Under Attack

Jackie and Stuart Mendelson had to tear apart their living room walls to rid the house of termites, which she discovered swarming on a window. (By Kevin Clark -- The Washington Post)
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Over the years, government agencies have banned some harsher insecticides. Some environmentalists and entomologists have concerns about the toxicity of certain products that are still used.

Still, professional exterminators rely on some of those chemicals, along with a growing repertoire of products based on natural materials such as rosemary, garlic and mint oil.

"Our responsibility is to take the least toxic products that are available," said Cindy Mannes, a spokeswoman for the National Pest Management Association.

Bob Young, division manager for Terminix, a national pest control company, said there seems to be a growing demand for green products. But he said some have proven less effective than traditional formulations, and the industry is looking to improve them.

Patrick Copps, technical manager for Orkin, another national company, added that some of the green products may need "more targeted applications and potentially more frequent applications" because they may not last as long.

Whatever the choice, experts agree: It's best to prevent home invasions.

Termites love wood and moisture. To fend them off, experts recommend scheduling regular inspections and keeping the home's foundation dry. Shrubs and mulch, insect havens, should not touch the house.

"The easier you make it for them, the better they'll like it, and the easier it is to move into the house," said Lyn Garling, program manager for Pennsylvania State University's integrated pest management program.

Ants and cockroaches also love moisture and food. They tend to slip through cracks in the house, looking for goodies.

One way to find cracks and holes is to have an energy audit, said Eric Day, an entomologist and manager of the insect identification lab at Virginia Tech. "You're getting two for one," he said.

Plug the holes with caulk or other materials. And get rid of tempting food. Keep the kitchen crumb-free. Seal edibles in plastic containers.

Of all the common pests, termites are the most costly, causing an estimated $2.5 billion annually in damage and repairs.