By A Treasure Coast essay by Paul Janensch
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wqcs/local-wqcs-895786.mp3
Fort Pierce, FL – PJ: The subject today is - ugh - termites. It's that time of year when termites come out from where they have been hiding and go into their swarming phase. They are looking for a new nesting place. Maybe inside your walls. So watch for swarms of bugs flying around your windows or doors anytime after sunrise. They are probably either winged ants or termites. Both are about a quarter-inch long. But ants - which you need not worry about -- have a pinched waistline. If you don't want to examine the bug that carefully, take it to your county Extension Service or call a pest-control company. WE love the warm climate of the Treasure Coast, and so do termites. That's why they are a major problem. They feast on wood and wood products, such as paper and cardboard. The people next door to our Vero Beach condo found termites in their place last year. The invaders were eradicated. Or so our friends hope. And so do we. The U.S. Department of Energy considers termites a possible source of clean, renewable energy. They can produce hydrogen while feasting on paper. Could termites someday heat our homes and power our automobiles? Could be. But in the meantime, if you see them swarming in your home, hire a licensed professional to kill the little critters. This is Paul Janensch for 88.9 FM.
Treasure Coast essayist Paul Janensch was a newspaper editor and taught journalism at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut.