NEW ORLEANS — Rumors that Formosan subterranean termites are being spread around the country through cheap, termite-infested mulch are untrue, experts are saying as they try to stop the spread of false information.

The rumors come from an e-mail that has been circulating around inboxes across the country, which states, “If you use mulch around your house be very careful about buying mulch this year. After the Hurricane in New Orleans many trees were blown over. These trees were then turned into mulch and the state is trying to get rid of tons and tons of this mulch to any state or company who will come and haul it away. So it will be showing up in Home Depot and Lowes at dirt cheap prices with one huge problem; Formosan Termites will be the bonus in many of those bags.”

In response to the e-mail, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry released a statement, explaining that it issued quarantines following the hurricanes for woody debris. Woody debris cannot be moved out of these areas without first submitting a plan for treatment to the department.

“I’ve had my people out looking into these claims to make sure there are no violations of the quarantine. I’ve also had our invasive pest expert contact the stores mentioned in the e-mail and we’ve yet to find any validity to the claims in the e-mail,” Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Bob Odom said.

“In my opinion, someone is using the Internet to cause hysteria about a problem that doesn’t really exist. If there are people out there who know about someone violating the quarantines, then they need to report it to us,” he added.

Gary Bennett, chairman of the entomology department at Purdue University agreed. “I do not feel this is a valid concern,” he said. “The process of turning wood into mulch would kill the termites. If a termite or two did happen to survive the process, they would die quickly because of the lack of the social system (workers, soldiers, reproductives, etc. present in the colony system that they maintain) so vital to termite survival.”

Susan Jones, an Ohio State University Extension urban entomologist, said that though the rumors are untrue, this is a good reminder to homeowners to be aware of the potential spread of termites (native and exotic species) in landscaping timbers and mulch, particularly if these items have had previous contact with the soil. Subterranean termites nest in the soil, which provides an environment that satisfies termites’ high moisture requirements.

"Mulch is a good food source for termites. Any species of termite, not just the Formosan subterranean termite, will feed on hardwood and softwood mulch," said Jones. "It's always a good idea to check mulch for termites when it is purchased."

Also in response to the rumors, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) released some helpful hints in preventing termites from invading your home.

According to the NPMA, the best defense for homeowners is to keep all mulch away from their home’s foundation. Other NPMA tips to avoid attracting termites include:

• As most termites are drawn to moisture, avoid water accumulation near your home’s foundation.  Divert water away with properly functioning downspouts, gutters and splash blocks.
• Quickly repair house damage from a leaky roof or window as termites can thrive in this moisture.
• Never bury wood scraps or waste lumber in the yard, especially near the home. Remove old tree stumps and roots around and beneath the home.
• Most importantly, eliminate any wood contact with the soil.  Maintaining at least a 1-inch gap between the soil and wood portions of the home is ideal.

Homeowners that are worried about termites or believe they have seen signs of termite infestations in and around their home should contact a pest management professional. Infestation warning signs include:

• Swarming of winged forms in the fall and spring,
• Evidence of mud tunneling in, over and under wood structures,
• Wooden structures exhibiting darkening or blistering,
• Damaged wood becoming extremely thin and easy to puncture with a knife or a screwdriver.