Journal of Entomological Science (2005) 40, 268-279

Matthew T. Messenger and Nan-Yao Su (2005)
Colony characteristics and seasonal activity of the Formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in Louis Armstrong Park, New Orleans, Louisiana
Journal of Entomological Science 40 (3), 268-279
Abstract: Beginning in 1998, multiple mark-recapture studies were conducted inside 12.75-ha Louis Armstrong Park in New Orleans, LA, to locate and characterize all detectable colonies of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), established within the park. This is the first attempt to characterize subterranean termite colonies on such a large scale within a defined area. As a result, 13 C. formosanus colonies were identified using characteristics such as mean worker weight (range, 2.96-4.54 mg), foraging territory size (range, 83-1634 m²), and wood consumption rate (range, 0.6-5.2 g wood/ monitoring station/day). In addition, six Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) colonies were identified throughout the park. A total of 251 of 785 (-32%) trees in the park were infested by C. formosanus colonies. Foraging territories of each colony remained relatively stable over a 4-yr period, with seasonal activity within monitoring stations increasing during the summer and decreasing during winter.
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Database assignments for author(s): Matthew T. Messenger, Nan-Yao Su

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
population dynamics/ epidemiology
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Coptotermes formosanus		U.S.A. (mid S)
	Reticulitermes flavipes		U.S.A. (mid S)