide
Chloropicrin used as a
warning agent
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27. 27

28. BRANCH II
General Pest Control

Household, Industrial, Institutional and
Commercial (excluding fumigants,
termiticides and wood preservatives)
28

29. BRANCH II
General Pest Control

Typical pests controlled include:

General Pests


Ants, Earwigs, Crickets
Noxious pests

Spiders, Fleas, Ticks
29

30. BRANCH II
General Pest Control

Typical pests controlled include (cont.):

Stored products pests



Fabric pests


Indian Meal Moth, Cigarette Beetle,
Saw-toothed Grain Beetle
Clothes moth, Carpet Beetle
Structural Vertebrate Pests
30

31. 31

32. BRANCH III
Termite Control

Inspect for wood destroying pests and
organisms in:






Homes
Commercial structures and
for real estate transactions
Make recommendations
Perform structural repairs
Apply termiticides and wood preservatives
32

33. LICENSES


The SPCB registers
companies and licenses
people.
Licensed people
include:



Operator
Field Representative
Applicator (Branch II and
III only)
33

34. LICENSES
Operator

An operator may:




own or qualify a company
identify pests
negotiate contracts
apply pesticide
34

35. LICENSES
Field Representative

A licensed Field
Representative may:



identify pests
negotiate contract
apply pesticide
35

36. LICENSES
Applicator

A licensed Applicator may:


Apply pesticides in Branch II
& III
Fumigants can only be
applied by Operators and
Field Representative.
36

37. UNLICENSED ACTIVITIES

Performing work beyond
the scope of the license


Performing work without a
license
Applying pesticides outside
the scope of structural use
37