Project Number: 6435-32000-011-15
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 01, 2006
End Date: Aug 31, 2011

Objective:
Establish and coordinate an expansion of the area-wide suppression project for Formosan termites presently being conducted in the New Orleans French Quarter. Evaluate effectiveness of control technology for the area-wide suppression of Formosan termites. Monitor performances of Pest Management Professionals in test site. Evaluate effectiveness of area wide suppression on population levels of Formosan termites and impact of termite suppression on damages to structures in the test site. Analyze the risk to the U.S. of invasive termite, including those already introduced and those that might be introduced in the future.

Approach:
The ongoing French Quarter program test area will be expanded in FY 2007. Properties within the previous expansion areas will remain in the area-wide project and under contract with a Pest Management Professional. Properties within the newly expanded area will be placed under contract with a Pest Management Professional using only termiticides that are expected to reduce termite numbers. Property owners within the original and expanded areas will be informed of progress in the treated blocks and the need to bring their properties (expanded area) into the program. So as to evaluate the impact on the Formosan subterranean termite population, independent in-ground stations and alate traps already installed in the expanded area will continue to be monitored monthly (in ground) each year and weekly (alate traps) each alate season. Similarly, in-ground stations and alate traps installed throughout the FQ (FQ total = 600 in-ground stations and 100 alate traps) will continue to be monitored. Inspections of properties using infrared and/or acoustical technologies where appropriate for signs of active termites will provide assessment of success of the area-wide strategy and will lead to further reduction of the termite densities when followed by treatment with above-ground bait systems. As a result of this expansion there will be about 66 blocks in the French Quarter plus the areas along the rail road and levy under area-wide treatment for Formosan subterranean termites. Termites invading in-ground stations will be assigned to specific colonies with the aid of genetic markers. This DNA technology will provide accurate assessment of the efficacy of treatment to eliminate colonies and will determine the presences of new invading colonies into the test area.