• Termites in the downstairs wall on the northwest corner of the 92-year-old Columbus County Courthouse have caused concern to Clerk of Superior Court Sheila Pridgen and her many employees.

By BOB HIGH
Staff Writer

Two years ago they were “flying ants.” Now, the county’s maintenance staff and a contract pesticide company have finally agreed with Clerk of Superior Court Sheila Pridgen and several of her staff.

The bugs taking wing in a downstairs office on the northwest side of the 92-year-old Columbus County Courthouse are termites, not flying ants.

There have been several treatments to eradicate the termites, and nothing seemed to work until last week when Bill Baker of Baker’s Bug Business drilled and treated the infestation.

“Two years ago a county maintenance worker and an exterminator told us the bugs were flying ants, and they said they treated the building and outside for fire ants,” Pridgen said with an edge of exasperation in her voice.

“Last year they told us they were termites. They treated, but they’re still here. This year, Mr. Baker told me he treated incidents and not the problem.

“But, now that I’ve been told he drilled into the wall and treated again, I hope they’ll stop coming out in our office,” the court clerk added.

Swarmed yearly

Pridgen said she and her workers knew many months ago the insects were termites and swarmed every spring, just like all the information they read on the insects said they would do.

“Our workers were told on (Monday) Feb. 19 that a treatment after work would be with chemicals and they would smell a strong odor the next day. There was no unusual smell in the office on Tuesday,” Pridgen pointed out.

One employee, who has a desk and work area within a foot of a downstairs window on the north side of the courthouse, is particularly bothered with the termites.

She is the person who sprayed a swarm last week with soapy water supplied by the pesticide company, and killed a large number of the termites.

“I watched them several days last week and I could see them stick their heads out of small pencil-sized holes in the window sill, looking – I guess – to see if it was safe to fly,” the employee said.

Commissioners wanted

Pridgen said she had invited the county commissioners to visit the courthouse and see where the building needs repair, plus see about the termite problem.

“I’ve asked and asked, but I haven’t seen them over here. They can come anytime they want to, in a group or by themselves,” she said.

Leroy Sellers, director of the county’s maintenance department, said he felt the recent treatment by Baker Bug Business would take care of the problem.

“This is the first time I’ve seen termites like that. I think they’re in the rotten wood of the windows on that corner of the courthouse, and we’re getting ready to replace them,” Sellers said.

Bill Baker, pesticide specialist and owner of Baker’s Bug Business, said he treated the second and first floor sections of the northwest courthouse wall Saturday.

“I saw a few while we were drilling holes. They appeared to be nesting in the wall. I saw a beam at the second-floor level had received some moisture, and I drilled into the beam and applied chemical,” Baker noted.

Temporary solution

He said he has been treating the courthouse for “general pests” for the past 10 years, but only began treating for termites last summer. “There was a swarm (of termites) last year,” he added.

“Until they take apart the wall area between the first and second floor, I can’t do any more than just drill into wood and spray chemicals. I feel what I’ve done now will take care of the immediate problem,” Baker said.

Dr. Ed Vargo, insect specialist with N.C. State University in Raleigh, said liquid treatment with Termidor or Premise are the best products to use to spray for termites.

“It’s common for termites to swarm within two to three weeks after they are treated, and they’re almost certainly coming from the soil near the wall where they’ve been found,” Vargo said.

“It would be very unusual for them to be nesting in the wall,” he added.

Ned Dillon of the N.C. Structural Pest Control Section said “baiting” of termites is effective, but a strict monitoring program needs to be in place. And, because so much time is needed for correct monitoring, it doesn’t work in many cases.

“Bait gets moldy and fresh bait is always needed for termites to take back to their nest,” Dillon said.