More than 75 percent of Lyme disease cases are contracted in residential properties - thats your backyard!
From: JWissmille (jwissmille_at_aol.com)
Date: 08/27/04
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Date: 27 Aug 2004 02:59:05 GMT
http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040810/REPOSITO
RY/408100404/1013/NEWS03
Termites can eat away your bank account, too
By JAMES AND MORRIS CAREY
For AP Weekly Features
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August 10. 2004 9:10PM
Here's one for you: According to those in the know at the Entomological
Society of America, you can expect insect populations to be more active than
in recent years, and believe it or not, all because of recent changes in the
weather. "Weather or not"- structural pests left unchecked can become a
costly proposition for a homeowner.
Here are a few statistics that may encourage you to take action if you
suspect a termite invasion has occurred at your place:
Termites cause more than $2.5 billion in damage to U.S. homes each year -
that's more than fire, storms and earthquakes combined!
Fifty billion termites infest about one million U.S. homes (one in every 30
U.S. homes) each year.
Termites can be hidden for 10 to 12 years before a swarm becomes visible.
Homeowners insurance does not cover termite damage, so annual inspections
are critical and far less costly.
A small colony of approximately 60,000 termites can eat a linear foot of a
2-by-4 in about five months.
Several termite colonies could be present in as little as one acre of land
and contain more than one million termites.
Our recommendation: Have your home inspected for termites on a regular
basis. In areas where termites are known to be doing major damage, we
suggest that you have your home inspected by a structural pest control
operator (termite contractor) at least once a year.
By the way, if you are considering a new home, make sure that the builder
has treated the area with an approved termiticide that will discourage the
tiny buggers from eating away at the structure.
If you would like to try a do-it-yourself approach, there is a Web site you
should check out - www.doityourselftermitecontrol.com. The company can be
contacted by phone at (800) 476-3368.
Although we do not strongly encourage self-management of structural pests,
we think that anything that can be done to supplement regular inspection by
a professional is a good thing.
There are other insect populations on the rise that also present a serious
public health threat - especially with more people heading outdoors for
picnics, barbecues and camp-outs.
The people at Bayer Environmental Science provided the following statistics:
More than 75 percent of Lyme disease cases are contracted in residential
properties - thats your backyard!
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded nearly 20,000 human
cases of Lyme disease in 2000, with 23,763 human cases reported in 2002 - an
increase of 15 percent in two years. Moreover, health officials believe that
only one in 10 cases is actually reported.
Lyme disease cases have been reported in every state in the country.
For more information on ticks, Lyme disease and how to check for and
eradicate ticks on your property, you can contact the American Lyme Disease
Foundation, Mill Pond Offices, 293 Route 100, Somers, NY 10589. You can
e-mail questions to Inquirealdf.com or check out their Web site at
www.aldf.com.
Once you've experienced the pain associated with an encounter with a pack of
fire ants you will want to learn everything there is to know about how to
get rid of them, or at the very least how to completely avoid contact with
them. Here is some interesting information:
Fire ants are extremely resilient, and their ability to return and thrive
after the application of most insecticides makes them difficult to control.
Colonies have multiple queens that can produce as many as 1,500 eggs per day
for as long as seven years.
Nearly 40 million Americans live in potential conflict with fire ants. Fire
ants don't just sting once; they release an attack hormone that calls other
ants to swarm and sting in large numbers.
It is estimated that 20 million people are stung each year by fire ants.
According to the Medical University of South Carolina, 10 percent to 15
percent of all people can have severe localized allergic reactions to fire
ant stings, and up to 2 percent can have a systemic allergic reaction, which
in rare cases can result in death.
Published reports estimate that Americans spend $2 billion annually in the
fight against fire ants. These costs include property damage repairs,
control and treatment costs and medical bills (for humans as well as
animals).
If you are experiencing a problem with fire ants, check out this Web site:
http://fireant.tamu.edu/.
To find a company in the business of providing a pesticide for fire ants,
check out www.nofireants.com.
Spend a more comfortable and safe summer without being attacked by all the
little things.
And, thats all there is to it.
-- For more home improvement tips and information visit our Web site at www.onthehouse.com. Copyright 1997-2004 Concord Monitor and New Hampshire Patriot
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