Population management of Formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) colonies in Louis Armstrong Park

The Formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, (FST) was initially introduced into New Orleans, Louisiana at multiple military bases following the end of World War II.  Since its introduction, FST has expanded its distribution throughout the entire city by means of natural and human-assisted dispersal and is now the most economically important structural pest within the city.  Six years after the initial observation of the invasive pest species in 1967, FST was documented in Louis Armstrong Park, a 12.75 ha green space located on the outskirts of the French Quarter.  The installation of over 800 in-ground monitoring stations within the park over recent years has made several mark-release-recapture and elimination studies possible.  The most recent colony elimination was initiated in September 2010 using 43 high density baits with 0.5% noviflumuron to maintain an area-wide treatment of FST.  The permanent presence of bait in selected stations allowed for the elimination of all 22 colonies delineated in 2010 as well as colonies entering Louis Armstrong Park through previously occupied foraging territories.