Physical Control Methods

The activity of wood-destroying insects and fungi depends greatly on environmental factors such as ambient temperature, moisture content of air and host materials, and atmospheric pressure. These factors are thus the basis for the application of physical control methods. The objective is to stop the multiplication of the damaging organism and to liquidate any existing infection by changes in the environment. Since insects belong to the cold blooded (poikilothermic) animals, the temperature of their environment has the greatest effect on their metabolism. Accordingly, extreme temperatures become lethal within a short time of exposure. Fungi are also killed off quickly by high temperatures, but low temperatures will only retard their activity.