As of early March, termites were found in the janitor’s closet near Fujisan Sushi in the University of Rhode Island Memorial Union.
While there are different accounts on when the termites were found and when they disappeared, it has been agreed upon that they pose no risk to students.
This was handled quickly when it was found on March 18, and no termites have been seen since, Rob Kent, the building superintendent, said. The building has contacted Debug Pest Control and while there is no date for the extermination process, it will be happening as soon as possible.
This was the first time in seven years that this has been a problem in the Memorial Union, but termites have been seen in other buildings on campus more recently, Kent said.
However, according to an anonymous source on the janitorial staff, they were actually seen around March 5, handled then, and last seen on March 18.
Termites eat wood, and with the Memorial Union being mainly concrete and steel, they pose no risk to building integrity or food safety, Kent said. The termites also pose no risk to students, as they do not bite or sting and they are not toxic.
The Fujisan student manager, Katelyn Woode, said that she was not aware of this issue at all, and is curious as to how it started, as well any other part of the building that may have them.
A dozen termites were found in a water bucket in the janitor’s closet, Kent said. However, there was actually a swarm flying in the closet, with wings being found on windowsills in the women’s bathroom, the anonymous source said.
Termites are winged subterranean insects that are often referred to as “white ants” as they look like ants, but paler, according to Britannica. This means that they were living underground somewhere around the Memorial Union before flying inside.
Termites have a typical pattern: when their original nest outside fills up, a swarm of workers fly out to look for a suitable place to relocate, the anonymous source said. When they find a suitable place, they drop their wings.
This pattern of outgrowing a nest and traveling indoors to scout out a new location only happens once or twice a year, according to Debug.
To exterminate the termites, they will be drilling a hole in the ground and placing a piece of poisonous bait, which the termites will be carrying back to their nest and killing off the entire colony, Kent said. He affirmed that this method of extermination will not pose any danger to students.
“I’m not sure exactly what was done, but it seems to have reduced the amount of flying termites,” the anonymous source said.
While there is no set date for when the exterminators will be here, it will be soon according to Kent.