Expanding Your Toolbox

There are a number of inspection tools we use every day to perform our jobs in pest management, but what do we do when we run across problems that are more difficult to diagnose? That’s when specialty tools should be considered.

HUMIDITY METERS (HYGROMETERS). Hygrometers are instruments designed to measure the amount of water vapor present in the air. There are a number of pests that thrive in high moisture environments, including springtails, psocids and fungus-feeding beetles.

Hygrometers give you the ability to demonstrate to a customer that the humidity level in their home is high, and environmental modification is needed to solve a moisture-related pest issue. Solving humidity issues may mean using a dehumidifier, running the AC more frequently to reduce moisture levels, fixing sprinkler heads that are spraying the structure or removing high soil that is drawing moisture into walls.

This was a vital piece of equipment in diagnosing a minute scavenger beetle infestation in a hotel a few years ago. Some guest rooms were as high as 78% humidity. You could physically feel that amount of moisture in the air, but other areas were not as obvious. The source of the problem was an air exchanger that also served to remove moisture from the building. After asking questions we found out it had been non-operational for some time. After we submitted a report showing the beetle biology and humidity data collected, the air exchanger was repaired, and the beetles went away without any pesticide treatment. Convincing the customer they had a moisture-related pest problem would not have been possible without the use of the hygrometer.

MOISTURE METERS. Moisture meters are instruments designed to measure the amount of water in a substance like wood or sheetrock. Moisture meters can really come in handy when dealing with Formosan termites and looking for carton nests. They also can be of great benefit when dealing with the moisture-related pests mentioned above.

”Often, the most difficult part of our job can be convincing our customers we can’t “spray away” a problem. Diagnostic tools can help us to show customers evidence that what we are saying is true.”

Formosan termites frequently build above ground carton nests constructed of chewed wood, soil, saliva and fecal material. These carton nests often are built in areas with high moisture from roof leaks or other moisture sources, allowing the termites to trap moisture and exist above ground without further soil contact. Traditional soil treatment will have no effect on these aerial colonies.

A moisture meter can be invaluable in locating areas with carton nests based on the moisture differential across the walls of a room in the structure. Given the aggressive nature of Formosan termites, it’s very important to find and treat any carton nests as soon as possible. With over a million termites in the average Formosan colony, damage occurs rapidly.

BORESCOPES. Borescopes are optical instrument designed to assist visual inspection of narrow, difficult-to-reach cavities. They consist of a rigid or flexible tube with an eyepiece or display on one end and a lens or camera on the other. Borescopes come in a variety of options from stand-alone units with their own screens to more basic versions that work through your phone’s power port. Some of the higher end models can be articulated. Drilling a small hole in a wall or slab, you can place a borescope inside to get a good look.

One of our pest customers had an ongoing cigarette beetle issue in her master bathroom. After multiple visits with no solution or source material found, we brought out the borescope to look in the wall voids. What we found was a wall full of beetle-infested dog food. Rodents had been trapped and excluded from the home months prior, but their hidden food stash was left behind.

THERMAL IMAGING CAMERAS. Thermal imaging cameras are tools that detect infrared radiation (heat) and convert it to visible images. If you have seen the “Predator” movies, you have an idea of what some of the images look like. The camera uses different colors to differentiate the levels of heat. Some models allow you to change to different color palettes like white hot, black hot or the rainbow (“Predator” vision). This technology has a number of uses in pest management from locating live animals (or carcasses) in wall voids, or finding honey bees and Formosan carton nests. These days you can purchase a unit that plugs into your phone’s power port and turns your phone into the thermal imaging camera.

TERMATRACS. Termatracs are microwave radars that can detect movement in walls and building materials. Termatrac units also include a moisture meter and temperature sensor while newer models also have a thermal imaging camera. These are the Swiss army knives of pest inspection tools. I have personally made use of Termatracs on many occasions performing drywood termite spot treatments when fumigation was not an option. The ability to “see” activity in the walls, treat areas of activity and confirm that activity is gone — all without tearing open the structure — can be invaluable.

Often, the most difficult part of our job can be convincing our customers that we can’t “spray away” a problem. Diagnostic tools can help us to show customers evidence that what we are saying is true. This data, paired with good information on the pest from a respectable source like a university or trade publication, can help convince a customer to spend the time and money needed to make habitat modifications and solve a difficult pest problem.

The author is a board certified entomologist (B.C.E.) and preventive controls qualified individual (PCQI) for ABC Home and Commercial Services, Austin, Texas, and a member of the Urban Pest Management Technical Committee (www.upmtc.com).