Termites were surveyed in pine and mixed forests in 4 southern Mississippi counties during 1999-2000. Branches, logs, and stumps in eleven plots were examined for termite activities. Pine stakes were installed in soil plots at 5 m intervals. They were examined for signs of termite infestation and foraging termites at 4.5, 10.5, and 16 months after installation. Three subterranean termite species in the family Rhinotermitidae, namely, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), Reticulitermes virginicus (Banks), and Reticulitermes hageni Banks were observed from dead wood materials and the installed pine stakes in each of the 4 counties. Reticulitermes flavipes was the most abundant species with an average percentage from 39.4% to 66.5% of the termite occurrences in pine stakes installed in the forests. There was not a detectable significant difference between the relative abundances of the three termite species among the 4 counties (P > 0.05). Termite infestation rates varied with the sizes of the wood materials. The small wood materials (1.9-2.9 cm diameter) had a significantly lower infestation rate than the larger wood materials (³3 cm diameter). Among the wood materials of ³ 3 cm diameter, 68.2% to 79.6% had signs of termite damage and 29.5% to 39.9% had foraging termites. The cumulative percentage of stakes attacked by termites escalated as the duration of the stakes after installation increased. The average percentages of stakes with signs of termite activity were 44.4%, 64.2%, and 80.5% at 4.5, 10.5, and 16 months after installation, respectively.
Species 1: Isoptera Rhinotermitidae Reticulitermes flavipes (Eastern subterranean termite)
Species 2: Isoptera Rhinotermitidae Reticulitermes virginicus (subterranean termite)
Species 3: Isoptera Rhinotermitidae Reticulitermes hageni
Keywords: Wood infestation
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