Biointegral Resource Center (BIRC), PO Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707,510-524-2567. Useful source of information on pesticides and alternative pest treatments.
Moses, Marion. Designer Poisons: How to Protect Your Health and Home from Toxic Pesticides. Pesticide Education Center, 1995. A sobering expose of specific pesticides and the chronic health effects that can result from their use, with useful information on safer alternatives.
National Coalition Against Misuse of Pesticides, 701 E. Street SE, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20003, 202-543-5450, info@beyondpesticides. org. Provides useful information about pesticides and nontoxic alternatives.
Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP), PO Box 1393, Eugene, OR 97440, 541-344-5044, pesticide. org. Provides a comprehensive information service on the hazards of pesticides and alternatives to their use. Maintains an extensive library of over 8,000 articles, government documents, videos, and other reference materials, and offers information packets, fact sheets, and the quarterly Journal of Pesticide Reform.
Olkowski, William et al. Common Sense Pest Control: Least-Toxic Solutions for Your Home, Gar
den, Pets, and Community. Taunton Press, 1991. Comprehensive, well-documented information on integrated pest management and least-toxic control for all kinds of pests.
Schultz, Warren. The Chemical-Free Lawn: The Newest Varieties and Techniques to Grow Lush, Hardy Grass. Rodale Press, 1989. Techniques for growing lush and hardy grass without using pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers.
Chart 10.1: Common Pests and Management Strategies
|
Pest |
Types of damage |
Modus operandi |
Recommendations |
|
Termites (subterranean) |
• Structural damage •Tunnels created in wood |
• Require moist conditions * Termites must be able to get from the soil into the wood structure via earthen tubes; they do not live in wood |
• Control moisture • Seal off wood from ground contact • Use termite shielding, sand barriers, and/or termite-resistant sill plates |
|
Termites (dry wood) |
* Structural damage •Tunnels created in wood |
* Can access house through walls • Live in wood |
•Tight construction • Caulked joints • Boric acid in framing |
|
Rats |
• Carry disease • Destroy food supply • Breed quickly |
• Require hole V2" wide to enter |
• Screen all points of entry, including openings along pipes and wires • Make home weathertight • Ground floors should be elevated 18" above grade • Subterranean concrete floors should have a minimum thickness of 2" • Use wire mesh under wood floors • Use noncombustible cement stops between floor joists |
|
Mice |
• Chew through electrical wires, causing fire hazard •Transmit pathogens • Breed quickly |
• Require dime — size openings • Feed on dry foods, grains, clothing, paper • Usually seek indoor habitat when outdoor climatic conditions become severe |
• Seal all holes and crevices, especially where pipes and wires protrude through surfaces |
Chart 10.1: Common Pests and Management Strategies (corn’d.)
|
Pest |
Types of damage |
Modus operandi |
Recommendations |
|
Ants (carpenter) |
• Create nests inside walls and ceilings, under siding, and where wood and soil are in contact near foundations • Infest both hardwood and softwood |
* Require wood with high moisture content (minimum 15%) |
• Use kiln — or air-dried lumber and keep it dry ■ Prevent contact between structural wood and earth • Allow for proper ventilation of damp areas |
|
Bees (carpenter) |
• Chew on wood • Burrow into structural members and exposed wood elements |
• Enjoy untreated exposed wood (especially softwoods) |
• Paint or varnish exposed wood (sills, trim, etc.) • Fill in holes and indentations in wood |
|
Beetles (wood-boring) |
• Bore through wood |
• Require moisture content in wood to be 10 to 20% |
• Prevent moisture changes and temperature fluctuations • Allow for good ventilation in attic spaces • Keep roof frame and sheathing dry • Use air — or kiln-dried lumber • Seal wood |
|
Cockroaches |
• Invade food storage areas such as kitchens and cupboards ■ Can carry disease-causing organisms |
• Most species prefer warm, moist areas |
• Avoid moisture and decayed organic buildup in or near home • Use boric acid in framing in areas prone to infestation • Use screens on vents and windows |
|
Fungus (wood decay) |
• Attacks and weakens wood, leaving it susceptible to invasion by wood-boring and wood-eating insects |
■ Grows best at temperatures between 50 and 95 degrees F • Requires a minimum of 20% moisture |
• Allow for proper roof insulation and ventilation to prevent condensation • Seal wood joints at corners, edges, and intersections • Prevent moisture accumulation near pipes, vents, and ducts • Do not use wood containing mold in construction • Seal all wood exposed to the elements • Use proper ventilation strategies to control moisture buildup generated by human activity • Use building products and procedures that allow moisture vapor to escape rather than being trapped |
