Termites, Powderpost Beetles Eradicated from Historic Angel Island State Park

SAN FRANCISCO — Angel Island, the largest island in San Francisco Bay, is rich in local history. Following many years of Spanish control, Angel Island served as both a military base and, beginning in the mid-1800s, was the site of two government facilities — Quarantine and Immigration Stations — for nearly 100 years.

Recently, unwelcome visitors took up residence on Angel Island — subterranean termites and powderpost beetles. As part of a restoration effort to preserve the Immigration Station at Angel Island State Park for future generations, park personnel decided it was necessary to completely eliminate these serious pests from the structure.

Park personnel worked with HomeTeam Pest Defense to determine treatments to eliminate each of the wood-destroying pests. The decision was made to install the Sentricon® Termite Colony Elimination System to eliminate the subterranean termites.

“We chose to use the Sentricon System because eliminating the colonies will preserve the structure from further termite damage,” said Sean McCauley, regional vice president of HomeTeam Pest Defense. “Installing the Sentricon System was also the least intrusive way to eliminate the termites.”

To eradicate the powderpost beetles, HomeTeam subcontracted Best Care Fumigation to conduct whole-structure fumigation with Vikane® gas fumigant. Most commonly used to fumigate drywood termites, a fumigation with Vikane also eliminates other wood-destroying pests, including powderpost beetles.

As a public service, HomeTeam Pest Defense and Best Care Fumigation agreed to donate portions of their services, and Dow AgroSciences, the manufacturer of Vikane gas fumigant and the Sentricon System, donated a portion of the Vikane that was used.

“We were happy to contribute our services to the fumigation at Angel Island,” said Dan Fuentes, president of Best Care Fumigation. “It is important to preserve historical and cultural sites so that future generations can enjoy them.”

Pamela Broyles, Dow AgroSciences, helped with the fumigation and Sentricon system installation. Pest elimination work at the historic site was reported by a San Francisco television station and several area newspapers.

For more information about Angel Island State Park visit www.angelisland.org. For more infor mation on the Sentricon System or fumigation with Vikane, visit www.dowagro.com. 

Worldwide pest control industry leaders gathered in London. Left to right: Rob Fryatt (CEPA Director General), Rob Lederer, (NPMA Executive Vice President), Robert Stuyt (CEPA President), Mike Rottler (NPMA), Dr Motokazu Hirao (FAOPMA) and Peter May (AEPMA).