The Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus, FST) is a serious destructive pest currently known to infest 11 U.S. states. Originally introduced during and after WWII populations of this termite have grown rapidly in areas such as New Orleans, Louisiana. Failures of traditional liquid termiticide treatment led to the myth that nothing could be done about infestations and therefore many property owners declined prophylactic treatment. Other urban myths have arisen concerning the FST leading to difficulty in establishing area-wide pest management. Congress, in 1998, responding to constituent demands for relief from this pest established the Formosan Subterranean Termite Research Unit in New Orleans to demonstrate the effectiveness of existing termite control methods and to develop integrated strategies to combat this pest. The Unit, in combination with Louisiana State University, Agricultural Center and the New Orleans Mosquito and Termite Control Board established a management program in New Orleans’ French Quarter to demonstrate the feasibility of area-wide IPM to control termite populations. An aggressive educational campaign for both property owners and the pest control industry coupled with widespread adoption of integrated pest management strategies (inspection, exclusion of conducive conditions, and aggressive offensive treatment regimens) has resulted in sizeable population declines in the treatment area. Impediments to developing this program include public apathy, cost of treatments, and construction practices making treatment application more difficult. Established Pest Management Professional (PMP) practices have also proved problematic. Effective communication with the public and PMPs is essential to successful implementation of area-wide termite IPM.