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ARS Home » Plains Area » Kerrville, Texas » Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory » Cattle Fever Tick Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #378331
Research Project: Integrated Pest Management of Cattle Fever Ticks

Location: Cattle Fever Tick Research Unit

Title: Effect of abiotic factors on dispersal flights of formosan subterranean termites, coptotermes formosanus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), in New Orleans, LA

Author
item Osbrink, Weste

Submitted to: Journal of Entomological Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/3/2021
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Colony dispersing flights of Formosan subterranean termites were monitored daily at two sites for 4 years in New Orleans, LA using black light bucket traps. Correlations coefficients were calculated to help understand the relationship of number of alates captured with weather conditions to help find and control this pest. Because of complex colony factors was not possible to predict a swarm day.

Technical Abstract: Colony dispersing nuptial flights of Formosan subterranean termites were monitored daily at two sites for 4 years in New Orleans, LA using black light bucket traps. Correlations coefficients were calculated to elucidate the relationship of number of alates captured with weather conditions to explore their predictive capacity to enhance monitoring and control strategies. Correlation coefficients were also calculated to determine the degree of swarm synchrony between two locations. There were a number of strong positive relationships with temperature, precipitation, and swarm synchrony, as well as negative relationships with wind. However, because of intrinsic colony factors it was not possible to predict a swarm day.