Print Article for : There's A Fine Line Between Love And Hate

Your Online Guide » Quality Home Improvement » Pest Control

[T844]Theres A Fine Line Between Love And Hate

by Ti. Craig Elliott, Ti.

The truth is, termites are bad news, not only because they're crawly pesky creatures, but also because they could ruin an beautiful home over many years if they are left to fester and multiply. If you know something about termite colonies and how they're formed, the number of colonies they establish inside and outside homes is mind-boggling!

The Universe of Termites

Before discussing the reasons why termites are good - especially when we refer to ecological considerations - let's take a peek into the universe of these creatures. Some facts are worth noting:

One, termites are social insects (sometimes too social). Their habitat is the so-called "colony" and each colony can contain thousands of them. These colonies are established under the soil and spread throughout soil; imagine a row of townhomes in several blocks of a booming neighborhood.

Two, termites have a hierarchical structure. Some are born to be leaders, some to be followers.

Termite experts and insect scientists say that each colony is characterized by three types of castes: workers, soldiers and reproductives. Each of these castes carries out specific tasks in their milieu.

Three, termite workers constitute the largest population. They're the ones that eat wood, roam around for food and water and build shelters. Termite soldiers in turn take care of defending colonies. Termite reproductives, as you may have already guessed, produce offspring and usually take over when something happens to the king or queen.

Positive Aspects of Termites

Many people will probably give you a puzzled look if you say that termites are beneficial because 99.9% of the population will say that they are destroyers of homes. They crawl their way into the warm spots of your home and will devour your wood.

When detected indoors, termites need to be eradicated and controlled through pest control programs because the damage they cause to structures can cost billions of dollars annually. However, when we look outside our homes and think of flora and fauna and the rest of nature, they bring about significant ecological value.

You're probably wondering, in what ways are they ecologically valuable?

Benefit # 1: because they eat wood and are quite skillful at it, this means they have the capability to break down wood. By breaking down wood, they return nutrients to the soil. Also, by eating wood, dead trees are not left to pile one on top of the other over the years.

Benefit # 2: termites contribute to plant health. By recycling wood and feeding the soil with nutrients, they make the soil more porous.

Benefit # 3: again, by the very nature of their wood-eating activity, termites produce nitrogen and distribute it to the ecosystem. Their value is especially evident in forest ecosystems. Scientists explain this by saying that termites are somehow related to bio-geo chemical cycling of nutrients. Bio-geo chemical cycles include carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfurus and other compounds. When termites forage for food, they also build tunnels that can be conduits for bacterial and fungal activity. Fungi are also known to have the capability of releasing nitrogen, iron, calcium, zinc and other elements.

Benefit # 4: as a corollary to benefit # 2, scientists Wood and Sands (1978) say that termites have the ability to influence their structural and chemical environment, and this influences vegetation in a significant manner because of their nitrogen-giving nature.

Benefit # 5: entomologists in Australia and other countries point out that termite activity is critical for regulating soil processes such as water and nutrient distribution and maintenance. By performing this role, termites contribute to biodiversity. They make it possible for creatures like reptiles and frogs to have a steady food supply.

So before you condemn these hard-working creatures and subject them to pesticides and other chemicals, think of what they do to balance the elements of nature and how they feed and nourish other living organisms. We need healthy and lush vegetation. An increasing number of people are turning to organic and everything soil-grown instead of buying processed food in the supermarket. Thanks to termite activity, our soil is able to produce food.

If you find termites in your house, then by all means get rid of them. They do damage homes, but you need not consider them as pests that have to be banned completely from the face of the earth!

Savvy business owners who take advantage of Internet marketing realize there is a fine line between marketing and spam and orchestrate their marketing campaigns to gain the maximum amount of exposure without running the risk of being viewed as spam. The definition of spam is open to interpretation but most people agree on the fact that spam is equivalent to junk mail you receive at your residence. In general spam is unsolicited emails which are part of an advertising campaign. The term spam can also apply to message board postings which are posted solely for advertising purposes. This article will examine the differences between effective Internet marketing and spam.

First we will consider the use of message boards for the purpose of Internet marketing. Message boards are essentially online meetings places for Internet users who share a particular interest to exchange idea, ask or answer questions or just socialize. These message boards allow users to register and post messages. Most message boards have asset of guidelines which the users must follow when making posts. These guidelines may vary widely with some being very strict about acceptable content and others not being nearly as strict. It is important to follow these guidelines because failure to do so may result in the moderators deleting your account and other members not paying much attention to your posts.

Message boards are ideal for Internet marketing because they can provide a business owner with access to a specialized target audience. If you are in the business for finding jobs for employees who wish to telecommute, you might join a message board dedicated to working from home to find members who may be interested in your products. Here you may learn a great deal about the concerns of your target audience. You can also take the opportunity to post links to your website when appropriate and in accordance with the message board guidelines. This is considered to be smart Internet marketing. However, if you opt to respond to each and every post with a link to your website even when it is not relevant and do not offer comments of value to other members, they are likely to view your posts as spam. This can be damaging because these members may opt to avoid your website even if they have a need for your services.

E-newsletters and email advertising are one area of Internet marketing which is most likely to be viewed as spam if not done properly. Most Internet users to not appreciate unsolicited emails especially when these emails do not pertain to a subject that interests them. This is often the case when business owners buy email lists and send their advertisements to everyone on the list. This is not effective because you are not likely to reach a large population of your target audience. Additionally, recipients of the email may block your email address so future communications are automatically sent to a spam folder. Some recipients may even report you to their Internet service provider who may investigate the claim that you are a spammer. A better way to approach the concept of email marketing is to only send e-newsletters and advertisements to past customers who have specifically asked to receive such emails and potential customers who have requested additional information.

Article Source : Pg. 2

About Author

Both Ti. Craig Elliott & Paul E Brown are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Ti. Craig Elliott has sinced written about articles on various topics from . . Ti. Craig Elliott's top article . to your Favourites.

Paul E Brown has sinced written about articles on various topics from Hypnotherapy, Digital Photography and Hunting. Paul Brown operates a number of websites, includingArticlehideaway.com, where you can on hundreds ofvaried subjec. Paul E Brown's top article generates over 74000 views. to your Favourites.