There was a special episode on HOUSE where someone had a mysterious disease, and it was due to heavy infestation of termites in their home. This was due to naphthalene poisoning. If you need help with your termites, call us 714.779.5588 or visit http://www.DynamicTermite.com
So here is some information about naphthalene:Trace amounts of naphthalene are produced by magnolias and specific types of deer, as well as the Formosan subterranean termite, possibly produced by the termite as a repellant against "ants, poisonous fungi and nematode worms." Naphthalene has been found in meteorites that continue to fall to the surface of the Earth. It has also been discovered in the interstellar medium in the direction of the star Cernis 52 in the constellation Perseus.
The Formosan subterranean termite is often nicknamed the
super-termite because of its destructive habits. This is because of the large size of its
colonies, and the termites' ability to consume
wood at a rapid rate. A single colony may contain several million (compared with several hundred thousand termites for other subterranean termite species) that forage up to 300 feet (100 m) in soil. A mature
[1] Formosan colony can consume as much as 13 ounces of wood a day and severely damage a structure in as little as three months. Because of its population size and
foraging range, the presence of colonies poses serious threats to nearby structures. Once established, Formosan subterranean termite has never been eradicated from an area.
Formosan subterranean termites infest a wide variety of structures (including
boats and high-rise
condominiums) and can damage trees. In the United States it is responsible for tremendous property damage resulting in large treatment and repair costs.
The Formosan subterranean termite acquired its name because it was first described in Taiwan in the early 1900s, but
C. formosanus is probably
endemic to southern China. This destructive species was apparently transported to
Japan prior to the 1600s and to
Hawaii in the late 1800s (Su and Tamashiro 1987). By the 1950s, it was reported in
South Africa and
Sri Lanka. During the 1960s it was found in
Texas,
Louisiana, and
South Carolina. In 1980, a well-established colony was thriving in a condominium in
Hallandale Beach, Florida. The
Formosan termite is rarely found north of 35° north latitude. They have been reported from eleven states including:
Alabama,
California,
Florida,
Georgia,
Hawaii,
Louisiana,
Mississippi,
North Carolina,
South Carolina,
Tennessee, and
Texas. Their distribution will probably continue to be restricted to southern areas because their eggs will not hatch. Source:Wikipedia