 Every
year thousands of homes (old and New) are attacked by
wood borer beetle. Home purchasers need to know if these
pest are present before investing their money therefore
it is wise to have the property inspected by a
representative of a licensed pest control company who
can detect the presence of wood destroying pests and
provide a Beetle inspection report accordingly.
Who orders the
Inspection? A pest Control firm may be selected by
the seller or his agent’s financial institution, buyer
or transferring attorney depending on the situation or
established practice. A seller should be advised as to
which company is executing the inspection and in some
cases the seller may choose the provider of service. In
areas where woodborer beetle inspections are not a
requirement, it is advisable that the purchaser obtain a
report to establish if there are any potential problems.
Is the report for
beetles only? No – there are other wood destroying
insects, including some species of termites. Beetles
include Powder Post Beetle whose larvae feed in hard
woods such as oak. This beetle is commonly found in our
own Borer Belt that stretched from the Bluff, Glenwood
and predominately Berea areas and pops up all over the
older parts of Durban. Anobiid beetles found in softwood
like pine, Italian beetle often found in old houses and
another insect that is wide spread in Durban is the
Cryptotermes brevis, a drywood termite which is
thought to originate from the West Indies.
Are these insects
found throughout RSA? No – the distribution and
occurrence of these insects is regional. Dry wood
termites are localised to specific parts of South
Africa. Subterranean termites are endemic throughout
South Africa except for part of the Western Cape. Beetle
infestations are fairly commonly found along the coastal
areas, but do also occur inland. Inspections are
essential in the coastal areas, and are a good practice
inland. Beetles and drywood termites are often spread by
infested furniture being moved from one area to another.
What does the
inspection entail? A Qualified representative from a
licensed Pest Control Company will perform the
Inspection. All visible and accessible areas of the
structure are inspected and any evidence of infestation
reflected in a report. The clearance certificate does
not guarantee that there is no infestation because it
may be hidden in inaccessible areas.
What if evidence of
an infestation is found? The pest control company
will recommend measures and appropriate treatment to
control such pests. The costs pertaining thereto may
vary to the type, locality significance or severity of
infestation.
What happens if
damage created by these pests is observed? When
beetle causes structural or loss of structural strength
in timber, the timbers need to be replaced and/or
treated depending on the “superficial” or “extensive”
damage observed. Bearing in mind the Inspector is not a
structural Engineer and will only report visible
findings. Should such damage be reported, further expert
consultation should be encouraged and pursued.
How do I select a
Pest Control Company to inspect my property? The
pest control Inspection Industry is under siege with
fraudulent certificates of clearance. Companies
belonging to SAPCA (South African Pest Control
Association) which is the national industry association,
should be recommended and used. People should phone
SAPCA to confirm membership and to check if that company
has a registered, qualified Inspector.
Warranty? Only
qualified individuals will have access to the SAPCA
Certificate which is underwritten and protected by a
Fidelity Fund scheme for 90 days from the date of the
issuing of a clearance certificate. The fund undertakes
to ensure that any required treatment, should
infestation be detected after this issuing shall be
carried out without charge to the client.
SAPCA Contact
information:
National Secretary : Lynette Cokayne telephone: (012)
654 8038 or contact email : info @sapca.org.za
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