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The Coombs Armory has termites.
Adding to previously identified structural problems, the Armory is now known to harbor both drywood and subterranean termites and eradicating them could add an additional $100,000 to the cost of renovating the building.
Two weeks ago, County Extension Agent Bill Mahan, whose office is in the Armory, noticed a swarm of insects emerging from the inside wall in the rear right corner of the building.
On examination, the insects were found to be drywood termite swarmers. When adult termites are ready to mate, they grow wings and fly away from their home colony to create a new nest. Swarming termites mean the parent colony is at least two years old and growing in size.
Franklin County is on the northern edge of the natural range of drywood termites and, while they are found here, they are not as common as subterranean termites, which are the kind most often infesting structures in this area. Their colonies are larger than drywood termites' and cause more damage, more quickly. While subterranean termites must normally maintain contact with the ground for a constant water supply, drywood termites can build a nest that has no contact with the ground.
Subterranean termites are most often treated by injecting pesticides into the ground around the infested structure. Drywood termites are treated by tenting the structure with tarps and pumping in poison gas.
Two pest control operators who evaluated the infestation at the...