[Cob] Shiver-Me-Timbers!!!

[Shannon Dealy]

Hi Bill,

It's hard to know how to respond because treatment varies depending on both 
the type of termites and what it is about your building that they like.

I'm no expert on termites, but when I dealt with them, the type of termites 
involved liked damp wood. It turned out that a small amount of rain water was 
getting into a wall, keeping the wood damp, promoting rot and making it
hospitable to termites. Once infested they spread out from there. After that 
section of wall was ripped out and rebuilt, removing the infested/damp and 
rotting wood, the moisture was gone so the termites ceased to be a problem.
Of course termites were undoubtedly still living in the ground near the area,
but it often requires that we provide a habitable area which they prefer 
over their usual outside areas for nesting.

I would first try to establish the specific type(s) of termites you are 
dealing with and what it is about your house that they prefer over the 
surrounding area. Then if possible, make your place less hospitable. 
Moisture is a common source of problems with termites and ants. Having 
done that, you may need to apply some kind of treatment either natural or
chemical to fully get rid of them. There are books on natural pest control as 
well as pest control specialists who may be able to help you figure this out 
and undoubtedly lots of information sources on the internet.

FWIW.

Shannon C. Dealy               |       DeaTech Research Inc.
dealy at deatech.com              | Biotechnology Development Services
Telephone USA: +1 541-929-4089 |      USA and the Netherlands
Netherlands:   +31 85 208 5570 |          www.deatech.com

On Sat, 14 Aug 2021, Bill Wright, L.Ac., DNBAO wrote:

> . . .Nightmare discovery yesterday . . .
> The, "Eco-Nest" I spent the last 10 years building is under attack! . . 
> .Subterranean Termites have found their way into my Black Oak Timber Frame; 
> at least one post is obviously being turned into Swiss-Cheese!
>
> I just discovered their movement into the post yesterday; they've been at it 
> for ??? . . .a while I guess. . . cuz there are tunnels emerging out to the 
> post's surface - many of them all the way up to eye-level (~6'). I'm located, 
> as is my dwelling, in dry, hot, smokey N. CA.
>
> I've been doing a tango w/ the S. Termites for a while now. . .
>
> They 1st appeared in another part of my dwelling. I was advised to dump 
> bleach down where they were building their clay tunnels up the pex tubing 
> which is part of the manifold for my radiant-mass, earthen slab; which has 
> (4) layers of Claylin Floor Oil on it.
>
> They, "disappeared" for many months. THEN, I noticed them IN the Earthen Slab 
> as evidenced by one of their tunnels having created a small hole near one of 
> the exits, and just inside the doorway. ALSO, at that time I noticed a small 
> tunnel on a nearby exterior wall; kinda like a small nipple sticking out of 
> the exterior wall. That wall is 100% cob, with a (3) layer lime-render.
>
> I attacked that little nipple tunnel thinking they were ENTERING the dwelling 
> there, but realized that didn't make sense, as their typical movement is FROM 
> the Earth, UP-n-OUT to find food, and re-locate/spread their colonies. SOOO, 
> I left the nipple alone thinking, "Good! They are LEAVING"! . . .or so I 
> thought.
>
> The next aspect of this nightmarish saga, again, many months after the last 
> part of the story, was the horrible discovery of yesterday; Swiss-Cheese 
> Black Oak TIMBER!!!
>
> Help required!
>
> Thanks!
>
> ;^(
>
> -- 
> Bill Wright, L.Ac., DNBAO
>
> Wright Acupuncture and Massage
>
> 251 Auburn Ravine Rd., Ste. # 205
>
> Auburn, CA 95603
>
> 530-886-8927
>
> http://www.auburnacupuncture.net
>
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