Selective treatment of Formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) colonies in a highly urbanized area in New Orleans, Louisiana

The Formosan subterranean termite (FST), Coptotermes formosanus, was initially introduced into New Orleans, Louisiana via infested wooden crates transported from southeast China following the end of World War II. Identified in 1967 within the city limits, the FST has displaced native termite species and has become the most prolific and economically important structural pest species of termite within the metropolitan area.  In 2007, 1280 in-ground monitoring stations were installed along a 16 block section of Canal Street, located in downtown New Orleans, separating the Central Business District from the historic French Quarter. Stations were monitored for termite activity, consumption, and sample size on a monthly basis. Beginning in 2012, all FST colonies found in the in-ground monitoring stations on Canal Street were delineated using mark release recapture and genetic analysis, and all but four were eliminated using 0.5% noviflumuron.