The following article appeared in the May 19 edition of the Guelph Mercury:
Tim Myles is satisfied that he and his team are on the right track as they attempt to get Guelph’s termite problems under control — even though it’s taking longer than he’d like, and those pesky termites seem to know how to jump neighbourhoods.
Myles, termite control officer for the city, will present a report to the Community Development and Environmental Services Committee today outlining his strategy for eradicating termites, mapping the shifting termite population, and his success since being hired by the city in 2007.
“There’s not as much success as I would like, but Guelph has made progress,” Myles said last week.
“It’s one of those things that is just going to take time.”
There are three termite zones in Guelph that encompass nearly 900 properties on 50 city blocks. The largest and original site flanks Woolwich Street just north of downtown.
The red zone is bordered by the Speed River, Eramosa Road, Exhibition Street and Emma Street.
A smaller infestation was discovered in 2000 in the neighbourhood south-west of Victoria and Woodlawn Road East.
A third area was discovered in 2007 near Emma and Pine streets, near Guelph General Hospital.
It’s very likely that termites were ‘imported’ into the new zones in a load of firewood, a borrowed swing set, a plant exchange or a similar innocent act, Myles said.
“That could happen anywhere in the city. People living in the red zone need to be extremely mindful,” he said.
Myles used nematodes and a pathogenic fungus as a biocontrol agent last year and initiated yard cleanup weekends to help dispose of wood and other habitat for termites. He plan the same tactic this year.
But educating people who live in the termite zone and surrounding buffer zone is paramount.
“You think you’ve caught everyone, that the information is very clear, but then you find people who are oblivious that they are in the zone,” Myles said.
“Overall, there’s been a fantastic level of participation and voluntary compliance. Termites can destroy a house. This is really important.”
Ward 2 Councillor Vicki Beard, who has the majority of the termite zones in her riding, said she hasn’t heard complaints from constituents about the termite control program.
“If anything, people dealing with termites are grateful the city is trying to do something about it,” Beard said. “I think they have faith in Tim. And I think Tim has shown that the more ways you come at a problem, the better the result.”
Ward 3 Coun. June Hofland owns a business in the termite zone, so she’s familiar with the steps Myles’ department has taken.
“We are so lucky in Guelph to have Tim on staff. I call him the Termite-inator,” Hofland joked. “What I like about the program is that it’s getting the attention it needs.”