By Stacy Anderson
NYT Institute

Mike Grotesch is flooded with phone calls this time of year.

“It spreads like killer bees,” said Groetsch, owner of Metro Termite and Pest Control in New Orleans. “They’re never going away.”

Grotesch is referring to Formosan subterranean termites. He said he receives the most business between the months of March and June. But, he cautioned, “they eat all year long and are discovered all year long.”

This ongoing problem is most obvious beginning in early May during swarming season, when termites mate, develop a new colony and reproduce. Peak season is generally from early April to mid-July, said Mike Carroll, assistant director of the City of New Orleans Mosquito and Termite Control Board.

Termites thrive in moist areas such as New Orleans, which is below sea level.

Termites generally swarm at dusk and are attracted to light, which makes them more noticeable when they flutter around street and porch lights. Residents also notice termites when they discover damage in their homes, Carroll said.

One myth about termites is that cool air will keep them away, but Carroll said that turning the air conditioner on high is not a solution. “Not at all,” Carroll said. “They’re in the walls and the halls. They retreat to their carton nest and can generate their own heat.”

Termites are attracted to moisture. “The number one problem is water leaks,” Carroll said. These include leaks to roofs, pipes, and air conditioners, as well as rain damage leaks. “Termites do need water,” Carroll said. “It’s quite advisable to have your home under termite contract.”

Richard Marschke, owner of Integrated Pest Management, said termites can be eliminated with moisture control. Marschke said termites need food, water, and harboring, and houses provide two, if not all three, of these factors.

The Mosquito and Termite Control Board has developed several initiatives to deal with insects since establishing a termite division in 1995.

The board, along with the United States Department of Agriculture, and Louisiana State University Agricultural Center started Operation Full Force in 1998 to control termite infiltration, specifically in the French Quarter.

David Boethel, vice chancellor of research for the LSU AgCenter, said that individuals from all three groups have used the newest technology to reduce termite infiltration in 80 percent of the French Quarter. A technique commonly used is implanting bait into the ground. Silver rods filled with wood attract termites, but also contain chemicals that kill them. “We’ve seen a 50 percent decrease in the area,” Boethel said. He added that the main goal is to treat all 105 blocks of the French Quarter, which contains some of the most historic buildings in the state.

Last year, the board also initiated a program that killed termites in live oak trees around the city. However, Groetsch said this program harmed residents more than it helped them. He said homes are now the new target for termites. “It’s a matter of time before they find you. Nine out of ten people don’t care because they don’t see it.”

Groetsch said a proven way to protect any home is chemical treatment, which has been used since the 1940s. He also advised residents to get their homes treated frequently, and depending on the product, as often as every five years.

Marschke also advised residents to keep their homes properly maintained by replacing sidings and quickly repairing any leaks.

Darance Hayes, a Dillard University police officer and resident of Gentilly, uses home remedies to treat termites. “I swat them and spray starch to keep them from flying," Hayes said. "It’s sticky. It stops their flow.”

Hayes also follows the advice of professionals and gets his home chemically treated twice a year. “Once you’ve seen them, they’ve already done their damage.”

Termites originally came to port cities in America during World War II through imports from the Pacific. According to Carroll, termites were not defined until several years later in 1967, since most swarms appear four to five years after the nest has developed.

The three common places of entrance by termites into Louisiana are the Mississippi River, Lake Charles, and Camp Leroy Johnson military port.

Termites are a major pest in the southeastern region of the United States including Louisiana, Florida and Texas.

AARON DAYE/NYT Institute

Termites shed their wings in a Dillard University dorm during this year's swarming season in New Orleans.