Monitoring termite alate flight phenology with citizen scientists on Oahu, Hawaii

Subterranean termites are the most expensive pests in Hawaii, costing residents over $100 million annually in control and repairs. Light traps were used to monitor the flight phenology of termite alates across Oahu, Hawaii. Light traps were placed above known subterranean termite colonies at six locations. Traps were monitored weekly from February 2011 - September 2012. Citizen scientists at Kaiser High School, Mililani High School and Washington Middle School monitored additional light traps from March – May 2011 and March – May 2012. Trap data were combined by month and location, transformed [√ (x+0.5)] and subjected to an analysis of variance, with means contrasted to find peak swarming periods. Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus, swarming data were square-root transformed and correlated with environmental factors. C. formosanus alates were captured between April and July in 2011 and April and August in 2012, with peak capture in May 2011. Asian subterranean termite, Coptotermes gestroi, alates were observed in April, June, and July in 2011 and in June of 2012. Citizen scientists expanded the survey’s geographic range and increased sample size. Further monitoring of termite alate flight phenology may provide a baseline for studies measuring suppression and contribute data on termite distributions on Oahu. Future monitoring in Kalaeloa and Makakilo will establish C. gestroi flight phenology on Oahu.