We did a workshop on wood destroying pests at the last Southeastern
Museums Conference. They may have leftover handouts, otherwise contact
me off list and I'll be happy to send you a set.

As a quick synopsis, there are a broad range of new approaches. For
termites there are a variety of bait systems that are promising. For
wood borers the borons (in both water and PEG) continue to be worth
serious consideration. Spot treatments (with such products as Dursban
TC) may be appropriate in some circumstances. For carpenter ants, there
are some new baits that appear worth consideration.  For all, we
recommend that you focus on careful inspect combined with a good
knowledge of the pest (for example, conventional treatment of carpenter
ants at the building source often accomplishes little, since this is
rarely the parent colony and it is parent colony which must be
destroyed).

In terms of IPM for wood borers, the old standards are still very
applicable: avoid the use of old lumber (if possible, obviously not with
historic structures), paint or apply finish were possible, control
temperature and RH, control water (keep moisture content of wood below
14%), increase inspections.

If you have specific questions feel free to contact me off list.

Best,

Michael Trinkley, Ph.D.
Director
Chicora Foundation, Inc.
PO Box 8664
Columbia, SC  29202-8664
803/787-6910
Email: [log in to unmask]