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Title: Swarming of the Formosan Subteranean Termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in Southern Mississippi

Author
item Lax, Alan
item Wiltz, Beverly

Submitted to: Midsouth Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/17/2009
Publication Date: 2/1/2010
Citation: Lax, A.R., Wiltz, B.A. Swarming of the Formosan Subteranean Termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in Southern Mississippi. Midsouth Entomologist. 3(1):18–25. 2010.

Interpretive Summary: Formosan subterranean termite (FST) flights in Southern Mississippi were monitored during the swarming seasons of 2007-2009. Distribution of swarming colonies was recorded at 69 traps within Poplarville (Pearl River County) and an additional 45-65 traps along transects in the surrounding counties. Swarms were first detected during the week beginning April 18 and continued through the final collection on June 22-26. In Poplarville, FST alates were collected from each of the traps at some time during the 3 years. Along highway transects, FST was collected from 36% of traps in 2007, 37% in 2008, and 48% in 2009. The highest percentage of traps containing FST occurred on the southern (Picayune to Poplarville) and western (Bogalusa, LA to Poplarville) portions of transects.

Technical Abstract: Swarms of Formosan subterranean termites (FST) in Southern Mississippi were monitored from mid-April through late June, 2007-2009. Distribution of swarming colonies was recorded at 69 traps within Poplarville (Pearl River County) and an additional 45-65 traps, spaced at 1-5 mile (1.6-8 km) intervals along transects in Pearl River, Lamar, Forrest, and Stone Counties. Swarms were first detected during the week beginning April 18 and continued through the final collection on June 22-26. In Poplarville, FST colonies were ubiquitous, with 68 of 68/69 traps catching alates on at least one of the 2009 sampling dates. Along highway transects, FST was collected from 16/45 (36%) of traps in 2007, 24/65 (37%) of traps in 2008, and 31/65 (48%) of traps in 2009. On transects running north to south, from Hattiesburg to Picayune, the highest percentage of traps containing FST occurred on the southern half of transects. On a transect running west to east along Highway 26, 8/16 (50%) of traps between Bogalusa, LA (Washington Parish) and Poplarville collected FST, while FST were found on only 5/19 (26%) of traps between Poplarville and Wiggins, MS (Stone County).