“The How and Why of the Tennessee Wood Destroying Insect Infestation Inspection Report” Kim Carman Real Estate and Builder Services Hours Continuing Education

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Wood Destroying Insect #4

Wood Boring Beetles

Wood Boring Beetles aka Powderpost Beetles The term "powderpost" comes from the fact that the larvae of these beetles feed on wood and, given enough time, can reduce it to a mass of fine powder Powderpost beetle larvae spend months or years inside wood while developing, feeding mainly on the starch content Their presence is only apparent when they emerge as adults, leaving behind pinhole-sized openings, often called "shot holes”

Wood Boring Beetles aka Powderpost Beetles Adults emerge between 1 and 5 years Adults are short-lived and active mainly at night Will only lay eggs on/in natural, bare wood Have specific moisture requirements for survival Powderpost beetle larvae spend months or years inside wood while developing, feeding mainly on the starch content Their presence is only apparent when they emerge as adults, leaving behind pinhole-sized openings, often called "shot holes”

Powderpost Beetles Pin-sized exit holes Feed on Starch, Sugar, or Proteins Leave fine powder Larvae determines Activity Damage hardwood floors, trim, molding, furniture Can continue cycle for generations Wooden tools or tool handles, frames, furniture, gun stocks, books, toys, bamboo, flooring, and structural timbers are just some of the items Powderpost Beetles will nest in

Powderpost Beetle Damage

Powderpost Beetle Treatment Must be active to treat A surface treatment on bare wood will kill the larvae and also the adults as they emerge Fumigation may be required if it is a wide spread infestation; in walls, between floors and in inaccessible areas Cannot treat above sub-floor unless a fumigation/tent system is used

Wood Destroying Insect #3

Carpenter Bees Shiny Hiney

Active Mid May through August Female excavates chambers to lay eggs (6 – 48 inches) Male appears aggressive but has no stinger Female tends to larvae and young Typically larger than bumble bee Carpenter Bees

Males have white patches on their face One pair per nest Next generation will come back to same area the following year to lay eggs Carpenter bees prefer natural wood Carpenter Bees

Carpenter Bee Damage

Carpenter Bee Treatment Treat when you first see signs of carpenter bees Stain or paint natural wood Dust or liquid can be used Talstar can be used for prevention and treatment One time service Wait two weeks before plugging holes

Wood Destroying Insect #2

Carpenter Ants

Feed on sugar and protein: dead and living insects, honeydew, honey, meat, jelly Forage up to 100 yards to find food Can have more than one colony Typically forage between sunset and midnight About 10% of colony population forage at the same time

Carpenter Ants Distinguishable by their bent antennae, pinched waist, 2 separate sized sets of wings Destroy wood for colonization; nesting purposes and laying eggs Prefer damp wood but will chew into adjacent sound wood as the population grows

Carpenter Ants Nests are created by excavating extensive networks or galleries by chewing moist or decaying wood Frass is made when the carpenter ant “cleans” out the wood and waste products (excrement, dead insects, cast skins, uneaten food Frass is used to help locate carpenter ant activity/nests

Carpenter Ant Damage

Carpenter Ant Treatment Correct and eliminate conducive conditions: Eliminate moisture Trim tree branches away from house Move firewood away from structure Clean up spilled food Treatments include: If inside nest in voids or walls, use dust to eliminate colonies Liquid or aerosol to kill on contact (short term control) If nest cannot be found, use bait (food source with delayed toxicant) Perimeter repellant treatment will help keep ants from entering a structure when foraging

…and the #1 Wood Destroying Insect...

Termites

Subterranean Termite Facts 13 to 14 colonies of termites in an acre of land As many as 2 million termites per colony – depending on age of colony A typical home may have 3 to 4 colonies situated under or around it The termites on Earth outweigh the humans on Earth Termites cause more damage to homes in US than storms and fires combined Every year, termites cause more than two billion dollars in property damage, repair and control costs in the United States alone

Subterranean Termites: “Social Pests” King Queen Soldiers Swarmers Workers

Subterranean Termites: Royalty THE KING assists the queen in creating and attending to the colony during its initial formation. He will continue to mate throughout his life to help increase the colony size.

Subterranean Termites: Royalty THE QUEEN creates the colony by laying eggs and tending to the colony until enough workers and nymphs are produced to care for the colony. She can live for more than ten years and produce hundreds of eggs each year. Colonies can each have several million termites with the help of secondary queens who also produce eggs.

Subterranean Termites: Royalty

Subterranean Termites: Soldiers Responsible for defending the colony Has enlarged, hardened head containing two large jaws which are used as a weapon against predators

Subterranean Termites: Soldiers Swarm Castle

Subterranean Termites: Swarmers OR WINGED REPRODUCTIVES Produce the offspring in the colony Swarm at certain times of the year Colonies can have both primary reproductives (one king and one queen), and hundreds of secondary reproductives to assist in egg laying and colony growth

Subterranean Termites: Swarmers

Subterranean Termites: Workers About the size of a grain of rice Represent the majority of the colony population Care for eggs Construct and maintain tunnels Forage for food Feed and groom other members of colony

Subterranean Termites: Workers

Termite Tubes

Termite Damage

The Ultimate in Termite Damage

Termite Damage

Termites and Their Environment They Need Moisture to live Use Mud Tubes as highways Communication – Scent Trails – Sound – Trophallaxis Eat Cellulose materials as food

Just an FYI: Other Types of Termites DRY WOOD: Found in the most southern part of United States DAMP WOOD: Washington, Oregon, California and Southern Florida FORMOSAN: Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina. (Formosan termites have been found in Southwest Tennessee and Southern part of North Carolina)

Termite Treatments Full Liquid Soil Treatment Partial Liquid Monitoring Sentricon Always Active

Liquid Treatment Cannot control where liquid chemical goes Chemical breaks down due to climate conditions An average house of 200 linear foot will need approximately 1 gallon per foot for a total of at least 200 gallons o More for basement homes, brick veneer o Cost is anywhere from $4 - $10 per gallon, depending on the type of chemical used Must drill holes in foundation and house Kills individual termites, not colonies Very expensive

Partial Liquid Treatment Only kills termites that come in contact with liquid Does not assure that other termites in the colony are dead Necessary to use in conjunction with Sentricon when active termites are found

Monitoring System Pieces of wood are placed in station Pest Control company checks property at different intervals If termites are found, liquid is used Does not assure that other termites in the colony are dead

Sentricon Always Active: 24/7/365

Sentricon Always Active: 24/7/365 Better for environment Eliminates colonies of termites No drilling into house House monitored on regular basis Always Active 24/7/365 Damage guarantee (qualifier) 1.5 grams of bait (equal to 1 pkg sweetner)

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All molds are fungus but not all fungi is mold!

White Rot Fungi Breaks down both the lignin and cellulose Wood loses its color and appears whiter than normal Shrink and collapses when severely degraded Gradually loses its strength Spongy to the touch

Brown Rot Fungi Feeds on the wood's cellulose Leaves a brown residue of lignin, the substance which holds the cells together Wood becomes greatly weakened even before decay can be seen Wood is more brown in color than normal, tending to crack across the grain When dry, wood will turn to powder when crushed

Poria incrassata is the only fungus that can conduct water very far Poria infested wood is often mistakenly identified as subterranean termite damage This type of fungus can transport water for several feet through large root-like structures called rhizomorphs Once established, it can quickly spread through a building and destroy large areas of flooring and walls in as little as a year or two Water Conducting Fungus

Man Made Causes of Wood Decaying Fungi MOISTURE: Plumbing leakage Downspouts A/C drip tubes Condensation of ventilation systems Improper ventilation

Moisture in Wood Decaying Fungi 18% - 20%: Potential moisture problem (Fungi will begin to grow) 22% - 25%: Active fungi 28% and over: WET!

Treatments for Wood Decaying Fungi Eliminate Conducive Conditions Vapor Barrier Automatic Foundation Vents: Closed at 40 degrees – Fully open at 70 degrees Application to kill fungi

The Wood Destroying Insect Infestation Inspection Report aka The Termite Letter

The Pest Control Industry is regulated by the following: US Department of Agriculture Food & Drug Administration Wildlife Protection Agency Environmental Protection Agency Department of Transportation Occupational Safety & Health Administration Homeland Security …and then some!

The Wood Destroying Insect Infestation Inspection (WDI) Report Lender required for the sale of most homes Is important for the protection of the Realtors and homeowners involved Letters cannot be changed once written Letter needs to be dated within 30 days of closing Letter is good for 90 days from date of inspection Pest Control Company must keep documents for 3 years

WDI Section I. General Information It is required that we have the current owners’ information on file.

WDI Section II. Inspection Findings It is required that we put all findings on the WDI Report – for everyone’s protection!

WDI Section III. Recommendations

WDI Section IV. Obstructions and Inaccessible Areas If we can’t see it, we can’t report it. WDI report discloses inaccessible areas.

WDI Section V. Additional Comments and Attachments

Important Consumer Information Regarding the Scope and Limitations of the Inspection (Back of WDI Report) 1.About the Inspection: Some areas are inaccessible Inspecting for termites, carpenter ants, carpenter bees and wood boring beetles Letter is valid for 90 days from date of inspection Some underwriters require that letter is within 30 days of closing

2.Treatment Recommendation Guidelines Regarding Subterranean Termites: FHA and VA require treatment when active infestation is found If signs, but no activity is found AND property shows no evidence of having been treated in the past, treatment should be recommended A treatment may also be recommended for a previously treated structure showing evidence but no activity if there is no documentation of a treatment within the past 5 years

3.Obstructions and Inaccessible Areas: No inspection was made in areas which required the breaking apart or into, dismantling, removal of any object, including but not limited to: moldings, floor coverings, wall coverings, siding, fixed ceilings, etc. Areas may also be deemed inaccessible if the opening to the area is not large enough to provide physical access for the inspector. If any area that was reported inaccessible is made accessible, the inspection company may be contacted for another inspection. An additional fee may apply.

4.Consumer Maintenance Advisory Regarding Integrated Pest Management for Prevention of Wood Destroying Insects: Any structure can be attacked by wood destroying insects. Homeowners should be aware of and try to eliminate conditions which promote insect infestation in and around their structure.

4.Continued…. Factors which may lead to wood destroying insect infestation may include: Earth to wood contact Foam insulation at foundation in contact with soil Faulty grade Improper drainage Firewood against structure Insufficient insulation Moisture Wood and cellulose debris in crawl space Wood mulch or ground cover in contact with the structure Tree branches touching structure

Inspection Graph

Graphs are required by the State of Tennessee All graphs must be numbered to insure the customers copy and our copy match Graph must include location of insects, shelter tubes, exit holes, damage, moisture readings and moisture problems The location of any wood destroying fungi with moisture reading of that area If powder post beetles are found, documentation of the location of fresh frass is required if treatment is recommended The location of any previous treatment Conducive conditions and location such as moisture, cellulose in crawl space, wood stacked next to the structure, etc.

Addendum for Disclaimer of Mold Not qualified to inspect the air, structure and surfaces of the dwelling for the presence of any molds, mold-like conditions or NON-wood destroying fungi The addendum is a part of the WDI Inspection Report

Addendum for Disclaimer of Mold

TN Residential Property Condition Disclosure--Section A Check the property disclosure to see if seller has a current termite contract.

TAR Purchase and Sale Agreement (page 5)

TAR Purchase and Sale Agreement (page 6)

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Thank you for your participation! Jeanne Bird