Genetic evidence of Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus, colony movement following construction in Louis Armstrong Park, New Orleans, Louisiana

Louis Armstrong Park (New Orleans, Louisiana) is the site of ongoing ecological studies of large, stable colonies of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus. Twenty colonies were delineated in the spring of 2008. During the fall of 2008 and spring of 2009, Louis Armstrong Park underwent extensive renovations involving resurfacing, landscaping, and multiple areas of soil excavation. Following renovations, termite foraging was noted in multiple in-ground termite monitoring stations that had historically been undiscovered. It was also observed that termite foraging had ceased in multiple monitoring stations previously occupied. Microsatellite genotyping was conducted to evaluate changes in colony foraging territories. The breeding structure for all colonies evaluated was also determined.