Blogs to keep termites and insects away from plastics – Page 10 – Termites and insects blogs on word press

Are transgenic crop the future?

For thousands of year, cotton has been significant crop in India contributing to its rich history of textiles. Despite the agricultural legacy cotton farmer faced many challenges such as serious pest attack impacting crop yield. 90% of the cotton farmers experienced significant crop damage due to an insect called cotton bollworm. The cotton bollworm also called corn earworm or sorghum head worm is a serious pest to the cotton plant.

In 2002 Bt. cotton was introduced in India dramatically changing the future of cotton production in India. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a bacterium that occurs naturally in the soil and produces proteins that kill certain insects. Through biotechnology, scientists used these naturally occurring Bt proteins to develop insect-protected crops that help farmers protect against insect damage and destruction. When targeted insects eat the plant containing the protein, they ultimately die.

But in the recent years, there have been articles flooding of Transgenic Bt cotton plants that have a build up a resistance to the lethal protein and are being attacked by bollworms.

The potential of pests to develop resistance against the defense mechanisms of crops is well-known and is not unique to genetically engineered plants. Insects have developed resistance to a crop defense no matter how it was developed. The crop defense might be a chemical or biological agent, a gene already in the crop species and transferred to commercial plants by conventional plant breeding methods, or a gene introduced by recombinant DNA technology. Because more than 500 insects and mites already have acquired resistance to a number of insecticides, there is concern that similar resistance to Bt toxins could develop.

Several major pests, including the tobacco budworm, Colorado potato beetle, Indian meal moth and diamondback moth, have demonstrated the ability to adapt. It has been reported that the diamondback moth evolved high levels of resistance in the field as a result of repeated use of Bt. As Bt use increases on more acres, some scientists have predicted that insect resistance to Bt will be a major problem. Considerable controversy exists about how Bt should be managed to prolong its usefulness.

Bt resistance in pink bollworm is caused by changes to a gut protein called cadherin. In susceptible insects, cadherin binds to the Bt toxin, eventually leading to the death of the insect. When mutations in the gene encoding cadherin block this binding, the insect becomes resistant.

There were only two benefits of Bt cotton. One, it controls bollworm, due to which the yield is protected. Two, it reduces the use of insecticides meant for bollworm control but after bollworm developed resistance to the Bt. Cotton. The genetically modified method has to be given a second thought.

Let us have a look at some evidence of the damage caused by these pests.

Bt. cotton falling to pest, Maharashtra tensed

Jul 5, 2017

This article was published by Ms. Bhavika Jain in Times of India.

MUMBAI: Genetically modified or Bt cotton is no longer resistant to pink bollworm a major pest in Maharashtra, prompting the state government to write to the Union government to seek its intervention.

A research report by Dr. K R Kranthi, former director of Central Institute of Cotton Research (CICR), shows that pink bollworm has developed resistance to Bollgard-II Bt cotton not only in Maharashtra but other cotton-growing states as well. Bollgard-II is the Bt hybrid variety that was introduced in 2010.

Bijay Kumar, principal secretary, agriculture department, said, “There are nearly 85 private Bt cotton seed-producing companies in the state and we have been getting several complaints of crop failure from farmers.”

The issue assumes significance given that Maharashtra is the largest cotton-growing state in the country. Nearly 40 lakh hectares or 35% of the cultivatable area is under cotton production. Nearly 96% cotton-growing farmers in the state use BG-II Bt cotton seeds for cultivation.

Last year, nearly 90% of cotton farms in Jalna were affected and farmers had approached the state government seeking compensation for the losses they had incurred. It could not do much, though. The state government has found itself in a tight spot and asked the Union government to denotify Bt cotton seed varieties prone to pink bollworm. The government also wants the Centre to undertake an awareness campaign across the state on failed resistance of the Bt variety to pests so that farmers can make an informed choice. Pink bollworm is a small, thin, gray moth with fringed wings-the most damaging of all pests that attack cotton crop in the country. The female moth lays eggs on cotton balls and larvae emerge only to destroy entire fields by chewing through the cotton lint to feed on seeds.

Cotton crop hit by severe pest attack in South Punjab

September 26, 2017

MULTAN: The Cotton crop has entered a critical stage in South Punjab as a number of sucking and chewing pests have attacked the crop.

In most of the fields, whitefly and pink bollworm have damaged the crops inflicting losses of millions of rupees. These pests should be controlled as early as possible so that cotton crop can be saved from a considerable loss in final yield.

This was said by Agricultural Information Assistant Director Naveed Asmat Kahloon in Multan on Monday. He was speaking to representatives of electronic and print media in his office.

He said that the teams of agriculture departments conducted pest scouting in the fields on daily basis. The hot spots of pests, especially whitefly, thrips and pink bollworm were being observed in the fields.

He added that symptom of pink bollworm attack was an appearance of rosette flowers. “The rosette flowers must be plucked and destroyed as early as possible,” he pointed out.

He pointed out that if farmers apply pesticides against pink bollworm before its attack, it would promote whitefly infestation and create resistance in other pests against the pesticides.

The official advised farmers to apply pesticides against pink bollworm after pest scouting by some experts. “In case it is found to have reached ETL then farmers should apply pesticides after consulting agriculture officials,” he said.

To counter the problem, the Punjab Agriculture Research Board and the Department of Entomology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) inked an agreement for kicking off projects worth Rs75 million to manage the threat posed by whitefly and pink bollworm that inflict a loss of billions to the national economy.

To combat this we need to find a new technology without modifying the plant. The solution to this problem is with C Tech Corporation. Our product Termirepel^TM is based on Mother Nature’s gift of sense bestowed to these insects. Our product does not kill the target species but only repels it. Our technology is based on the ancient Vedas with the modern technology.

Our product works on the mechanism of repellency. It temporarily inhibits the mating cycle of the insects. The product impairs the ability of the insects to reproduce, that is the insects will not lay eggs or the laid eggs will be infertile. The product causes feeding disruption in an insect by triggering an unpleasant reaction within the insect which might try to feed on the application. The product temporarily blocks the reproduction system of the insects by hindering the release of the vital hormones for growth.

Our company believes in the principles of sustainability and eco-balance. We do not want to imbalance the cycle of life; therefore Termirepel™ can be easily described as insect aversive, used also against all types of insects and which works on the mechanism of repellency. It means that it does not kill the target insects but only repels them, thus balancing the ecology and helping in maintaining the goal of sustainability. There are more than 500 species against which this product works.

This product can be easily used against bollworm. Our products are available in the form of a masterbatch which can be included in the agricultural cover film, mulches, wraps, greenhouse film, irrigation pipes etc.

Liquid Concentrate can be mixed in paints in a pre-determined ratio and can be applied on the concrete fences around the farms, interior and exterior of warehouses used to store the agricultural yield etc.

The product available in the form of lacquer can be applied as a topical application. It can be applied to the wooden fences, already installed cables and wires, pipes in the farms etc. The lacquer is compatible with most of the surfaces.

Termirepel™ is thermally stable and does not degrade on exposure to heat and sunlight. It does not kill or harm the insect but repels them. It does not volatilize and does not degrade the soil. It is RoHS, RoHS2, ISO, REACH, APVMA, NEA compliant and FIFRA exempted.

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http://www.rodrepel.com/
http://www.termirepel.com/
http://www.combirepel.com/

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Rise of beetle infestation in your woods and forests!

Are the trees appearing to be dead?

And does the tree bark appears to be dry, damaged and sickly brown, without any sheen?

Then it’s probably because of the nasty bug which is commonly known as THE BARK BEETLE!

Yes, the bark beetle, one of about 220 types of Insect Genera with 6,000 species in the subfamily Scolytinae, are responsible for the damage to forests trees.

Are you aware of the havoc created by these tiny bark beetles in California!?

If not then have a glance at the damage caused to the trees from the following image.

Aerial surveys around the state show more than 20 million dead trees.

This fact is that the bark beetle infestation is not limited to only California.

The ravenous insects have decimated 45 million acres of forest in the Western United States in recent years, including 15 million acres of Forest Service land.

These are the more recent evidence for the bark beetle infestation in woods.

8,600 bags of wood recalled over bark beetle fears

By Conor Macauley BBC NI Agriculture & Environment Correspondent

8 September 2017 |Northern Ireland

Six major retailers in Northern Ireland have had to destroy or send back thousands of bags of firewood they had on sale because it posed a potential risk to commercial forestry.

A total of 8,600 bags of conifer firewood were taken off the shelves.It followed an inspection by plant inspectors from the Forest Service.

They found the wood was from Britain where a certain type of beetle exists that is not present in NI, and that the wood did not comply with regulations.

Beetles Threatening Alabama Timber

By Alex Aubuchon & Apr student reporter Allison Mollenkamp • Sep 5, 2017

Alabama’s eleven billion dollar timber industry could be at risk due to a very small bug.

Southern Pine Beetle populations have reached epidemic levels in Montgomery County. The beetles are also found in the Oakmulgee District of the Talladega National Forest and an area including Marengo, Clarke, and Choctaw counties.

Tree-Eating Beetles March Northward, Lured by Milder Winters

By HIROKO TABUCHI | AUG. 28, 2017

For lovers of the stately pine forests of the Northeast, sightings of a destructive tree-eating beetle in recent years have been nothing short of alarming.

Southern pine beetles are now frequently spotted in New Jersey, New Yorkand parts of New England. And their range will only grow farther as the planet continues to warm, according to a study published on Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change.

By midcentury, some 40,000 square miles of the pitch pine forests from eastern Ohio to southern Maine will be hospitable to the beetle. And by 2080, vast areas of forest in the northeastern United States and into Ontario and Quebec will be vulnerable.

The bark beetles responsible for such deep infestation are the tiny pesky pests of size approximately 5 mm. Bark beetles reproduce in the inner bark (living and dead phloem and cambium tissues) of trees. Adults typically appear in the spring and females deposit eggs in galleries just under the bark. The eggs hatch into small white legless larvae with brown heads. The larvae tunnel under the bark as they eat and grow, producing winding tunnels between the bark and the sapwood of the tree.

Though small, the Bark beetles play an important role in forest ecology, for example by creating complex early successional forest. Infestations can have a significant economic impact.

In undisturbed forests, bark beetles serve the purpose of hastening the recycling and decomposition of dead and dying wood and renewing the forest. Bark beetles often attack trees that are already weakened by disease, drought, smog, overcrowding, conspecific beetles, or physical damage.

Individuals are not much larger than a piece of cooked rice. They survive in trees that are stressed or diseased and cannot secrete enough defensive resin, or sap, to drown the beetles. The beetles emit pheromones that attract other beetles. This can result in heavy infestations and eventually death of the tree.

There is an urgent need to find an effective solution to protect our wood.

And we have one!

Our company C Tech Corporation provides you with an eco-friendly solution Termirepel™.

Termirepel™ manufactured by using green practices is developed against these insects. It is an excellent aversive which not only protects wood from beetle infestation but also reduces the colonial expansion of them in woods.

Termirepel™ is an extremely low concern, low toxic, non-hazardous and non-mutagenic INSECT aversive.

It is durable at extreme climatic conditions such as changes in temperature, rainfall, etc. Our product is ROHS, ROHS2, ISO 9001:2000, ISO 14001:1996, APVMA, NEA complaint and FIFRA exempted. Our product will not kill the targeted as well as non-targeted species but only repel.

Termirepel™ is available in many forms i.e. coating, Liquid solution, and Lacquer.

Besides this, we offer pre-dispersed Termirepel™ plastic masterbatches that can be added to film, pipes, even cables to protect them from the ravaging insects

The Breathable Termirepel™ lacquer is a proper solution to be used for wood protection.

Our patented Termirepel™ Breathable product lacquer can be applied on the wooden surfaces of antiques, heritage structures, utility poles, fences, shipping industry, etc.

The following images show the application of lacquer form over the wood surface.

The sample I was without the coating and Sample II was with the coating of our Termirepel™ lacquer or coating product and was tested under field conditions for several years.

It can be clearly seen that sample I is completely destroyed by pests and the Termirepel™ Treated sample II was pest free which shows our product efficiency while maintaining ecological balance as none of our products are toxic either to animals, insects or the environment.

The lacquer is transparent and breathable and is applied as a direct coating over the wood surface to be covered.

Termirepel™ Lacquers and coatings do not interfere with the aesthetic properties of the application.

Termirepel™ Lacquers and coatings enhance the properties of wood by adding glossy appearance.

Thus Termirepel™ Lacquers and coatings provide you with the best protection from the beetle infestation in woods in an eco-friendly way.

Talk to us, for any problems with insects, animals or both!

WE HAVE A SOLUTION FOR YOU!

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Stink bug feast on your food!

The brown marmorated stink bug is considered to be an agricultural pest. It feeds on a wide variety of host plants. Fruits attacked include apples, peaches, figs, mulberries, citrus fruits, and persimmons. This true bug has also been reported on many ornamental plants, weeds, soybeans, and beans for human consumption.

This insect is becoming an important agricultural pest all around the world.

In 2010, it produced severe losses in some apple and peach orchards by damaging peaches and apples. It also has been found feeding on blackberry, sweet corn, field corn, and soybeans. It has also been observed damaging tomatoes, lima bean, and green peppers.

Physical damage to fruit includes pitting and scarring, sometimes leading to a mealy texture. This injury makes the fruit unmarketable as a fresh product and in severe cases can even render the crop unusable for processed products.

The brown marmorated stink bug also feeds on leaves, and a characteristic symptom of leaf injury is stippled areas approximately 1/8 inch in diameter around feeding sites. In addition to physical damage, wounds caused by feeding can provide an entryway for a disease to attack the host fruit or plant.

In field crops, damage caused by brown marmorated stink bug is not usually evident immediately upon visual inspection. For instance, in corn the stink bugs feed through the husk, piercing kernels and sucking out the juice resulting in shriveled kernels. Stink bug feeding in soybeans is similar to corn, where the bugs pierce the pods and suck juices out of the seeds. One visual symptom of brown marmorated stink bug feeding in soybeans is referred to as the “stay green” effect, where injured soybean plants stay green later into the season while other plants in the field senesce as usual.

This species has a single generation per year depending on the temperatures. Warm spring and summer conditions could permit the development of two or three generations. However, in parts of sub-tropical China, records indicate from four to possibly six generations per year. Adults will emerge sometime in the spring of the year (late April to mid-May), and mate and deposit eggs from May through August. The eggs hatch into small black and red nymphs that go through five molts. Adults begin to search for overwintering sites starting in September through the first half of October.

These insects can produce allergic reactions like rhinitis or conjunctivitis in some individuals who are sensitive to the bugs odor. These chemicals are produced by dorsal scent glands. Additionally, if the insects are crushed or smashed against exposed skin they have been reported to produce dermatitis at the point of contact. This is particularly important for agricultural workers picking fruits and vegetables.

They not only affect the agriculture but also try to enter the living areas of the home Typically, stink bugs will emerge from cracks, under or behind baseboards, around window and door trim, and around exhaust fans or lights in ceilings.

Managing this pest species is challenging because there are currently few effective pesticides that are labeled for use against them

It is also not advisable to use an insecticide against these bugs as they directly attack the crop. The insecticides are highly toxic and can damage the nervous system of a human being.

Hence me need a more ecofriendly solution to combat the menace caused by stinky bugs.

Let us have a look at the menace caused by these species on agriculture.

Stink Bugs on the Move in Soybeans

August 4, 2017

According to the article published in agweb.com by Ms. Brooks-Director at Farm Journal Media.

“In 2016 a number of farmers had significant stink bug damage but didn’t realize it until harvest, when they discovered shriveled, blasted seeds,” Tilmon and Michel report in the latest issue of C.O.R.N. newsletter. “Both nymphs and adults feed on the developing seed by using their piercing/sucking mouthparts to poke through the pod. Seed that is fed upon will take a flat or shriveled appearance.”

There are several species of stink bugs that can be found in soybean, including the green, the brown, the red-shouldered and the brown marmorated stink bug.

The heaviest populations of stink bug are usually found in the Eastern Corn Belt, particularly in the mid-Atlantic region, but the BMSB is increasingly found in the central U.S.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension entomologists are encouraging soybean farmers in the state to scout for stink bug this season. “Planting dates were late in many areas and cool weather has slowed plant growth, leading to delayed maturity in many areas. These late maturing crops may remain vulnerable to pest injury longer than usual,” they write in the online newsletter Cropwatch.

Ohio’s Tilmon and Michel write that seed damage can be prevented by scouting and treatment at appropriate threshold levels:

“Most insecticides labeled for soybean include stink bugs on the label, and most are adequately effective. Keep in mind it is easier to kill immatures than adults. To sample for stink bugs, take multiple 10-sweep samples with a sweep net in multiple locations throughout the field. Average the number of stink bugs in the 10-sweep samples. The threshold to treat is four or more stink bugs. If soybeans are being grown for seed, the threshold can be dropped to two or more stink bugs.”

Stink bugs pose increasing threat in Midwest

July 03, 2017

This news article was published by Ms. Atyeo in tristateneighbor.com.

Stink bugs are a pest South Dakota corn growers might not be accustomed to checking for, but they’re becoming a greater threat in northern states, and they can harm corn early in the season and move on before you know it.

The bugs are named for the musty smell they make when crushed. There are some species native to the Midwest, but it’s the brown marmorated stink bug that has been moving in from southern states that poses a bigger threat to corn and soybean crops.

The brown marmorated stink bug was found for the first time last year by Minnesota observers. Jami Loecker is an agronomist with Syngenta in eastern Kansas.

“In the Midwest, it’s kind of been an overlooked issue,” she said. “No doubt it’s increasing. ”Even the native bugs – the green, brown and one-spotted stink bugs – are a threat as their populations increase. The conditions are right this year for bugs to thrive because a mild winter allowed more to survive.

In harvest time revealed an abundance of stink bug damaged soybean samples, according to Dr. Kelley Tilmon, extension pest specialist. “It’s not just a southern problem anymore,” Loecker said.

Stink bugs can be a threat to corn from the time it emerges through its reproductive stages, with later season injury being particularity detrimental. The bugs pierce the plant with their mouths and insert an enzyme to pre-digest it.

“They’re robbing the plant of what it needs to live effectively and produce yield,” Loecker said.

Not only are they feeding on the crop, but the injury also gives diseases a spot to attack. Soybeans are most at risk during pod development. Stink bugs like to feed on the pod and seeds. Soybeans with stink bug damage produce small, shrunken seeds.

Stink bug damage in corn is usually overlooked, especially early in the season, Loecker said.

The bugs feed on the outside of the leaves as they are unfurling. The damage looks like small holes across corn leaf. It may also feed on the whorl. Later, they feed on the ear

“It’s really important we inform ourselves,” she said recently. “They’re robbing yields that we don’t even know about.”

To combat this nuisance we need to find ways that are ecofriendly and sustainable.

The solution to this is with C Tech Corporation.

Taking into mind the problems faced by the farmers C Tech Corporation has developed this unique product Termirepel™ that is been made from green technology. It is 100% ecofriendly, non-hazardous and non-toxic. It is also an environmentally safe insect repellent.

It can repel more than 500 species of insects on account of it being a broad spectrum anti-insect repellent. The most striking feature of Termirepel™ is that it neither kills the target species, nor the non-target species. It will simply keep the insects away from the application.

The product available in the form of masterbatch can be incorporated into the base polymer of the polymeric applications like the wires and cables, pipes, household utilities, etc. to keep the pest away from the application.

The product available in the form of liquid concentrate can be mixed in paints and be applied on the interior and exterior of the houses, schools, hospitals, warehouses, offices etc. to keep these areas safe from these pests.

The product available in the form of lacquer form can be used as a direct application. The lacquer can be applied on the already installed applications like the wires and cable, pipes, metal decors, racks and pallets from stores rooms etc.

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1] https://twitter.com/rodrepel
2] https://twitter.com/termirepel
3] https://twitter.com/combirepel

Who’s that in the leopard skin?

The giant leopard moth or eyed tiger moth, is a moth of the family Erebidae. It is distributed throughout the Americas from southern Ontario, and southern and eastern United States through New England, Mexico and down to Panama. The obsolete name Ecpantheria scribonia is still occasionally encountered.

The Giant Leopard Moth caterpillar spends the winter in a state of hibernation, although in more temperate parts of its range it may wake temporarily on mild days for a mid-winter snack. When spring arrives, Giant Leopard Moth caterpillars become active again and feed heavily until the optimal size is reached, at which time each larva shucks off its spiny exoskeleton one more time and makes a pupa. The adult metamorphoses therein and emerges after only a few weeks; thus, the cycle begins again for the Giant Leopard Moth.

This species has a wingspan of 76 mm (3 in). Wings have a stark white base on which black color rings are visible. The wings of this moth are bright white with a pattern of neat black blotches, some solid and some hollow. The spots on the forewings of adult giant leopard moths may serve as disruptive coloration to make them less conspicuous to predators The side of the abdomen is dark blue with orange markings, while the underside is white with solid black spots, and males have a narrow yellow line on the sides. Its legs have black and white bands. Adult moths are strictly nocturnal and do not generally fly before nightfall.

Adult giant leopard moths have ears, probably to detect the echolocation sonar of hunting bats allowing them to take evasive action. The ears are located immediately behind the bases of the hind wings. This species has a notable sexual dimorphism in size, the adult male reaching about 51 mm (2 in) in length, while the adult female grows up to 30 mm (1.2 in). Males have borders around the sides of its body and black legs comprise white markings on them. The adults fly during at night but can sometimes be seen resting during the day on tree trunks. The adults are incapable of feeding.

Fortunately, giant leopard moths don’t live very long as they don’t have mouthparts and don’t eat during this stage of their lives. As moths, they basically exist just to lay eggs before passing away. It is because of this short lifespan and its nocturnal habits that many insect enthusiasts rarely catch a glimpse of this moth, making the discovery and/or capture of one a pretty big deal for bug lovers.

Giant moth found crawling inside a bag of ‘fresh and washed’ Woolworths spinach

By Alisha Buaya For Daily Mail Australia, PublisheD: 17 November 2016
A customer has found a huge moth crawling inside a bag of spinach.

Woolworths customer Josh Dan found a large moth inside a 120g bag of ‘fresh and washed’ spinach.

He wrote a post to the supermarket’s Facebook page and shared a video showing the bug moving around in the bag.
‘Check out what I found in a bag of spinach I just purchased,’ he wrote.

‘I’ve been disappointed with your “fresh” produce before, but this is taking it a bit far.
The supermarket responded to the customer’s post via private message.

A Woolworths spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia: ‘We take all customer concerns seriously and are investigating the issue.’

Earlier this year a Sydney woman found a live huntsman spider in a bag of Woolworths Italian salad mix.

Freeze moths out of your life: They got her clothes, her carpets, and her curtains… but then author Raffaella Barker got rid of her pests

By Raffaela Barker For The Daily Mail Published: 21 May 2017
No cloth, no cashmere, no carpet is safe from the stealth missile that is the pale-backed clothes moth.

This I found out a few weeks ago, when, humming a little, I went to unwrap my summer wardrobe from its winter home.

Opening the door to our spare bedroom, not much stirred at first. But as I stepped past the bed, a flutter of wings spiraled up from the floor — a single harbinger of the doom that I was still oblivious to.

Such a huge nuisance of this tiny species cannot be neglected. The pesticides and insecticides are proven to be ineffective against them. However, these methods are hazardous methods causing harm to targeted and non-targeted species.

C Tech Corporation can offer an eco-friendly solution to problems from moths. Our product Termirepel^TM is low-toxic, non-hazardous and insect aversive. Our product work on the mechanism of repellence and they do not harm or kill the target species but generate fear or trigger temporary discomfort within the pests that keeps the pests away from the application. The unpleasant experience with our products is imprinted within animal’s memory and passed on its progeny.

Termirepel^TM is thermally stable and does not degrade on exposure to heat and sunlight. It does not kill or harm the insect but repels them. It does not volatilize and does not degrade the soil. It is RoHS, RoHS2, ISO, REACH, APVMA, NEA compliant and FIFRA exempted.

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Insects that prey on your log home

Termites are one of the deadliest pests that can damage your household furniture. Your log home is a very tempting morsel for any number of damaging insects who will make it their home and their food source are allowed to do so. A whole host of troublesome insects that prey on your log home are out there and unless you know what to look for and know how to treat any invasions, your home’s value and structural integrity can be at stake. Being proactive is the name of the game since seasoned wood, dry wood, and wet wood and, of course, rotting wood are all potential targets for creeping, crawling, flying things.

Common bugs that infest log homes include beetles, borers, carpenter bee larvae, and termites. Some pests, like bark beetles and round- and flat-headed borers, are already in the wood when harvested and can emerge up to three years or more after the home is built.

The main source of nutrients in the diet of termites is cellulose. A complex sugar molecule and the main component of plant cell walls, cellulose gives wood structural strength. Termites use mandibles to tear off tiny chunks of wood to ingest and store in the gut. Incapable of breaking down cellulose without aid, termites benefit from a symbiotic relationship with various species of protozoa and microorganisms which live in the stomachs of the termites. Once the cellulose is broken down and digested, the resulting biomass (a substance known as humus) helps replenish the fertility of the soil. Wood already in the process of decay due to the presence of fungi produces an odor that is attractive to termites.

Though termites most commonly consume wood, any kind of plant matter supplies the pests with appropriate nourishment. The diet of a termite includes roots, mulch, paper, cardboard, cotton, burlap, and the occasional fruit or nut. Additionally, termites require large amounts of moisture, and soil is the main water source. Consequently, subterranean termites often invade homes and other buildings from the base of the structure where the soil is plentiful. As the pests tunnel and explore a building, defective plumbing, leaky roofs, leaky air conditioning systems, and poorly maintained gutters provide the necessary moisture for the continued survival of termites.

Inn Harmony: Hidden log house becomes a sweet rehab

August 26, 2017, Pittsburgh

Dennis Lapic had no clue what he’d do with the dilapidated, aluminum-sided house in Ambridge when he purchased it from an elderly neighbor in the mid-1990s. Mr. Lapic got started, and quickly discovered bad news: Termites had chewed their way through two sides of the house. The floors slumped in some places and bulged in others. To repair the damage, the house had to be jacked up 16 inches. Mr. Lapic got started, and quickly discovered bad news: Termites had chewed their way through two sides of the house. The floors slumped in some places and bulged in others. To repair the damage, the house had to be jacked up 16 inches.

Family’s dream home turns into termite-infested nightmare

Jul 20th 2017, U.S. News

Williams and her parents came across a spacious house tucked away in a quiet Cordova neighborhood complete with its own Jacuzzi; they thought they had found the perfect home. Williams and her parents didn’t notice about the house when they started renting it in March 2016 that they say caused all the headaches that and frequent nosebleeds along with unexplained itchy, red bumps covering Williams’ body had her in and out of the hospital, she claims. Her parents said they finally realized what was causing all of their daughter’s health issues: black mold throughout their home they say was painted and caulked over, along with termites they say were leaving bites on their daughter. The Williams ended up throwing out a lot of their furniture to get rid of the termites and moved to a new home.

So for this particular problem, we, at C Tech Corporation have come up with a viable solution.

Termirepel™ is an aversive for termites and insects. It is non-toxic, non-hazardous and environment-friendly repellent which works even against the most aggressive insects.

Termirepel™ which is an anti-termite has been designed for polymeric applications as well as for natural materials like wood. It combines the best of chemistry and green practices to give an environmentally safe product which keeps the termites away effectively while at the same time guaranteeing safety to the environment, plants, animals and fragile ecosystems.

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Crops under attack by white flies!

Agriculture is the backbone of the economic sector of a country. Also, agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the development of civilization. Agriculture sector provides us with one of the basic requirement of life i.e. food. Hence the damage caused to this sector directly or indirectly affects each sector of a country.

Recently a new threat to this sector is of white flies. Whiteflies, the tiny creatures have a wingspan of less than 3 mm and a body length of 1 mm to 2 mm. More than 1550 species of white flies have been described which typically feed on the undersides of plant leaves. In warm or tropical climates and especially in greenhouses, whiteflies present major problems in crop protection. Worldwide economic losses are estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

Whiteflies feed by tapping into the phloem of plants, introducing toxic saliva and decreasing the plants’ overall turgor pressure. Since whiteflies congregate in large numbers, susceptible plants can be quickly overwhelmed. Further harm is done by mold growth encouraged by the honeydew whiteflies secrete. This may also seriously impede the ability of farms to process cotton harvests.

Cotton crops are called as the cash crops and they are severely attacked by the white flies. Following are the evidence for the same.

Whitefly affects a fraction of cotton crops: Punjab govt.

24 Aug, 2017
Merely 18.1 hectares of land under cotton cultivation out of the total area of 3.82 lakh hectares has been affected by whitefly pest in Punjab, as per a report formulated by the agriculture department of the state.

In Bathinda, only 3.6 hectares of area was affected out of the total area of 1, 40,000 hectares, while only 10.2 hectares was infested by pest in Mansa out of the total area of 86,010 hectares, as per the report.

In Sri Muktsar Sahib, the total area under cotton cultivation was 64,608 hectares and only 1.6 hectares was affected, whereas Fazilka reported damage to 2 per cent of the land out of 74,655 hectares. In Barnala, merely 0.7 per cent of the land out 5,460 hectares was infested by whitefly. Infestation was not seen in Faridkot, Moga and Sangrur.

India’s cotton yield to decline on whitefly, pink bollworm attacks

From north to west, farmers seek protection from pest attacks to improve productivity

Dilip Kumar Jha | Mumbai Last Updated at August 10, 2017 01:01 IST

In a major disappointment for new entrant farmers, cotton crop has come under severe pest and bollworm attacks in major producing states, which is sparking fears of a sharp decline in India’s fibre productivity this Kharif season.

While a substantial cotton area came under whitefly attack in Punjab and Haryana, pink bollworm was reported to have attacked standing crop in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat. Consequently, analysts have started revising estimates of cotton output growth for the current season to 4-5 percent now from 10 percent earlier on a sharp increase in acreage.

Acting immediately to avoid farmers’ menace, the government of Maharashtra, according to sources, has ordered seed firms to pay a compensation of Rs 36, 83,000 to farmers in the state.

Whitefly Alert

Posted on July 6, 2017 by Phillip Roberts

Silver leaf whitefly (SLWF) infestations are being observed in cotton in parts of Georgia. Historically SLWF is a localized pest, requiring management in a relatively small geographic area. High populations of SLWF were observed during the fall of 2016 and the mild winter resulted in higher than normal populations surviving the winter.

It is likely that timely intervention with SLWF insecticides will be needed in areas which have experienced SLWF in previous years (all fields are at risk, not just late planted as in most years) and perhaps areas which have rarely observed SLWF will be infested in 2017. On cotton during the summer, SLWF complete a generation in about 2 weeks.

Such a huge nuisance of this tiny species to the agriculture sector cannot be neglected. The pesticides and insecticides are proven to be ineffective against them. However, these methods are hazardous methods causing harm to other non-targeted species as well as to the crops.

C Tech Corporation can offer an eco-friendly solution to this problem. Our product Termirepel^TM is low-toxic, non-hazardous and insect aversive. Our product work on the mechanism of repellence and they do not harm or kill the target species.

The product available in the form of masterbatch can be incorporated into the base polymer of the polymeric applications like the agricultural films, mulches, irrigation pipes, grain storage bags, wires and cables, water pipes, etc. used in the agriculture sector to keep the pest away from the application.

The product available in the form of liquid concentrate can be mixed in paints and be applied on the concrete fence around farms, interior and exterior of warehouses used to stored agricultural produce etc. to keep these areas safe from these pests.

The product available in the form of lacquer can be used as a direct application. The lacquer can be applied on the already installed applications like the wires and cable, pipes, racks and pallets from stores rooms etc.

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Cockroaches: Invincible under control

Cockroaches have been around for millions of years, evolving into some of the most adaptable pests on Earth. There are approximately 4,000 living species of cockroaches in the world. They are pests because of their filthy habits and bad smell. Cockroaches are commonly found in buildings and homes because they prefer warm environments close to food and water. Unfortunately, cockroaches can cause allergies and trigger asthma attacks, especially in children. They can also spread nearly 33 different kinds of bacteria.

Cockroaches are insects, flattened from top to bottom, usually with two pairs of wings folded flat over the back. Most species rarely fly but they walk very fast. The color usually varies from light brown to black. The species vary from 2-3mm to over 80mm in length. There over 3500 identified species of Cockroaches. Pest cockroaches live in close association with people. They are tropical in origin but in the temperate zones, most species live in parts of houses and other buildings where warmth, moisture, and food are adequate. Cockroaches usually live in groups. They are mostly active at night; in the daytime, they hide in cracks and crevices in walls, door frames, and furniture, and in secure places in bathrooms, cupboards, steam tunnels, animal houses, basements, televisions, radios and other electric devices, drains and sewer systems. If the lights are turned on in an infested kitchen at night the cockroaches will run from dishes, utensils, work surfaces and the floor towards shelter.

Cockroaches eat a great variety of food, including all food used for human consumption. They prefer starchy and sugary materials. They sip milk and nibble at cheese, meats, pastry, grain products, sugar and sweet chocolate. They also feed on cardboard, book bindings, ceiling boards containing starch, the sized inner lining of shoe soles, their own cast-off skins, dead and crippled cockroaches, fresh and dried blood, excrement, sputum, and the fingernails and toenails of babies , sleeping or sick persons.

Cockroaches are important pests because they spread filth and ruin food, fabrics, and book-bindings. They disgorge portions of their partially digested food at intervals and drop feces. They also discharge a nauseous secretion both from their mouths and from glands opening on the body which give a long-lasting, offensive cockroach smell to areas or food visited by them.

Cockroaches move freely from building to building or from drains, gardens, sewers, and latrines to human habitations. Because they feed on human feces as well as human food they can spread germs that cause diseases. Cockroaches are not usually the most important cause of a disease, but like house flies, they do play a supplementary role in the spread of some diseases. They are proven or suspected carriers of the organisms causing: diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, leprosy, plague, typhoid fever, viral diseases such as poliomyelitis. In addition, they carry the eggs of parasitic worms and may cause allergic reactions, including dermatitis, itching, swelling of the eyelids and more serious respiratory conditions.

Let us take a look at the below news article

Man orders a cappuccino, gets a side of cockroach

August 12, 2017

A Manhattan man claims in a lawsuit his cappuccino at a swanky Upper East Side steakhouse came with a nasty addition: a large cockroach.The insect was a nightmarish way to end a meal at The Arlington Club, where dinners can easily hit the $500 mark, said Steven Fleming, who brought friends to the eatery in April.His pals were interested in opening a restaurant, so Fleming wanted to show them the place launched by star chef Laurent Tourondel in 2012.They chowed down on salad, steak, and a glass of wine before ordering dessert and coffee, he said.

“I took a sip of my cappuccino, I felt something disgusting in my throat, and then something crunchy,” Fleming, 43, told The Post. “And then I spit it out and I was like, ‘Oh my God.’”

Fleming, who is now suing The Arlington Club in Manhattan Supreme Court, snapped a couple of pictures before running outside to vomit on Lexington Avenue, he said.

He claims he then spent 12 hours in the emergency room with a variety of symptoms, including nausea and high blood pressure.

“We want to make sure we hold this restaurant accountable, and that this doesn’t happen to anyone else,” said his lawyer, Michael Joseph. “For the prices they’re charging the very least they could do is make sure the customers don’t have bugs in their food. We think New Yorkers deserve better.”

Fleming, who runs the executive search firm Wall Street Options, said the incident “really grossed me out.”

“On the surface, it looks like a very nice place,” he said. “I thought this would be a good example of something relatively trendy and with above average food. … I’ve been going to restaurants for 20 years in New York City and nothing like this has ever happened to me.”

A manager at The Arlington Club, where Tourondel is no longer the chef, declined comment, adding he was unaware of the lawsuit.

The best product to combat the cockroach problem is Termirepel™, a product of C Tech Corporation. Our company believes in the principles of sustainability and eco-balance. We do not want to imbalance the cycle of life; therefore Termirepel™ can be easily described as termite aversive, used also against all types of insects and which works on the mechanism of repellency.

It means that it does not kill the target species but only repels them, thus balancing the ecology and helping in maintaining the goal of sustainability.

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Flies residing in the pipes: Drain flies

You are about to do the dishes and then in the basin, you find these numerous creatures enjoying their treat over your dishes. Who are these creatures which appear suddenly and mysteriously in your basin causing a nuisance?

These are the drain flies!

Drain flies are “furry” moth-like appearing flies. They are very small: typically 2 to 5 mm in length, light grey or tan colored flies with a short body and leaf-shaped wings. The body and wings are covered with small hair which gives it a fuzzy appearance. Wings are too large when compared to the body; drain flies fold their wings in a characteristic roof like pattern.

There are more than 4,700 known species of these flies worldwide, most of them native to the humid tropics. Drain flies inhabit human drains and sewage systems where they are a harmless but also persistently annoying.

Drain flies lay eggs mostly in decomposing organic matter found in drains and pipes. The eggs are brown or cream in color and hatch in 32 to 48 hours. The larvae feed on the gelatinous drain matter and reach the maturity age in 9 to 14 days. Drain fly larvae are known to survive in high temperature and low oxygen conditions. Drain Flies have a life cycle of 1 to 3 weeks. Drain flies can grow quickly and hence they can multiply in a few days creating a nuisance

Drain Flies feed on the waste matter within sewers and drains, they can, however, infest a property given the correct circumstances and no amount of fly spray will halt the infestation unless one can find their point of ingress or their food source.

The vast majority of domestic drainage systems are fairly clean in as much as they are designed to carry waste from one point to another and there should not be any waste sitting in the system, but due to defective pipework or partial blockages, this can happen to provide a food source for the pests. However drainage systems are also designed so that no matter what occurs below ground these flies should not have access to your property and sinks, baths, toilets etc are fitted with water traps to prevent smells and pests from leaving the drainage system and entering your home.

So if one has an infestation of drain flies within bathroom there are usually a couple of things happening, firstly waste matter is building up either within or outside the drainage system allowing the flies to feed and breed, if this is occurring within the drainage system they are also finding an open vent out of the system and into one’s property. The lifespan of these pests is pretty short but they will lay eggs on your property and before long the next generation is swarming over your bathroom fixtures and fittings.

The most common and probably the most disturbing for a homeowner is when one has an internal rest bend at the base of a soil vent pipe or downstairs toilet, the rest bend fractures or becomes displaced and after every flush, a certain amount of water and waste escapes into the sub-floor. The matter builds up and the flies have a food source, they will then access the property above through any small gaps between floorboards or gaps local to skirting boards.

The above can also occur when small diameter waste pipes from sinks are suspended from joists in subfloors if these pipes become disconnected or leak there is enough foodstuff, grease & fat in the water for the flies to feed off.

Disused branch lines on drainage systems can often hold waste matter if the system has blocked or partially blocked at any time, because of its location below ground the waste will not dry out immediately and this can provide a steady and prolonged food source for the mites. If this disused branch line runs beneath an extension or conservatory and it has not been capped off properly the flies will find their way into the property.

Leaking and broken pipework outside of the property can also allow the flies to enter the house, a cracked collar at the base of a soil vent pipe or a fractured gully pot that cannot maintain its water level will allow the flies to surface at ground level, if this occurs locally to an air brick they have access directly into your sub-floor and wall cavity.

Restaurants and industrial kitchens can be prone to this kind of infestation due to the number of foodstuffs that can directly enter the drainage system and the worst case of infestation is seen at hospitals. This was partly due to a construction worker leaving a drain open within the building and partly due to the fact that hospital staff used the bedpan macerators for the disposal of excess food instead of using the appropriate food bins supplied.

Neighbors fighting an infestation of drain flies

September 4^th, 2015, CBS46 News, Loganville, GA

Some neighbors in Gwinnett County are dealing with a pesky infestation of drain flies.

The flies, sometimes called “sewer flies,” look a lot like fruit flies. They’re basically little bugs that feast on the sludge inside pipelines and then crawl up into the sinks of unsuspecting homeowners.
“At first we thought it was fruit flies,” explained Bev Renales. Her home is one of at least a dozen in Loganville’s Fall Creek Landing subdivision that has become infested with the critters.

“They are gross. Very gross. Disgusting,” said Renales. She and her husband have hired an exterminator to treat the bugs, but they keep coming back.

“We’ve tried everything: bleach, Drano, hot water and vinegar. You name it, we’ve tried it,” said Renales.

Her neighbor, Nancy Gerber, has called the water and sewer department, but they told her there was nothing they could do to treat the lines.

“They wouldn’t even send someone out to look,” said Gerber. She’s fed up with the bugs and begun trying to trap them in a homemade solution of water, cleaning chemicals, and maple syrup.

Gerber and Renales would really like the county to come out and flush the lines because they believe this is a real health hazard.

Considering the above scenarios it becomes difficult to get rid of the drain flies once the pipes are installed.

In order to prevent the flies, C Tech corporation has come up with a solution – Termirepel^TM. It is highly effective against drain flies. It is cost efficient, inert, long lasting and is stable up to 1400 deg Celsius temperature.

This product manufactured by C Tech Corporation is available in three different forms: Masterbatch, liquid concentrate and lacquer form.

The pipes which are to be implanted in the drains can be incorporated with the masterbatch at the stage of manufacturing. If the pipes are already installed, the liquid concentrate and the lacquer can be applied on the external surface and on the access areas of the pipes so as to prevent the flies from entering the outside environment.

Termirepel^TMis definitely a solution against drain flies. It is RoHS, RoHS2, REACH, APVMA, NEA compliant and FIFRA exempted.

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Do not kill, just repel: Insects

Insects are found in each and every corner of the world. They are the most common animals on the earth and are also familiar to everyone. 1.5 million Of insect species are being named. Many are yet to be discovered. Their size, shape, color, biology, and life history are so diverse that it makes the study of insects absolutely fascinating.

Insects feed on a seemingly endless array of foods. Many insects are omnivorous, meaning that they can eat a variety of foods including plants, fungi, dead animals, decaying organic matter, and nearly anything they encounter in their environment. Still, others are specialists in their diet, which means they may rely only on one particular plant or even one specific part of one particular plant.

Many insects are predatory or parasitic, either on plants or on other insects or animals, including people. Such insects are important in nature to help keep pest populations (insects or weeds) at a tolerable level. Predatory and parasitic insects are very valuable when they attack other animals or plants that we consider to be pests.

Insects are very important as primary or secondary decomposers. Without insects to help break down and dispose of wastes, dead animals and plants would accumulate in our environment and it would be messy indeed.

Insects are underappreciated for their role in the food web. They are the sole food source for many amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Insects themselves are harvested and eaten by people in some cultures. They are a rich source of protein, vitamins, and minerals, and are prized as delicacies in many third-world countries. In fact, it is difficult to find an insect that is not eaten in one form or another by people. Among the most popular are cicadas, locusts, mantises, grubs, caterpillars, crickets, ants, and wasps.

Honey bees are kept by beekeepers because they produce honey and wax. In some countries, people collect honey from wild bees.

Another insect that produces products for people is the silkworm. The silkworm is not a worm but it is a moth. On a silkworm farm, the caterpillars (silkworms) are fed with leaves of the mulberry tree. When the caterpillar pupates they spin a cocoon made of one long thread of silk. These cocoons are harvested to produce silk.

American salmon fly’s larva is sensitive to water pollution which helps scientist to recognize polluted supplies.

Antlion control ant population and help pollinate flowers while being no threat to humans.

Black and yellow garden spiders are called “guardian of the garden” because they help in controlling pest population in the gardens.

Burying beetle is the consumer of many natural materials including dead mammals; carrion, maggots and rotting fruits.

House centipede can help to keep certain other household pests in checks- such as cockroaches and moths.

On the other hand, insects have also served to accelerate cultural evolution. Silkworms, for example, were certainly the driving force behind the establishment of the trade between Europe and China and were still a factor in 1942 when Christopher Columbus stumbled onto the new world in his quest to find a sea route to the silk and species of the Orient.

The sociological impact of the insects has been keenly felt on the battlefield. Over the course of human history, more soldiers have died from lice and mosquitoes, than bullets and bombs.

In World War I, medics noticed that gunshots wounds infested with blowfly maggots seldom developed bacterial infections. Their observations led to us of maggot therapy (sterile-reared fly larvae for cleaning necrotic tissue from deep wound), the later discovery of allantoin, a chemical secretion of the larvae that inhibits bacterial growth.

Honeybee rather their products has been used for medical purposes since the medieval times. This practice also called apitherapy is used as a alternative medicine in Europe and other parts of the world. Some proponents of apitherapy use bee stings as at treatment for patients who suffer from arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus erythematosus, Parkinson’s diseases and other auto-immune conditions.

The knowledge of insect’s structure has also proven useful in non-biological professions. In 1983, engineers at McDonnell Douglas Corp. studied the legs of grasshoppers to help them design shock absorber for a new jet fighter, the Hornet. Dr. Rodney Brooks at MIT’s artificial intelligence laboratory is developing six-legged robots with an electronic control system that is modeled after the distributed nervous system of the insects.

In spite of all their positive attributes, some insects can cause problems. Unfortunately, most people are more aware of the few insects that cause problems than they are of the many beneficial insects. People ignorant of these beneficial facts about insects tend to kill those using different insecticides. This practice should be stopped.

Insects can be repelled rather than killed. This can be done by using C Tech corporations’ Termirepel^TM. It is a non-toxic, non-hazardous, non-carcinogenic and environmentally safe insect repellent. It is engineered using a unique set of complex compounds. Termirepel™ is cost efficient, inert, stable up to 1400 deg C temperature, long lasting etc. Because of these unique properties, it is compatible with various polymers like PP, LDPE, HDPE, and MDPE.

Since Termirepel™ is designed to keeping the insects away effectively and not kills the insects or any other animal, it doesn’t harm any target or non-target species in any way. It is RoHS, RoHS2, ISO, REACH, APVMA, NEA compliant and FIFRA exempted. We are committed to our environment & we believe that no harm must be caused to animals or to the environment.

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This town has its own fly!

Flies can be spotted all over the world, both in the outside environment and indoors. The prominent areas where flies are found are in close proximity to humans and animals. They are attracted to different filthy surfaces.

Many different types of flies can be found in homes and buildings where humans are present. Unlike the outdoor locations, indoor fly sustenance is gained through decomposing trash and other food waste. Moist, damp food provide the fly with the nutrition it needs, which is why the decaying organic material is the ideal meal. In homes, the temperature tends to speed up the decomposition process, providing the right environment for a fly’s food to spoil, as well as for the insect to thrive. During the day, flies are most active during the hottest hours, as the rate of decomposition of their food sources speeds up, making the scents more appealing and pungent, and creating an environment ideal for a large fly population. In homes and barns, they can be found near or in ceilings. Wires and beams are typical resting locations for the flies during the nighttime hours.

There are four stages in the life cycle of a fly. They begin as eggs being laid in decaying matter, which hatch to a long, whitish yellow maggot (larvae) stage within 8 to 20 hours. The larvae stage takes between four and thirteen days, but only within the optimal temperature range. The third stage is the pupa. During this time, the insect completes the development stage inside its new casing – this time a dark brown color. In between two and six days, the fly will break free into the adult stage and begin the process again.

One of these flies is the Blandford fly. It belongs to the species of the black fly; a biting insect. The Blandford fly’s English common name derives from a major outbreak of people being bitten around the town of Blandford Forum in Dorset, England, in the 1960s and 1970s. In a four-week period during the spring of 1972, some 600 people were estimated to have visited their doctors in Blandford to be treated for insect bites.

It was then in 1980, the Dorset County Council asked the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, formerly known as the Institute for Freshwater Ecology to come up with a solution to keep away the Blandford flies.

Blandford fly spends its larval stage in the in the weed beds of slow-flowing rivers and when the fly emerges, the female seeks a blood meal before mating.

Blandford fly bites are usually most common during May and June. The Blandford fly tends to bite least in the early morning and late evening. Bites often occur on the legs and are very painful. They can produce a severe, localized reaction around the area of the bite. Its symptoms include swelling, blistering, high-temperature fever, joint pain.

The Blandford flies are been recorded in the following countries – Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Latvia, Germany & Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Southern England, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, European Russia and Western Siberia, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine.

Herefordshire bite allergies blamed on Blandford fly

17^th May 2011, BBC News, England

Doctors believe the bites may come from the small black insect, which has caused similar problems in Dorset.

Dr Paul Harris from Belmont Health Centre in Hereford said each doctor at the practice is seeing around five cases a week.

“We’ve seen some that can be the size of your palm across and very swollen, red and inflamed,” he said.

He believes the flies were attracted to a water feature in his back garden.

Andrew Thomas, from Lugwardine, Herefordshire, and other members of his family, were badly bitten.

Blandford fly: surge in ‘infected’ insect bites blamed on new super fly.

29^thJuly, 2010, The Telegraph, England

The Blandford fly, a tiny insect normally found in the country, appears to have reproduced in city areas, largely thanks to the growing popularity of garden water features.

Wildlife experts said the tiny insect, can leave bite which often turns infectious and potentially leaving some victims in need of hospital treatment.

They fear the Blandford fly, which measures only about two or three millimeters long, is spreading amid reports of a rise in infected insect bites over the past few weeks.

Experts blamed the recent warm and humid which has made insects, including horseflies, mosquitoes, and midges, more active, particularly in the evening.

The balmy summer evenings have also encouraged people into their gardens where they are more likely to be bitten.

Conventional insecticides have proven to be a failed solution to give effective results. These insecticides are toxic in nature. They kill target as well as non-target species. They are also hazardous to human health. Moreover, species like Blandford flies are not at all affected by the toxic effects of these insecticides.

C Tech Corporation can offer a solution to overcome the damage caused by Blandford flies. Termirepel™ anti-termite, an anti-insect additive is an ideal solution for the prevention and control of flies. It follows 6 pronged strategies which are extremely effective on flies as well as insects like termites, beetles, grasshopper, bugs etc.

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Black Carpet Beetles!

Beetles are a group of insects that form the order Coleoptera, in the superorder Endopterygota. This is one of the largest order of insects. There are more than a quarter million species of beetles in the world. Some beetles can become destructive pests. Carpet beetle larvae eat natural fibers and feathers. They often damage woolens and other fabrics. Other beetles, like powderpost beetles, feed on hardwoods and bamboo. These pests attack furniture and other items made of wood. Some, like the flour beetles and the grain beetles, attack food products in homes. They also damage food in production facilities and stores. Some beetles damage lawns and landscapes. Immature June beetles, called grubs, attack the roots of grass. The elm leaf beetle damages trees by eating the leaves.

Let us find more about the damages and problems caused by black carpet beetles.

Adult carpet beetles measure 2.8 to 5 mm in length. Their pronota and heads are black, and the head is partially concealed from above. Their wings, known as elytra, are brownish black. In warm environments, eggs hatch into larvae within six to 12 days; colder environments delay hatching times to between 15 and 20 days. Black carpet beetle larvae are longer than many other carpet beetle larvae and are brown and gold in color. A clump of golden hairs is located at the end of their bodies. The black carpet beetle is a common carpet beetle in Pennsylvania.

Black carpet beetle larvae can survive up to 640 days and adults can live for a couple of months. Adults do not cause damage indoors. Immature black carpet beetles, called larvae, cause damage to human clothing, furnishings, and other products. These larvae feed on natural fibers, while adults feed primarily on plant nectar and pollen. Larvae scavenge for food in dark and hidden areas. Infestations occur swiftly and often go unnoticed until the damage is widespread.

Now the question is how do Black Carpet Beetles Get Into the House?

The adults are attracted to flowers, and in the spring of the year, they fly into the house. The larvae wander from the nest into the attic and other parts of the house. At times, birds and other animals die in chimneys and elsewhere in the house and their carcasses become a source of food for the larvae. Very often, the black carpet beetles are brought into the house with old woolens and carpeting. Sometimes the black carpet beetles are introduced into a dwelling in stored products such as dried dog food.

The larvae of carpet beetles feed primarily on animal and plant materials such as fur, dander, silk, wool, and feathers. As a result, they damage clothing, furniture, and other household materials. While larvae prefer organic materials, they consume synthetic fibers with oil, perspiration and food stains. They sometimes feed on grains and spices, as well as nuts, cereals, and other milled products. Larvae may also consume animal hair, dead animals, and insects. Larvae can be found living under floors, behind baseboards, inside air ducts, under heavy furniture, and in other hidden areas. Although carpet beetle larvae move slowly, they infest entire homes and cause considerable damage within weeks. Adult carpet beetles feed on plant-based foods outside and can be found scavenging in gardens, where they cause damage to ornamental flora with light petals. While adult carpet beetles do not cause damage to fiber, they are also considered indoor pests.

The use of conventional fumigants, insecticides is no longer considered to be an effective solution to get rid of the beetle infestation as these insects are becoming increasingly resistant to them. The poisonous pesticides used to carry out fumigation are extremely toxic to the environment as well as for humans.

At C Tech Corporation, we offer a safe and effective solution to deal with these insects. Termirepel™ is a non-toxic, non-hazardous product that primarily repels insects from the application. It is a broad spectrum repellent which works against almost 500 species of pestering bugs thus efficaciously repulse them away from the application. The best feature of this product is that it is environmentally safe and causes no harm to the insect as well as humans and the environment. It is available in masterbatch and lacquer form and as a liquid solution. To keep these insects at bay, this product can be coated in lacquer form or added in mulches or films.

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Asian Giant Hornet!

The Asian giant hornet, including the subspecies Japanese giant hornet colloquially known as the yak-killer hornet, is the world’s largest hornet, native to temperate and tropical Eastern Asia. The Asian giant hornets prefer to live in low mountains and forests, while almost completely avoiding plains and high-altitude climates. Their hierarchy is based on their ability to reproduce and hence is divided as the reproductive queens and sterile soldiers and workers. The Asian Giant Hornets live for about 3-5 months. It takes larvae 14 days to become a full grown adult. Generally, a colony holds 700 Asian Giant Hornets, and the majority of workers are females. The queen lays fertilized female eggs and unfertilized male eggs, and the adult males leave the hive and die after mating. Regardless of sex, the hornet’s head is a light shade of orange and its antennae are brown with a yellow-orange base. Its eyes and ocelli are dark brown to black. V. mandarinia is distinguished from other hornets by its pronounced clypeus and large genae. Its orange mandible contains a black tooth that it uses for digging. Asian Giant Hornets can grow as large as 2 inches long with a wingspan of 76mm. They are approximately five times larger than the average honey bee, and their 6mm long stinger is filled with venom. This venom contains a neurotoxin called mandaratoxin. A single sting may potentially cause internal organ damage as well as large welts in the skin.

The Asian Giant Hornet can wipe out beehives and colonies within hours. In one day alone, the Asian Giant Hornet can fly up to 100km at 40 km/h allowing it to quickly fly towards their victim. In fact, it takes less than 50 Asian Giant Hornets to take down a colony of tens of thousands of bees. Additionally, a single hornet is able to kill 40 honey bees per minute. Essentially, the hornet uses its mandibles and decapitates their victims. This is leading to declining in the population of honey bees. The poor honey bee is nearly helpless against the hornets. Furthermore, the Asian Giant Hornet attacks are a growing concern for beekeepers in the Eastern Asian regions and some beekeepers in Europe. Honey bees are a vital component of our ecosystems and with the growing decline in the honey bee population, we would no longer have fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, and much more.

In the recent times, the Asian giant hornet is said to have made its way to Britain where it is threatening the population of the European honey bees as these honey bees don’t stand a chance against the deadly hornets. Considering that the prime victims of these hornet attacks are our most important pollinators i.e. bees, the mayhem that they cause needs to be controlled!

Let us look at some news articles pertaining to the damage caused by these Asian Giant Hornets.

Threat to honeybees as Asian hornet’s arrival on UK mainland confirmed

September 20 2016, the guardian, UK

The Asian hornet’s long-feared arrival on the UK mainland has been confirmed, government scientists have said, with ecologists warning of dire consequences for honeybees if the species is not swiftly eliminated.

The hornets eat honeybees and have become widespread in central and southern France, prompting warnings in recent years that they could arrive in the UK via potted plants from France.

While not considered a threat to humans, the arrival of the hornets add to the woes of Britain’s honeybees, which are vital for pollination of many crops but have been suffering declines for decades.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said on Tuesday that it had a confirmed sighting of an Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) in the Tetbury area of Gloucestershire. Officials said efforts were already under way to destroy the invasive species, using cameras and traps to locate nests before attempting to kill them off with pesticides.

Nicola Spence, Defra’s deputy director for plant and bee health, said: “We have been anticipating the arrival of the Asian hornet for some years and have a well-established protocol in place to eradicate them and control any potential spread.

“It is important to remember they pose no greater risk to human health than a bee, though we recognize the damage they can cause to honeybee colonies. That’s why we are taking swift and robust action to identify and destroy any nests.”

Matt Shardlow, the chief executive of the charity Bug life, said: “It’s really bad news. The ecological impact is that it potentially affects our ability to feed ourselves in the future.

“In terms of threats to people, as long as it doesn’t reach ridiculous levels of abundance, which it will struggle to do because there is not enough prey here for it, then it shouldn’t really add risk in terms of a number of people who die from wasp stings.”

C Tech Corporation with the aid of green technology and great vision has designed the product Termirepel™ that can aid in the protection of honey bees from these vicious hornets. Termirepel™ is a non-toxic, non-hazardous insect and pest aversive. Basically designed to combat termites, it works effectively against a multitude of other insects including wasps and hornets.

Termirepel™ works by the mechanism of repellence by virtue of which it does not allow the insect/pest to come near the application and thus it negates the possibility of an infestation. Moreover, it is available in the form of polymer compatible masterbatches as well as in lacquer form to be applied to wood and other furniture. Thus it is easy to apply and safe to use. Also since it is non-toxic it will not cause any harm to the non-target species like bees.

Termirepel™ is thermally stable and does not degrade on exposure to heat and sunlight. It does not kill or harm the insect but repels them. It does not volatilize and does not degrade the soil. It is RoHS, RoHS2, REACH, ISO, APVMA, NEA compliant and FIFRA exempted.

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Emerald Ash Borer!

Agrilus planipennis, commonly known as the emerald ash borer, is a green buprestid or jewel beetle native to northeastern Asia that feeds on ash species. This Asian insect was likely transported in wood crates, pallets and other packing material which was shipped to the United States in the mid-1990s, according to Michigan State University Extension (MSUE). The Emerald Ash Borer is responsible for the destruction of tens of millions of ash trees in 27 states. In its native range, it is typically found at low densities and does not cause significant damage to trees native to the area. Outside its native range, it is an invasive species and is highly destructive to ash trees native to northwest Europe and North America.

EAB populations can quickly rise to damaging levels. Host species include green ash, white ash, black ash, blue ash, and pumpkin ash. After initial infestation, all ash trees are expected to die in an area within 10 years without control measures. Every North American ash species shows susceptibility to EAB as North American species planted in China also shows high mortality due to EAB infestation.

Signs and symptoms are indicators of insect attack. A sign is a physical damage to a tree, such as a gallery, a hole, or a feeding notch in the leaf, resulting from the attack by an insect. A symptom is a tree’s response to insect attack and includes premature yellowing of foliage, dead branches, thinning crowns, or bark cracks. Crown dieback is one common symptom of EAB infestation. Dieback of the upper and outer crown begins after multiple years of Emerald ash borer larval feeding. Trees start to show dead branches throughout the canopy, beginning at the top. Larval feeding disrupts nutrient and water flow to the upper canopy, resulting in leaf loss. Leaves at the top of the tree may be thin and discolored. Let us look at another symptom known as Epicormic Sprouting. When trees are stressed or sick, they try to grow new branches and leaves wherever they still can. Trees may have new growth at the base of the tree and on the trunk, often just below where the larvae are feeding. Woodpeckers, on the other hand, eat emerald ash borer larvae that are under the bark. This usually happens higher in the tree where the emerald ash borer prefers to attack first. If there are large numbers of larvae under the bark the woodpecker damage can make it look like strips of bark have been pulled off of the tree. This is called “flecking.”

Now let us have a look at the signs of infestation done by an emerald ash borer.

D-shaped emergence holes: As adults emerge from under the bark they create a D-shaped emergence hole that is about 1/8 inch in diameter.

S-shaped larval galleries: As larvae feed under the bark they wind back and forth, creating galleries that are packed with frass (larva poop) and sawdust and follow a serpentine pattern.

Larvae: Larvae are cream-colored, slightly flattened (dorso-ventrally) and have pincher-like appendages (urogomphi) at the end of their abdomen. Larvae are found feeding beneath the bark.

Adults: Adult beetles are metallic green and about the size of one grain of cooked rice (3/8 – 1/2 inch long and 1/16 inch wide). Adults are flat on the back and rounded on their underside.

Here are some recent news articles pertaining to the damage caused by the EAB.

Public is paying price of emerald ash borer infestation

April 19, 2017, USA
OSCODA – High winds sweeping through Iosco County this month have toppled trees on top of power lines, causing electrical outages and home damage.

Most of the felled trees are dead or dying ash trees, killed by emerald ash borers (EAB), an invasive insect which was discovered in southeastern Michigan and Windsor, Ontario in June 2002.

“Municipalities and homeowners are paying for the EAB invasion,” said Eric Brandon, Alcona Conservation District forester for Alcona and Iosco counties.

EAB are so aggressive that ash trees die within two or three years after becoming infested. Damage is caused by the larvae, feeding in S-shaped tunnels on the inside of bark of branches and tree trunks. It is the inner bark, or phloem, which transports nutrients and water.

Emerald ash borer destroying Door Co. trees

April 11, 2017, USA

Thousands of ash trees are dying as the emerald ash borer eats its way up the Door County peninsula. One of the hot spots for the disease is the downtown of the city where chunks of bark lie under the ash trees and woodpeckers are feasting on the emerging tiny insects.

More than 12 million ash trees throughout the county are at risk since the emerald ash borer bugs were found near Fish Creek and in Sturgeon Bay in 2014. Ash trees account for about 13 percent of the county’s estimated 115 million trees, said Bill Ruff, a forester for the state Department of Natural Resources in Door and Kewaunee counties.

There are a variety of treatment options that can serve as a control measure for the EAB, but they are not a cure.

Insecticides with active ingredients such as imidacloprid, benzoate, and dinotefuran are currently used. These insecticides are toxic in nature. They kill the target as well as the non- target species. They are harmful to human health as well.

C Tech Corporation can offer a solution to overcome the damage caused by EAB to our trees. Termirepel™ is an ideal solution for prevention from damages inflicted by EAB. Termirepel™ is a nontoxic and nonhazardous insect aversive. It is highly effective against insects like EAB, grasshopper, worms etc. It is cost effective and cost-efficient, inert, stable up to 1400 deg Celsius temperature, long lasting etc.

Termirepel™ is available in the form of polymer masterbatches which can be incorporated in plastic tree guards, fencing of the trees, mulches, etc.

Whitefly damage!

Whiteflies are small Hemipterans that typically feed on the undersides of plant leaves. They comprise the family Aleyrodidae, the only family in the superfamily Aleyrodoidea. They can be as small as 1/12 of an inch, somewhat triangular in shape, and are often found in clusters on the undersides of leaves. They are active during the daytime, so they are easier to spot than some other nocturnal pests. More than 1550 species have been described. Whiteflies develop rapidly in warm weather, and populations can build up quickly in situations where natural enemies are ineffective and when weather and host plants favor outbreaks. Large colonies often develop on the undersides of leaves. The most common pest species such as greenhouse whitefly and sweet potato whitefly have a wide host range that includes many weeds and crops. These species breed all year round in warmer parts of California, moving from one host to another as plants are harvested or dry up. Another species of whitefly with a broad host range is the giant whitefly, Aleurodicus dugesii. It is now found in coastal areas and interior valleys in much of the state on a number of tropical and semi-tropical ornamental species.

Adult whiteflies are moth-like insects with powdery white wings and short antenna. They are easily recognized and often found near the top of plants or on stem ends. Wingless nymphs are flattened, oval and almost scale-like in appearance. The full life cycle of the whitefly lasts between 15 to 40 days, depending on environmental conditions, particularly the temperature, as eggs will turn into adults more quickly when the temperature is higher. The whitefly usually lays its eggs on the underside of the leaves and the eggs stick to them by means of a pedicel. The larva or nymphs emerge from the eggs and in their first stage of development, they are mobile enough to move along the leaf until they find the right place to insert their stylus and begin to feed off the sap of the phloem, which is rich in sugars. The nymphs then pass through several more stages of development, during which they remain in the same place and continue to feed off the plant until the adult emerges from the last nymph stage. Non-fertilized eggs produce males while the fertilized eggs produce females.

The whitefly feeds on more than 500 species of host plants. Common targets include ornamental plants, houseplants, hibiscus, coleus, fuchsia, sweet potato (edible and ornamental), tomato, grape, citrus and squash-family plants. Whiteflies use their piercing, needle-like mouthparts to suck sap from phloem, the food-conducting tissues in plant stems and leaves. Large populations can cause leaves to turn yellow, appear dry, or fall off plants. Like aphids, whiteflies excrete a sugary liquid called honeydew, so leaves may be sticky or covered with black sooty mold that grows on the honeydew. The honeydew attracts ants, which interfere with the activities of natural enemies that may control whiteflies and other pests.

Feeding by the immature sweet potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, can cause plant distortion, discoloration, or silvering of leaves, and may cause serious losses in some vegetable crops. Some whiteflies transmit viruses to certain vegetable crops. These include the TYLCV (Tomato yellow leaf curl virus), the ToCV (Tomato chlorosis crinivirus) or the TYMV (Tomato Yellow Mosaic Virus). Whiteflies are not normally a problem in fruit trees although their populations can build up in citrus, pomegranate, and avocado. In warm or tropical climates and especially in greenhouses, whiteflies present major problems in crop protection. Worldwide economic losses are estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

Let us look at some news articles pertaining to the damage caused by whiteflies.

Whitefly pest attacks cotton crop in Punjab
July 11 2016, India
Whitefly pest has again attacked cotton crop, now in the flowering stage, in Punjab, posing a threat to the kharif crop even as the opposition Congress lambasted the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance for its “failure” in preventing the pest attack. “Whitefly has attacked cotton crop in several fields of about 15 villages of Khuian Sarwar block in Abohar,” an official of Punjab Agriculture department said on Monday.

Also in the year 2015, about two-third of Punjab’s cotton crop was destroyed by whiteflies causing an estimated loss of Rs 4,200 crore. There were reports of at least 15 cotton farmers committing suicide.

The damage and loss caused by these tiny whiteflies are huge! We cannot afford this significant amount of crop damage caused by pests like whiteflies. There is an urgent need for a sustainable solution.

Termirepel™ anti-insect additive, a C Tech Corporation product is the best solution for the prevention and control of insect infestations. Termirepel™ masterbatch can be incorporated in agricultural films, mulches, greenhouse films etc. during polymer processing. It can also be incorporated in silage bags and packaging films to protect the crops in the post-harvest stage from pest damage.

Termirepel™ lacquer can be added to paints which can then be applied to fencing, etc. It follows 6 tiered mechanism, which is extremely effective on insects like whiteflies, ants, beetles, grasshopper, termites etc.

Termirepel™ is a nontoxic and nonhazardous anti-insect additive. It is thermally stable and does not degrade on exposure to heat and sunlight. It does not kill or harm the insect but repels them. It does not volatilize and does not degrade the soil. It is RoHS, RoHS2, REACH, ISO, APVMA, NEA compliant and FIFRA exempted.

Aphids: Huge threat to our plants!

Aphids, also known as plant lice, are small sap-sucking insects and members of the superfamily Aphidoidea. Aphids are among the most destructive insect pests on cultivated plants in temperate regions. They are capable of extremely rapid increase in numbers by asexual reproduction. The damage they do to plants has made them enemies of farmers and gardeners around the world. About 4,400 species of aphids are known, all included in the family Aphididae. Around 250 species are serious pests for agriculture and forestry as well as an annoyance for gardeners. They vary in length from 1 to 10 millimeters. Aphids are small, soft-bodied, pear-shaped insects that are frequently found in large numbers. Their bodies may be translucent but are usually various shades of green, brown, yellow, or white, sometimes blending in with the plant on which they are feeding. Many aphid species have two tube-like structures, called cornicles, which extend from the back and secrete a defensive fluid. Adult forms may be winged or wingless, depending upon their stage of development during the season. Winged forms have four membranous wings that rest upright above the body.

A generation of aphids survives the winter as eggs, which allows them to withstand extreme environmental conditions of temperature and moisture. In spring the eggs on the plant hatch, leading to the first generation of aphids. All the aphids born from the winter eggs are females. Several more generations of female aphids are born during the spring and summer. A female can live for 25 days, during which time she can produce up to 80 new aphids. Spring and summer reproduction occurs asexually. In these cases, the resulting aphids are basically clones of the mother. In addition, the young are born live rather than as eggs. When the fall approaches, there is a generation that grows into both male and female individuals. Females fertilized by the males lay winter eggs on the plant where they are, closing the cycle.

Aphid damage is usually most noticeable on shade trees and ornamental plantings. Leaves, twigs, stems, or roots may be attacked by aphids, whose mouthparts are designed for piercing the plant and sucking the sap. Aphids attack nearly all species of plants. When leaves are attacked by aphids, damage often appears first as spotty yellow discolorations, usually on the undersides of leaves; the leaves may later dry out and wilt. Some aphid species form galls or cause distorted, curled, or deformed leaves. The galls are swellings of plant tissues that are usually globular or spindle-shaped, with mouth-like openings. Many galls turn brown and are considered unsightly. Each gall or deformed leaf may contain numerous aphids in all stages of development. Aphids attached to other plant parts such as stems or twigs may cause stunted growth, early leaf fall, or twig mortality. Many aphid species secrete honeydew from the anus; this sweet, sticky substance consists mainly of excess sap ingested by the insect and contains sugars and waste materials. At times, enough honeydew may be secreted to cover not only the aphid infested foliage but also objects below the affected tree or shrub. After a time a black, sooty fungus that grows on honeydew and gives everything it has covered a dirty gray appearance. Because of its sweetness, the honeydew attracts other pests such as flies, wasps, and especially ants, whose presence may be the first visible sign of an aphid infestation.

Let us look at some news articles pertaining to the damage caused by aphids.

Aphids seen at threshold level in southwest Missouri wheat
March 23, 2017, USA

Jill Scheidt, agronomy specialist with University of Missouri Extension, scouted fields west of Lamar and near Iantha for the March 1 crop scouting update.

Wheat was found to be in the tillering stage.

“Wait to apply nitrogen until just before jointing stage, when nitrogen is most efficiently used. Early nitrogen applications should only be made if tiller count is below 60 tillers per square foot,” said Scheidt. “This avoids overly lush growth, which can make wheat susceptible to disease, aphids, lodging and late freeze damage.”

Aphids damage early crops
August 6, 2013

There has been significant aphid damage to early sown crops, particular in central NSW.

Pest Facts reported there were many accounts of damage in the Central Tablelands region around Mudgee, NSW.

The damage began in July once the resistance imparted by seed treatment wore off.

Oats have been one of the worst impacted crops.

Oat aphid, corn aphid and rose grain aphid favor barley, but are found in all cereal crops. Heavy infestations of these sap-sucking insects cause the crop to turn yellow, be stunted and generally appear unthrifty.

All three aphids can damage crops by feeding on them and in some instances by spreading barley yellow dwarf virus.

According to a recent study by researchers at Iowa State University aphids has become a threat to soybean in the recent years because they possess a unique ability to block the genetic defense response of soybeans and may open the door for other pests to do even more damage to the crops. Their research further made a significant contribution as the scientist stated that Aphids emerged as a serious threat to Iowa soybeans around 2000. The insects are native to Asia and most likely came to the United States via international travelers or plants brought into the country. In the years since, aphids have caused soybean farmers major headaches, reducing yields in affected fields by up to 40 percent, a scientist said.

These creatures thus cause a lot of damage in the agricultural sector. Also, they invite more pests like the ants to the plants further endangering them. Conventional methods used to combat them include the use of toxic pesticides which are extremely hazardous to the environment. New methods need to be developed to do away with aphids for good. The method used should be 100% effective and should not endanger the environment in any way whatsoever.

Termirepel™ is a non-toxic, non-hazardous insect and pest repellant. It can be best described as a termite aversive. It is effective against a multitude of other insects and pests like weevils, beetles, bugs, aphids etc.

It works on the mechanism of repellence and therefore does not kill the target as well as non-target species. Being non-toxic, it does not harm the soil and environment. Termirepel™ can be added to a thin agricultural film to protect plants and crops from insects like aphids. It can also be incorporated in irrigation pipes to ward off pests.

Woodworm damage!

Woodworm is the wood-eating larvae of any of many species of beetle. It is a collective term used to describe all wood-boring insects that attack wood and timber, causing structural damage to buildings. There are a number of wood-boring insects that attack timber with the most common being the ‘Common Furniture Beetle’ that attacks softwood. One may not realize that they have a woodworm problem until the resulting damage becomes visible. If left untreated woodworm can seriously weaken timber which may lead to structural failure of timbers. The levels of damage to the property are dependent on the size of the woodworm infestation. Fresh exit holes in timber, tunnels in wood, bore dust, weak and damaged floorboards, crumbling wood, dead beetles, eggs are some of the common signs of woodworm infestation. Any of these signs could mean you have a woodworm infestation.

Round or oval shaped holes with sharp edges are a clear indication of woodworm infestation. Tunnels in wood, also known as galleries are the result of woodworm boring through the infected timber. Bore dust, also known as frass, is caused by emerging adult beetles. This is usually visible below the infested timber. Crumbling wood can be found around corners or edges of roof joists or floorboards.

The amount of harm caused by woodworm depends on the species of beetle and the type of wood.

Common Furniture Beetle: Attacks softwood (conifer) and the sapwood of European hardwoods. Rarely causes structural weakening although tunneling along the grain of the wood can potentially cause extensive collapse.

House Longhorn Beetle: Only attacks the sapwood of softwood timbers. As softwood is often used in roof timbers, an infestation can often result in severe structural weakening.

Powder post Beetle: Causes damage to wide-pored hardwood with a high starch content, such as ash, elm, and oak. Tunnels along the grain and can cause severe damage, often infesting block or parquet flooring.

Deathwatch Beetle: Prefers European hardwoods, especially oak, ash and chestnut that have been “softened” by partial decay. The larvae tend to tunnel towards the center of the timber, so that damage may be more extensive than is apparent from the exterior.

Let us look at some news articles pertaining to the damage caused by the woodworms.

Revealed: how altarpiece broke in disastrous fall at London’s National Gallery

Recently published records show that 14th-century work suffered serious damage in 1989
June 9, 2016, UK

The Art Newspaper has learned that a 14th-century Italian altarpiece from the National Gallery in London fell and broke in two in 1989. According to recently published trustees’ minutes from the time, the gallery’s then-director, Neil MacGregor, told the board that it was “probably the most serious non-malicious damage in the gallery’s history, [and] particularly regrettable as the altarpiece had one of the very few original 14th-century frames surviving”. The bulletin reported: “Over the centuries, the canopies above the central panel had become so eroded by woodworm that they were unfortunately damaged during the process of examination… the woodworm damage probably happened over many decades during an infestation of the sacristy or oratory in Tuscany, where the altarpiece was cited in its early history.” There was no mention that it had fallen and broken in two.

Are woodworm infestations about to chew their way through your home?
May 19, 2015, UK

PLYMOUTH residents are being urged to be wary of a woodworm infestation of their homes this spring.

The insect traditionally emerges in households during this time of year and an infestation of the bug could result in severe structural building damage.

Also known as the Common Furniture Beetle, signs to look out for of an active woodworm infestation include the appearance of tell-tale new emergence holes and the dust – known as frass – which falls from them.

Woodworm can infest a wide variety of timber.

This can include structural building timbers, furniture, and even wooden ornaments.

If left unchecked, and with the right conditions, infestations can even lead to the total collapse of vulnerable timbers within a building.

The conventional use of insecticides is no longer considered to be a safe and effective method to get rid of these woodworms. Some insecticides are even not advisable due to their toxicity and potentially damaging effect on human health and the environment. Moreover, overuse of toxic chemicals in residential settings puts occupants at risk so it’s preferable to avoid unneeded repeat treatments.

So do we have a green solution for this problem? Yes, we do! CTech Corporation’s Termirepel™. Termirepel™ an anti-termite and anti-insect polymer additive is an ideal solution for the prevention and control of woodworms. It follows 6 pronged strategy which is extremely effective against woodworms as well as insects like ants, termites, grasshopper, bugs etc.

Termirepel™ is non-toxic and nonhazardous anti termite and anti-insect additive. It is thermally stable and does not degrade on exposure to heat and sunlight. It does not kill or harm the insect but repels them. It is RoHS, RoHS2, REACH, ISO, APVMA, NEA compliant and FIFRA exempted.

Termirepel™ is available in the form of a masterbatch, liquid concentrate, and lacquer solution. Termirepel™ lacquer can be applied as a top coat over the wooden objects and furniture to protect them from the woodworm damage.

Roaches found everywhere!

Cockroaches are insects of the order Blattodea, which also includes termites. Currently, 4600 species and over 460 genera are described worldwide. They are an ancient group, dating back at least as far as the Carboniferous period, some 320 million years ago. Cockroaches are somewhat generalized insects without special adaptations like the sucking mouthparts of aphids and other true bugs; they have chewing mouthparts and are likely among the most primitive of living neopteran insects. They are common and hardy insects and can tolerate a wide range of environments from Arctic cold to tropical heat. Most species of cockroach are about the size of a thumbnail, but several species are bigger. They have a relatively small head and a broad, flattened body, and most species are reddish-brown to dark brown. They have large compound eyes, two ocelli, and long, flexible antennae. The mouthparts are on the underside of the head and include generalized chewing mandibles, salivary glands and various touch and taste receptors.

Cockroaches are one stubborn species of insects to eradicate. They show a fascinating and unbelievable knack for survival against all odds that is almost enviable. And they are not just in our houses but everywhere, where they can find food. Cockroaches cause damage in the following ways:

Feeding Damage: One of the earliest and most easily disregarded signs of cockroach damage is the signs of feeding. Most roaches infesting homes chew on starchy items. Furthermore, cockroaches love to live in areas that are particularly damp or dark. The German cockroach feeds on books and their bindings thereby destroying them. These cockroaches are also very fond of starchy food like cereal, sugary substances, and meat products. The larger roaches usually prefer chewing on paper products, thus destroying them in the process. In addition, the fecal material from feeding can contaminate food and stain other products.

Disease Transmission: Cockroaches transmit numerous diseases. Cockroaches produce secretions that can affect the flavor of various foods and have also been implicated in the transmission of diseases. Disease-producing organisms such as bacteria, protozoa, and viruses have been found in cockroach bodies. Different forms of gastroenteritis (food poisoning, dysentery, diarrhea, etc.) appear to be the principal diseases transmitted by these cockroaches. These disease-causing organisms are carried on the legs and bodies of cockroaches and are deposited on food and utensils as cockroaches forage.

Allergies: A host of studies recognize cockroaches and their byproducts as strong indoor allergenic agents. Since the prevalence of asthma in children has been increasing steadily over the years, the need to control cockroaches is more important than ever. An increased exposure to cockroach allergens is one key factor responsible for the higher prevalence of asthma in poor urban areas.

Let us look at some evidence of damage by these cockroaches worldwide

Cockroach infestation forces temporary closure of Burbank restaurant
March 30 2017, Los Angeles Daily News, USA
Sewage discharge, cockroach, rodent infestations force temporary closures at 8 San Fernando Valley restaurants
February 20 2017, Los Angeles Daily News, USA
Cockroach ‘infestation’ discovered at hospital
January 3 2017, UKAcross the four hospitals run by The Pennine Acute Hospital Trust in Greater Manchester – The Royal Oldham Hospital, Rochdale Infirmary, Fairfield General Hospital in Bury and North Manchester General Hospital – there were 302 pest sightings in the past year. Reports between April 2015 and March 2016 included a cockroach ‘infestation’ in the day surgery ward at the Royal Oldham Hospital, maggots found in the accident and emergency ward kitchen and a call logged from the Royal Oldham Hospital laundry which read: “Urgent – there are lots of cockroaches”.

A spokesman for Pennine Acute said: “Recent mild winters have seen an increase in vermin across the country. “We take patient, staff and visitor safety seriously and deploy preventative measures to pest control by employing a pest control contractor to visit each of our four hospitals every week, particularly in areas where facilities are susceptible to vermin.”We have also introduced additional housekeeping measures, such as frequently emptying bins and cleaning across our sites.”

Cockroach-Infestation In Newborn Ward At Frere Hospital Stains Record: Da
October 15 2016, South Africa
An apparent infestation of cockroaches at Frere Hospital’s M1-N “Kangaroo Ward” for mothers awaiting the release of their premature and newborn babies is a stain on the good record of the facility, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Eastern Cape said on Wednesday.
“The DA truly values the sterling work performed by Dr Rolene Wagner and her team at the Frere Hospital and requests that Ward M1-N, and specifically the loose fittings in the ward, should be fumigated and inspected before any more infants and new moms are expected to share a neonatal ward room with cockroaches,” said Celeste Barker, the DA’s Eastern Cape Shadow MEC for Health.
She said that last week Thursday, Bronwen Spenceley — the young mom of a premature baby girl weighing just 1.5kg – was admitted to M1-N. The ward, though appearing to be clean, has proven to be unhygienic and hazardous.
“The ward, though appearing to be clean, has proven to be unhygienic and hazardous.
“The bedside metal cabinets are crawling with cockroaches and when a heater is switched on, the insects come crawling out of all possible apertures – including the beds,” described Barker.

These roaches need to be dealt with. One very important and essential way of doing it is maintaining proper hygiene at all times at all places especially in places like eateries where food is abundant and supervision is lacking. Other conventional methods include the use of potentially toxic and dangerous chemicals as insecticides and pesticides. But the use of these chemicals though conventional should be stopped as there is a chance of human contact and food contamination.

So do we have an effective solution for this problem?

Yes, we do!

Termirepel™ is non-toxic and non-hazardous insect/termite repellent. It works on the concept of green chemistry repels the target species and does not kill them. Termirepel™ is available in the form of lacquer and can be applied on wooden articles such as door frames, food storage cupboards, etc.

It can also be incorporated in paint to be applied on surfaces which need protection. Termirepel™ can thus effectively keep cockroaches away from our food as well as our lives!

Weevil nuisance!

Insects are the most diverse species of animals living on earth. They are undoubtedly the most adaptable form of life as their total numbers far exceed that of any other animal category. It has been estimated that between one quarter and one-third of the world grain crop is lost each year during storage. Much of this is due to insect attack. In addition, grain which is not lost is severely reduced in quality by insect damage. Many grain pests preferentially eat out grain embryos, thereby reducing the protein content of feed grain and lowering the percentage of seeds which germinate. Herbivorous insects are said to be responsible for destroying one-fifth of the world’s total crop production annually. Some important stored grain pests include rice weevil, maize weevils, grain borers and rust-red flour beetle.

A complex of weevils, the rice (Sitophilus oryza), granary (Sitophilus granarius), and maize (Sitophilus zeamais) weevils, are among the most destructive pests of grains, seeds, and grain products stored in elevators and bins. These weevils are pests of grain throughout the world.

Rice Weevil: The rice weevil is a small snout beetle which varies in size, but it averages about three thirty-second inch in length. It varies from a dull red-brown to black and is usually marked on the back with four light red to yellow spots. The rice weevil has fully developed wings beneath its wing covers and can fly readily. The larval stage of this insect is a soft, white, legless, fleshy grub which feeds on the interior of the grain kernel. When mature, the grub changes to a naked white pupa and later emerges as an adult beetle.

Maize Weevil: The maize weevil, known in the United States as the greater rice weevil, is a species of beetle in the family Curculionidae. It is a major pest of maize. This species attacks both standing crops and stored cereal products, including wheat, rice, sorghum, oats, barley, peas, and cottonseed. The maize weevil also infests other types of stored, processed cereal products such as pasta, cassava, and various coarse, milled grains. It has even been known to attack fruit while in storage, such as apples.

Granary Weevil: Also known as the wheat weevil or the grain weevil, the granary weevil is a common pantry pest found in temperate climates across the globe. They are closely related to the rice and maize weevils. The granary weevil is most often found wherever grain and wheat products are stored, as they are the main sources of food for both larvae and adults. A large population of granary weevil can cause a great deal of damage. Granary weevils are known for destroying the grains and seeds it uses to eat, lay eggs and develop into an adult.

Of the three, the rice weevil is probably the most insidious, owing largely to the ability of flight. All three weevils develop as larvae within the grain kernels. They frequently cause the almost complete destruction of grain in elevators or bins, where conditions are favorable and the grain is undisturbed for some length of time. Infested grain are usually found heating at the surface, sometimes to such an extent that sprouting occurs. Wheat, corn, macaroni, oats, barley, sorghum, kaffir seed, and buckwheat are just some of the grains and products on which these weevils feed. The weevil chews a small hole in the seed and lays an egg in the resulting cavity. The larva bores throughout the seed and pupates there. Corn is a favorite host of the maize weevil and can become infested in the field as well as in storage.

Let us look at some news articles pertaining to the damage caused by weevils.

Scientists caution farmers of banana weevil attack

March 23 2015, The Hindu, India

Scientists of the Agricultural Research Station (ARS) and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Virinjipuram have cautioned banana growers in Vellore to keep an eye on banana pseudostem weevil attack on the plantation. A team of scientists had recently spotted high incidence of pseudostem weevil attack on a banana field at Kavasampattu.

R. Rajendiran, director of Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute, Aduthurai, along with M. Pandiyan, professor and head of ARS and KVK and scientists from ARS, Virinjipuram spotted the pest attack during a visit to a field recently.
The banana pseudostem weevil is a serious attack on bananas. The pest affects varieties of bananas such as “karpuravalli”, “mondan”, “rashthali” that is cultivated in large areas of the district, officials said.
“At least 4,000 hectares of land are under banana cultivation in the district. The incidence of this pest attack is found high in poorly maintained fields. It also spreads to nearby fields,” Mr. Pandiyan said.
Scientists said that being a monophagous pest, the weevils multiply in area where banana is cultivated continuously. This was the case with the farmer at Kavasampattu who has been continuously raising bananas on one acre of land, he added.

Both larvae and adult pest can cause severe damage. As adults are strong fliers, it can move from plant to plant. In the grub stage, it can make extensive tunnels in the leaf sheaths and bore into the pseudostem.

Conventional pesticides used have numerous environmental consequences. The use of toxic pesticides means exposing our pristine soil to the evils of degeneration, degradation of soil quality, groundwater pollution, etc. A better way is to use non-conventional products.

Termirepel™ a product of C Tech Corporation are the best for this job. Termirepel™ can be best described as a non-toxic, non-hazardous termite and insect aversive. It is effective against a multitude of other insects and pests like weevils, beetles, etc. It works on the mechanism of repellence and therefore does not kill the target as well as non-target species. Being non-toxic, it does not harm the soil and environment.