ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the use of low and high temperatures to control insect pests that attack buildings or which may be found in homes, apartments, museums, and similar sensitive places where an alternative control strategy may be warranted or in situations which preclude the use of insecticides. Extreme temperatures may be used in some situations to control insects of urban importance. In using extreme low temperature to kill urban insect pests, it is especially crucial that rate of cooling, the minimum lethal temperature, or the rate of thawing exceed the physiological limit or threshold of the insect to survive. Drywood termites represent one of the most important groups of wood-destroying insect pests in the world. They account for hundreds of millions of dollars spent annually for their control and for repair of damage they cause. T. J. K. Strang reported that the acute upper lethal temperature for many museum pests ranged from 37-64°C depending on the length of exposure.
