Alate monitoring after area-wide control of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus in the French Quarter and Jackson Barracks

The invasive Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus, is the most destructive structural pest in Louisiana, costing more than $300 million annually in the Greater New Orleans Area for remedial and preventative treatment, damage, and repairs. To protect the historic French Quarter section of New Orleans, Operation Full Stop, an area-wide termite control strategy, was conducted from 1998-2012. Alate monitoring was used as a determination of success, assuming if termite colonies were eliminated, the number of alates would decrease. Extensive alate trapping in the French Quarter showed a significant decrease in swarm sizes even to this day. In 2014, an area-wide control strategy was established at Jackson Barracks, New Orleans, Louisiana. Alate monitoring at the Barracks began in 2015 to determine the relative risk of incipient colonies being established in the area. Despite the elimination of colonies within Jackson Barracks, there is still high alate pressure. To understand this discrepancy between the French Quarter and Jackson Barracks, we are collecting samples from the alate monitors to characterize the genetic structure of these swarms. Using established microsatellite markers, we will determine the number of colonies contributing to these swarms and the relatedness of swarmers. This will help us better understand the strong alate pressure after elimination of termite colonies in Jackson Barracks