Termites came in the mulch accusations

Eric Frei · 12th September 2010, 05:23 PM

I'm sure I'm not alone with this issue.

Back around 1999 we mulched the front yard of a house at Currumbin area (Gold Coast) with tea tree mulch from a landscape supply yard.

About 1 week later the customer rang accusing us of infesting her property with termites. Where ever you pulled the mulch back it was teaming with termites.

I contacted the landscape yard and asked questions, no termites in their mulch. I contacted termite experts and they reinforced what I suspected, that the termites were already there and the mulch gave moisture and darkness for them to come to the surface. I asked the client to contact the landscape yard directly and never heard back so all was OK.

But I just read this

.....

Quote:

The third misconception is that termites were brought in with a delivery of mulch or firewood. Once individual termites (workers & soldiers) are cut off from the colony, they become geriatric & no longer feed. They do not have reproductive capability & therefore cannot create more termites. It is highly likely that termites have started feeding on the mulch or firewood after it was delivered, which means there is a nest within range of your property.

Source: Termite Misconceptions

Drouin Tree Service · 12th September 2010, 05:25 PM

Good to know,It seems theres always someone trying to get an angle for a windfall $$$ or something for free.

second-gen_monkey · 14th September 2010, 09:37 AM

i had to explain that to a customer when we spread pine bark. she didn't believe me so i googled it for her. it was later determined the termites actually came from her neighbors firewood shed.
ALL HAIL MIGHTY LORD GOOGLE!

12th September 2010, 05:25 PM	#2
Drouin Tree Service Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,728	Re: Termites came in the mulch accusations Good to know,It seems theres always someone trying to get an angle for a windfall $$$ or something for free. __________________ Drouin Tree Services \| Excavator Hire - Drouin and SE Gippsland \| Landclearing Melbourne

14th September 2010, 09:37 AM	#3
second-gen_monkey Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: miami, fl Posts: 121	Re: Termites came in the mulch accusations i had to explain that to a customer when we spread pine bark. she didn't believe me so i googled it for her. it was later determined the termites actually came from her neighbors firewood shed. ALL HAIL MIGHTY LORD GOOGLE!

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