Termites in healthy trees? Apparently so.

[Brad Johnson]

I have two honey locusts. Today one of them spontaneously shed one of its largest limbs. Split down the middle about two feet from the trunk. Termites were pouring out of a hole the size of my thumb in the center of the branch.

But here's the strange part...

First, the trees are outwardly healthy. About 35 yrs old. Not in an ideal location, being between the curb and the street, but otherwise appearing fine in all respects. Second, when I trimmed the branch back to the trunk there was no sign of ground-up infestation. Unblemished, healthy wood. The critters seem to have entered through the bark as there were several borer-like holes drooling sap near the infested area.

Unfortunately it looks like the companion tree about 15" away is also affected. I pulled several chunks of loose bark and discovered the little nasties there, too.

Our area isn't prone to termites. Sandy soils that drain well, low humidity, semi-arid, lots of direct sunlight, etc. etc.. Most termite infestations 'round here are directly attributable to untreated lumber in contact with soild that remains damp. Stack of old fence pickets are a common location. Dripping faucets on the shady side of a house are also a sure draw. Otherwise it's relatively rare to have a termite problem. This is the first time I've ever encountered termitrs in a healthy tree.

The tree really, really need to be gone. Their location is poor and the roots are beginning to lift the sidewalk. Unfortunately I don't currently have the $800 necessary to have them properly removed. Is there something I can hit them with, short of napalm or detcord, that'll keep critters at bay for a while?

Brad

[vaskidmark]

DDT?   

stay safe.

[Scout26]

Agent Orange should solve both of your problems.

[roo_ster]

DDT?   

stay safe.

Agent Orange should solve both of your problems.

Nope, Chlordane for the win.

How can I minimize exposure to chlordane that may still be in the environment?

    Avoid digging in the soil, or planting gardens within 2 to 3 feet of foundations of older buildings that have been treated with chlordane.
    Do not allow children to play with or handle the soil around foundations of homes that were treated with chlordane.
    If unsure about chlordane contamination, check with the local fish and game or health authorities before eating sport fish caught from local streams and rivers.
    If you still have containers with chlordane in your home or garage, contact your regional environmental authorities on how to handle and dispose chlordane properly.

I can recall the proper disposal of some old chlordane in a termite-infested wall of an old church a few years back.  [Not my church, I was merely called in by a buddy to help with some demo.  I stayed to watch.  It was like they were spraying the framing with little shots of freedom & liberty.] 

I have another buddy whose step-dad still has a few 50# sacks of DDT stored in his home's bomb/tornado shelter from back in the day.  You never know, they say cockroaches would survive a nuclear war.  Some DDT might come in handy at that time.

FTR, my home's foundation was more than likely treated many years ago.  Found an old, defunct termite infestation and have not had a recurrence.

[Brad Johnson]

Update...

What I thought were mature termites are really carpenter ants. That explains the question of exterior entry sites rather than ground-up interior intrusion.

Brad

[charby]

Agent Orange should solve both of your problems.

I know it's a joke, but AO is a herbicide and Brad needs an insecticide.

[charby]

Update...

What I thought were mature termites are really carpenter ants. That explains the question of exterior entry sites rather than ground-up interior intrusion.

Brad

Carpenter ants come in after the rot, they don't eat healthy wood tissue. I wouldn't worry about them, the cost of treatment isn't worth it.

[Scout26]

I know it's a joke, but AO is a herbicide and Brad needs an insecticide.

Spray enough of it on the trees and it'll kill the bugs.....

[Kingcreek]

Carpenter ants come in after the rot, they don't eat healthy wood tissue. I wouldn't worry about them, the cost of treatment isn't worth it.

Not in my experience. I had them in a wall at the house and an interior hollow core door at my office. Treatment was easy and relatively cheap. Very effective also- 1 application and they were gone.

[MechAg94]

We have them out where I grew up.  They like to find nests in the Live Oak trees.  I don't know if they eat healthy wood or not, but they may not be healthy for the tree. 

I have watched about a dozen of them pull apart of a cicada before.  They be live in trees, but they are not just plant eaters. 

[charby]

Not in my experience. I had them in a wall at the house and an interior hollow core door at my office. Treatment was easy and relatively cheap. Very effective also- 1 application and they were gone.

Sounds like the wood in the walls already had some decay problems.