TermitesPrevention • Detection • Control

Barbara L. Thorne Associate Professor

Department of Entomology

Nancy L. BreischSenior Research Associate

Department of Entomology

Contents

Termite Colonies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Identifying Termites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Winged or “Swarmer” Termites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Winged Ants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Termite Prevention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

What You Can Do to Help Protect Your House . . . . . . . . 9Moisture Reduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Vegetation Around the House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Landscape Mulches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Building with Pressure-Treated Wood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

High-Risk Zones for Termite Infestation. . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Wood in Contact with Soil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Areas with Leaks and Drainage Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Slab, Foundation, Mortar, or Settlement Cracks . . . . . . . . . 13Heated Slabs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Termite Detection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Termite Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Soil Drench Termiticide Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Treating Homes with Different Types of Foundations . . . . . 17Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Termite Baits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Other Treatment Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Borates as Wood Preservatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Fumigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Common Questions About Termites and Termite Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

cause more than $1 billionin damage annually in the United States.Subterranean termites travel underground insoil and can eat wood, roots, or processedcellulose materials, such as paper and card-board. They may tunnel through foaminsulation or chew through some thin plas-tics. We often build portions of our homesout of “termite food”; however, when woodused in home construction is maintainedproperly, it can last for generations.

Although termites are obnoxious pestswhen they infest structures, they are crucialto the dynamics of ecosystems. As decom-posers of wood and other vegetativematerials, termites play an essential role inrecycling elemental nutrients and increasingorganic matter in soils. Their undergroundtunneling helps to aerate, drain, and mixsoil. Seasonal swarms of winged termites arean important food source for predators,including birds, bats, lizards, frogs, and ants.Although termites must remain and thrive innatural ecosystems, we want them out ofhuman structures. By understanding thebiology and habits of these insects, we canmore effectively prevent, detect, and controltermite infestations in buildings.

Termite ColoniesTermites native to Maryland are subter-

ranean (genus Reticulitermes): they normallytravel underground through tunnels in thesoil that connect their food sources. Theyare social insects, living in colonies of up to

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Termites

several million individuals. The structure ofa mature colony is complex, with one ormore central headquarters, which arenormally found with a food source, such asa buried stump or log on the forest floor.These colony centers are connected to avariety of other food sources by a networkof underground tunnels. A single colonymay use food sources that are more than200 feet apart.

Members of termite colonies develop intocastes, groups associated with the division oflabor within the society. Workers are themost numerous caste in the colony. They aretypically up to 1⁄4 inch (2 to 6 mm) long,cream-colored, and eyeless (Figure 1). Termiteworkers navigate and perform all of theirduties using only tactile (touch) and chemi-

cal forms of communication. Termiteworkers eat wood, and they can move

into a piece of timber in largenumbers. Some workers carry foodback to immatures and reproduc-

tives, maintaining a network offood transfer and communica-

tion among members of the colony.Soldier termites make up 2 to 5 per-cent of the population. They

accompany workers to foodsources and defend the colonyagainst ants and competitor ter-mites. Termite colonies have a

limited number of reproductives,which cluster in chambers in woodor underground. Reproductivesconcentrate their efforts on egg

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Figure 1. Worker termite.

production, and they are fed and tended byan entourage of workers.

Periodically, mature termite coloniesproduce a brood of winged reproductiveoffspring called swarmers or alates. Thesewinged termites fly in large numbers to dis-perse and initiate new colonies. Flights oftermite alates (or piles of shed wings) areoften the first sign to the homeowner of aninfestation. Most alates die of dehydration ifthey fly indoors. However, a flight of alatesindicates a healthy termite colony nearby,and the source should be investigated.

Identifying TermitesAnts are another common insect found in

and around homes. At first glance, ants canbe mistaken for reproductive termites. Antslook like termites in the winged or alateforms because, like termites, they have darkbodies and move quickly. Termites and antsare distinguished by the following character-istics (Figure 2a and 2b):

Winged or “Swarmer” Termites A. Straight antennae (look like a string of

beads under strong magnification)B. No constriction between thorax and

abdomen (no “waist”)C. Front and hind wings are similar in shape

and length (wings of Maryland species areabout 1⁄4 inch long)Some termites have yellow or brownish

bodies and amber-colored wings. These maybe drywood termites, not native to Maryland

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but occasionally imported inwood or wood products.

Winged AntsA. Elbowed antennaeB. Obvious constriction between

thorax and abdomen (a dis-tinct “waist”)

C. Front wings are longer thanhind wingsBoth winged termites and

ants drop their wings in prepara-tion for pairing and mating. Thebody shapes of the two types ofinsects are distinctive, but if youhave any doubts, collect a few asa sample to show to a specialist.Dead, dry samples can be keptin any container where theywon’t be crushed. Fresh, liveinsects can be preserved in aclosed container with enoughrubbing alcohol to cover them.

Termite Prevention Make a practice of routinely

inspecting your home, founda-tion, and landscaping toidentify and correct situationsthat may be attractive to ter-

mites before they becomeproblems. The most importantpreventive measures you cantake to make your home inhos-pitable to termites are

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Figure 2a. Wingedreproductive termite.

Figure 2b. Winged ant.

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B

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eliminating any direct contact between woodand soil and reducing moisture in andaround the house.

Basic aspects of home maintenance andlandscaping can have a substantial impacton termite prevention, as the following para-graphs describe.

What You Can Do to HelpProtect Your House

Moisture Reduction Termites need a moisture supply. They

usually enter homes through the surround-ing soil, often bringing moisture from thesoil into the wood inside a house. For thisreason, minimize soil moisture under andnext to structures. Buildings at the base of asloping grade or in poor drainage areas aremost vulnerable. Follow these guidelines forreducing soil moisture in and around homes:• Slope soil grade, exterior paving, and

slab patios to drain water away from thebuilding.

• Keep the roof gutter system in good condi-tion, avoiding blocked drains, leaky elbowjoints, and drain catches that cause waterto accumulate near the house.

• Make sure doors, windows, roof joists, andchimneys have proper flashing.

• Adequately ventilate crawl spaces and attics.• Keep the roof and plumbing free of leaks.• Make sure condensation from air condi-

tioners or humidifiers drips into areceptacle that does not moisten wood,wall board, plaster, or insulation.

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Vegetation Around the HousePlants near homes contribute to moisture

and other problems associated with termites.Vegetation may impede the evaporation ofmoisture from walls and soil next to thestructure; shrubbery may obstruct the airflowaround basement or crawl space vents.Regular watering of plants may increasemoisture levels around and under the home.Finally, roots may create cracks in a founda-tion wall, allowing moisture or termitesto enter.

Plant all shrubs with trunks at least 3 feetfrom the house and keep them clipped toallow 18 inches of clear space between vege-tation and the side of the house. Thisclearance will allow adequate light and air-flow around the building and will facilitateinspection access around the exterior.

The expected mature size of a tree shoulddetermine its planting distance from thefoundation. If the maximum height will onlybe 15 to 20 feet, planting a minimum of 20feet away should be sufficient. Planting tooclose to a structure increases problems withbranches damaging the roof and siding andwith roots compromising the foundation.Tree roots can easily extend beyond thecrown at a length several times the height ofthe tree.

Landscape Mulches Bark, gravel, and other landscape mulches

create a warm and moist zone hospitable totermites. We recommend bare earth withinseveral feet of the perimeter of a home tominimize termite activity and therefore the

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risk of infestation. If you desire mulch rightup to the house for aesthetic reasons, applyas thin a layer as possible.

Building with Pressure-Treated Wood The use of copper-chromium-arsenic

(CCA) pressure-treated pine poses a dilemmathat must be resolved by individual home-owners. The CCA pressure treatment isdesigned to protect wood against insectattack and fungal decay. High quality CCAwood is effective at deterring attack bywood-destroying organisms for many years,or even decades, but homeownersshould be aware of the following:(1) if pressure-treated wood isburned, some of the toxic arsenicis released in the smoke and someremains in the ashes; (2) sawing ordrilling CCA-treated wood duringconstruction creates sawdust thatis dangerous to inhale; and (3)some reports cite health risks asso-ciated with prolonged human skincontact with pressure-treatedwoods (for example, walking with bare feeton a deck).

A reasonable compromise may be prudentuse of pressure-treated wood only in portionsof a home that are most vulnerable to ter-mite attack.

Do not allow footings constructed frompressure-treated wood to be in direct contactwith soil. Set deck pilings, stair framing, andother structural elements on concrete sup-ports above soil grade even when usingpressure-treated wood.

The expectedmature size of atree shoulddetermine itsplanting distancefrom thefoundation.

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High-Risk Zones for TermiteInfestations

Wood in Contact with SoilAny wood in direct contact with soil can

allow termites easy access into a home.Common examples include the following:• deck posts or other structural elements

set in concrete, but with the base of thepost penetrating through the concreteinto the soil

• wooden stair framing positioned directlyon the soil

• earth fill under a stoop or porch in contactwith the wooden sill or framing of thehouse (Figure 3)

• form boards left in place aroundpoured concrete

Figure 3. Earth under a concrete stoop allows termites tofind a path to wood.

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• a high soil grade or planters built up againsta foundation, allowing termite access undersiding, veneer, or into cracked mortar

• wood scraps or firewood stored adjacent toor under a house. (Stack firewood at least25 feet from the structure and at least 12inches off the ground to keep the wood dryand to avoid creating rat habitat.)

• a wooden trellis attached to the house • foam insulation or stucco extending into

the soil (i.e., below grade)

Areas with Leaks and Drainage Problems High-risk areas for residential moisture

problems include roof seams and flashing,particularly around chimneys, gables, or sky-lights. In an underground basement, keepthe ports for entry of plumbing lines andelectric cables properly caulked. Grade thelandscape at an angle away from the houseto direct water drainage from around thefoundation. Periodic cleaning of gutters anddownspouts and maintenance of householdplumbing are important for minimizingmoisture problems around a house.Occasional infestations on upper stories mayoccur when debris is allowed to accumulateon roofs or in gutters, keeping the surround-ing wood moist.

Slab, Foundation, Mortar, orSettlement Cracks

Brick pillars or fieldstone supports in con-tact with soil in a crawl space or basement(such as under a chimney) are also areas ofhigh risk. Over time, mortar cracks in thesesupports can provide access for termites.

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Heated SlabsHomes constructed on slabs with internal

heating elements are particularly vulnerableto termite infestation; the warmth of thefoundation during the winter can facilitateyear-round termite activity, in addition toraising the possibility of access cracksappearing in the slab. Treatment programsfor these homes must be particularly wellplanned to avoid damaging the embeddedheating system.

Termite DetectionEven very active termite infestations can

be difficult to detect because of the cryptic(hidden) habits of these insects. Sub-terranean termites tunnel inside wood,leaving an outer shell that may appearentirely normal from the exterior.

If you notice any of the following in yourhouse, call a pest control operator for a pro-fessional inspection:• dirt tunnels, or shelter tubes, typically

about 1⁄4 inch wide but sometimes wider, onthe foundation, along exposed wood, ordangling down from the ceiling; these aretransit tubes built by termites (Figure 4)

• soil packed in cracks and crevices• piles of silvery, membranous insect wings,

all about 1⁄4 inch long, on floors, windowsills, or in spider webs

• evidence of structural weakness, such assettling cracks or sagging floors

• dark or blistered areas on wood paneling;blistered or peeling paint on wood (becauseof moisture under the paint)

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If you do have an active termite infesta-tion, do not panic: to cause structuraldamage, termites must work in a home forquite a while. You can take weeks or even afew months to evaluate the problem anddecide on a treatment program. A key ele-ment for the inspector is to determine wherethe termites are gaining access into thehouse. This knowledge can help in planninga treatment program and in making struc-tural or landscape modifications that willprevent a reinfestation.

Termite ControlTreating for termites is definitely a job for

a licensed professional. It involves specializedtraining and equipment. However, home-owners should be informed of all aspects ofthe treatment program for their residences,

Figure 4. Termite tubes on the foundation of a structure.

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including monitoring and follow-up inspec-tions in subsequent years. A summary of themost common treatment approaches follows.

Soil Drench Termiticide Applications In a conventional treatment for control of

subterranean termites, liquid termiticide (aliquid pesticide that kills termites) is injectedaround the entire perimeter of a structure, aswell as underneath the building if it has aconcrete slab or a basement. The injectionrods used in these applications are insertedevery 6 to 8 inches around the house, releas-ing a stream of insecticide to diffuse into thesurrounding soil. Holes are also drilledthrough stoops, slab patios, and drivewaysabutting the house. Typically, applicators willalso dig a small trench around the perimeterof the house, and fill this with termiticide tosoak into the upper layers of the soil.

Soil termiticide applications are designedto create a chemical barrier in the soil aroundthe exterior foundation walls and under thecement slab (or basement floor) of homeswithout crawl spaces. For a termiticide barrierto be effective, it must be complete. Most fail-ures result from termites breaching gaps oruntreated areas. Think of the termite treat-ment as a fence: if you dig or disturb the soilwithin 2 feet of your home in the years fol-lowing a soil termiticide treatment, you riskdisrupting the chemical barrier along yourfoundation—in other words, breaking thefence. Disturbed areas should be spot treatedwith termiticide to reestablish the barrier(repair the fence).

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Treating Homes with Different Types ofFoundations

Residential construction in the UnitedStates is typically of three types: homesbuilt on concrete slabs with nocrawl space or basement, homeswith basement walls serving as thefoundation, and homes built onfoundations with crawl spaces.With all three types, the goal of aliquid termiticide application is toform a chemical barrier in the soilsurrounding all structural elementsof the house that could allow access to termites.

Buildings with slab-on-ground founda-tions. Homes built on slabs are vulnerable totermite infestation. In this type of construc-tion, termites can enter through cracks in theslab, expansion joints, orspaces around plumbingand utility pipes. One wayto treat soil underneath theslab is to pull up rugs, drillholes, and inject termiticidethrough the concrete slab(Figure 5). Another wayis to drill throughthe exterior foun-dation walls to apoint just belowthe slab and injecttermiticide to forma continuous barri-er around the entireinterior foundation. Figure 5. Pesticide treatment for slab-

on-ground construction.

Think of the termitetreatment as afence.

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Care must be taken to avoid drilling intoplumbing or electrical or duct work withinthe slab.

Buildings with basement foundations.For homes with basements, treatmentinvolves applying termiticides with deep rodsto create a chemical barrier all along thefoundation wall down to the footing (Figure6). In addition, holes may be drilled in thebasement floor for pesticide injection intothe soil below, as with slab-on-groundfoundations.

Buildings with crawl spaces.Termiticide treatment is most straight-forward in homes with crawl spaces.A standard perimeter treatment is

done around theexterior by applyingtermiticide down tothe footings (Figure7). Within the crawlspace, the interiorwall of the founda-tion is treated. It isalso critical to treatthe soil around andunder all piers andsupports that couldoffer bridges for ter-mite access from thesoil to the house.

Foam termiti-cide applications.Some pest controlcompanies offerfoam termiticide

Figure 6. Pesticide treatment for houseswith a basement.

applications under slabs. Foam formulationscontain the same termiticides used as liquidsin perimeter treatments, but when injectedunder a slab the foam distributes broadly anddissolves relatively slowly. This methodresults in more even distribution of termiti-cide in the soil and allows a residual layer ofchemical on the underside of the slab tocome into contact with any termite tubing.

Precautions • Termiticide treatments near wells, streams,

or ponds require special precautions. Discussthese with a pest control professional.

• Prohibit children from playing in soil neara foundation to avoid chemical contact.

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Figure 7. Pesticide treatment for crawl-space construction.

(This is a prudent rule for any homebecause it may have been treated at somepoint in the past and there may be residualpesticide in the soil.)

Termite BaitsYour pest management professional may

suggest the use of termite baits, either aloneor in combination with a complete or local-ized liquid termiticide treatment. Termitebaiting is based on a totally different conceptthan a traditional soil drench treatment.Instead of applying a chemical barrierdesigned to exclude the voracious pests froma structure, the technician actually offers ter-mites food sources, called baits. Treatmentbaits have two components: a matrix con-taining cellulose (the main constituent ofwood and the staple of a termite’s diet) and aslow-acting termiticide. Termites feeding onthe bait are not killed immediately; theyremain alive long enough to recruit nest-mates to the bait and to pass the pesticide toother colony members through food transferbehaviors that are characteristic of socialinsect colonies. Like a long-term intravenousport delivering drugs to a patient, baits act asan artery for delivery of pesticides into theheart of a termite colony, ultimately leadingto the decline or perhaps elimination of thecolony. Thus, the goal of termite baiting issuppression of the pest population, not justexclusion, which is the primary objective ofbarrier treatments. If successful, a termitebaiting program may therefore reduce therisk of a reinfestation by the same colony of

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termites in subsequent years, although moni-toring is recommended, to stay alert toactivity of a new or recovered colony of ter-mites entering the area.

Discovery of bait by termites is obviouslycritical to baiting success, so baits are placedwhere termites are likely to intercept them.Most commercially available bait systemsinvolve in-ground and aboveground stationoptions. In-ground stations are designed tointerest termites as they explore the soil fornew resources; when theyencounter the bait, they establishthe site as a food source for thecolony. In the jargon of the baittrade, a “hit” at a station is evi-dence that termites have attackedthe bait matrix. Aboveground baitstations are easier to place directlyin the path of active termitesbecause they are installed in areasof known termite activity.

Termite baits are designed toprecisely target subterranean termites; thebaits are of little interest to other organisms.Baits are considered environmentally friendlybecause they do not affect other animals,and they use small amounts of pesticide con-tained within a small station.

For further information about termitebaits, see Maryland Cooperative ExtensionFact Sheet 772, “Homeowners’ Guide toTermite Baits.”

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Most commerciallyavailable baitsystems involve in-ground andabovegroundstation options.

Other Treatment Techniques

Borates as Wood PreservativesBorates have been used as wood preserva-

tives for decades. They pose no significantrisks to humans. Over the past decade,borate formulations with residual insecticidalqualities have been developed that can con-

trol or inhibit local infestations ofall wood-destroying organisms(including termites, carpenter ants,beetles, and fungi). Borate applica-tions are not designed to control awidespread subterranean termiteinfestation, but they are effective

in some situations for protecting wood.The standard borate formulations can be

brushed or sprayed onto wood by a licensedpest control operator. Borates are persistent,nonvolatile compounds. They leach out ofwood only when water flows over treatedareas for extended periods of time. Sealersare recommended after applying borates onexterior wood. Multiple applications ofborates on the same wood surfaces (withdrying in between) are recommended tobuild adequate concentrations on the out-side of the wood. Preferred locations forborate treatments are protected areas allow-ing access to large expanses of bare wood,such as attics, crawl spaces, or unfinishedbasements and garages.

Wood that has been pretreated withborates is available at some lumber yards.This is an option that can be considered fornew construction.

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Preferred locationsfor boratetreatments areprotected areas.

FumigationTarping an entire structure for fumiga-

tion is not done on the type of termitesnative to Maryland. Because subterraneantermites in a structure nearly always main-tain a linkage to colony mates in theground, fumigation treatment of a buildingwould not offer lasting protection as ter-mites in the soil could reinvade.

Common Questions AboutTermites and Termite Control

How long have the termites beenin my home?There is no way to determine preciselyhow long a home has been infestedwith termites. Many variables (such astermite colony size and species, typeand condition of wood, availability ofalternate food sources, and seasonaltemperatures) influence the extent ofan infestation and the rate of woodconsumption by the termites.Frequently, inspectors find noevidence of termites in a structure,only to have the homeowner discoverinsects and damage during aremodeling project 6 months later. Theinspector may have looked verycarefully, but most of the structuralelements of a home are inaccessibleand not visible. Subterranean termiteshave cryptic habits and may elude

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detection for a number of years. Onecan presume that substantial amountsof termite damage has occurred overyears rather than months, butreconstructing the exact time course ofan infestation is impossible.

I found evidence of termitedamage, but there were no liveinsects. Is the infestation active?Do I need to treat? It is common to see termite damage butno live termites. The termites may haveabandoned the site, the damage mayindicate an infestation that was treatedyears ago by a previous owner, or theremay still be live termites associated withthe galleries, but they are presentlyworking somewhere else in thestructure. If you discover wood that youdid not previously know was damaged,a professional inspection is warranted.

If you find no evidence of livetermites, a few clues will definitelysuggest an active infestation. Any signof moisture associated with thedamaged wood, either directly visibleor in the form of newly bubbled paintor stained wallpaper over that area,probably indicates a live infestation. Ifthere are mud tunnels or tubes, scrapethem away and vacuum up the debris.Check back in several weeks; rebuiltgalleries will obviously indicate anactive infestation.

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Should I leave my house duringthe termite treatment? Whatabout the chemical smell?Should I remove or seal all ofthe food in the house? With the current generation of soil-drench termiticides there is no reasonto leave your house during treatment.The chemical smell is not from theactive ingredient of the pesticide butrather the emulsifying or mixing agent.Many people prefer to leave thepremises because of the smell, but it isnot necessary. As long as thetermiticide is applied according to labelinstructions, the applications are notconsidered dangerous to occupants.There is no need to remove or seal foodduring treatment.

People should, however, avoid directskin contact with these pesticides,which is another reason to avoiddigging within 2 feet of yourfoundation in the years following aperimeter termiticide treatment.

What questions should I ask apest management professionalbefore commiting to atreatment? You need to fully understand the planand its renewal costs before authorizingor paying for a treatment. For alltreatment approaches, inquire about

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the warranty: what will the companydo if termites reappear in a year, or 2years, or 5 years? Also ask aboutspecifics of the application. In the caseof liquid termiticides, verify that thepesticide will be applied at themaximum label rate and that roddingof the pesticide will be every 6 to 8inches into the soil.

How should I select a pestcontrol company to treat fortermites? As in any decision to purchase goodsor services, references from friends andneighbors are a good place to start.Most companies provide free estimates,at which time they discuss a treatmentplan, cost, follow-up monitoring orinspection programs, and warrantiesassociated with the treatment. Nocompany will guarantee to eliminatethe termite problem forever, but mostliquid applications carry a guarantee tore-treat at no additional charge if theinsects reappear within a year.

Compare recommended treatmentprograms and estimates among severalcompanies. A number of termiticidesare registered for termite control; useof different compounds andformulations varies among companies.Companies should fully disclose toyou the type of chemical they will beusing in the treatment.

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Companies that are members of theMaryland Pest Control Association andthe National Pest ManagementAssociation have access to all currenttreatment practices. You can check acompany’s reputation by calling theBetter Business Bureau. Make certainthat the company has an activecertification license from the MarylandDepartment of Agriculture PesticideRegulation Section.

If you have had a termite problem, it isadvisable to purchase an annualcontract that includes a yearlyinspection and re-treatment ifnecessary. For bait programs, it isessential to maintain the program.Termite control is difficult. The bestcompany can do a careful andresponsible job and still not completelysolve the problem. For that reason or incase the termites return, signing up foran annual inspection is recommended.

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Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with theU.S. Department of Agriculture, University of Maryland, College Park, and local governments. Thomas A. Fretz,Director of Maryland Cooperative Extension, University of Maryland.

The University of Maryland is equal opportunity. The University’s policies, programs, and activities are in confor-mance with pertinent Federal and State laws and regulations on nondiscrimination regarding race, color, religion,age, national origin, sex, and disability. Inquiries regarding compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,as amended; Title IX of the Educational Amendments; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and theAmericans With Disabilities Act of 1990; or related legal requirements should be directed to the Director ofPersonnel/Human Relations, Office of the Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Symons Hall,College Park, MD 20742.

The Maryland Cooperative Extension’s programs are open to all citizens without regard to race, color, sex, dis-ability, religion, age, or national origin.