City battle with termites set to heat up
Print Edition
THE annual battle between residents and invading termites is going to be fiercer than usual this year, exterminators warned yesterday.
The recent warm, humid weather is the perfect catalyst for proliferation, and the annoying pests have been spotted in huge numbers in old wooden buildings across the city, they said. Even some cement buildings are being targeted by the pests.
The Shanghai Xufang Greenery Co in Xuhui District received the first call for help on April 3, and the problem has become steadily worse.
The company is receiving more than 100 calls for help per day, a 20 percent increase over the same period last year.
“It is the busiest time for exterminators. When we hang up a phone call, another person rings,” said a Xufang worker surnamed Zhao.
Exterminators have no time to take a lunch break and have to work overtime to meet the growing demand, she said, adding that those who call for help usually have to wait two to three days.
"The warm weather conditions and increased rainfall recently are to blame,” Zhao said, adding that termites fly into wooden homes from nearby trees and establish colonies.
Yongjia Road, Anfu Road and Huaihai Rd M., which are home to large numbers of old wooden structures, are the worst-hit neighborhoods, she said.
Ginkgo, dawn redwood and plane trees are the bug’s favorite outdoor targets.
“At some homes, more than 10,000 termites have been reported, and residents get very scared,” said an exterminator surnamed Liu with the Nanfang Greenery and Termite Control Service Center in Huangpu District, which receives about 50 calls a day.
Termites are nocturnal creatures that are attracted to electric light, and will even invade concrete highrise office buildings, he said.
Residents of dormitory buildings at Tongji University have also reported the appearance of termites. Liang Jiangang, a resident on the 23rd floor of a residential building on Zhaojiabang Road, said he was surprised to see the invaders.
“It is the first time that I have seen termites in my home. They fly in from outside.” he said.
"My 4-year-old son was frightened.”
Residents with an infestation problem can dial 962121 for assistance.
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