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Title: A Case Study of the Formosan Subterranean Termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki(Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) Transported with a Non-Cellulosic Commercial Carrier in South Mississippi

Author
item LEE, KARMEN - MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV.
item SUN, JIAN-ZHONG - MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV.
item Zhu, Yu Cheng
item MALLETTE, ELDON - MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV.

Submitted to: Sociobiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/3/2009
Publication Date: 11/3/2009
Citation: Lee, K.C., Sun, J., Zhu, Y., Mallette, E.J. 2009. A Case Study of the Formosan Subterranean Termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki(Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) Transported with a Non-Cellulosic Commercial Carrier in South Mississippi. Sociobiology. 53(3):619-630.

Interpretive Summary: The Formosan subterranean termite is one of the most destructive structural pests in the world. Originating from China and Japan, the Formosan subterranean termite has been transported worldwide. During the 1980s, The Formosan subterranean termite was reported in Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida. It is commonly accepted that the Formosan subterranean termite arrived in the United States at shipping ports via shipping containers and boats. Any type of cellulose material used in shipping objects such as shipping containers, pallets or crates can provide the groundwork of a new introduction of the pest along port cities. Cellulosic materials, such as railway cross ties, wood-based mulches, infested tree debris, etc. have been the focus of the movement of the Formosan subterranean termite throughout the areas infested by the pest in the US. This report offers compelling evidence that the spread of the termite in Mississippi is also attributed to commercial activities using non-wood-based carriers. In addition, DNA sequencing was used to reveal genetic background of the termite colony collected from Poplarville, Mississippi. Our results indicated that the termite colony has different bar-coding from those commonly found elsewhere in US.

Technical Abstract: The Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, was accidently introduced to south Mississippi and has significantly infested more counties over the past decade. Traditionally, it has been accepted that the movement of infested cellulosic wood products has led to the establishment and spread of C. formosanus in inland counties of this state from those port cities heavily infested by this termite species. However, this invasive structural pest could also be introduced into a new area with certain non-cellulosic commercial products as its transport medium. This report provides new evidence that the spread of C. formosanus in Mississippi is also attributed to commercial activities with some non-wood carriers moved from infested coastal areas. Sequencing of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit II indicated that the genotype of a termite colony collected from a boat located in south Mississippi, (originally purchased in New Orleans, Louisiana by the owner) has not been previously documented on the mainland of the United States. Preliminary sequence alignment analysis exhibited that this termite sample from Mississippi was genetically more similar to colonies documented in southeastern Asia.