ALATE PRODUCTION, FLIGHT PHENOLOGY, AND SEX-RATIO IN COPTOTERMES-FORMOSANUS SHIRAKI, AN INTRODUCED SUBTERRANEAN TERMITE IN NEW-ORLEANS, LOUISIANA

Formosan subterranean termite population growth and night phenology wa s measured using light-traps in New Orleans, LA, for the years 1993, 1 994, and 1995. Alate samples from collections in 1993 and 1994 also we re sexed and found to have a 50% male/50% female sex-ratio for most ni ghts. There were several peak swarm periods over the two-month flight season that were separated by a 5 to 9 day period of marked decreases in alate numbers. Over the 7 years that alates have been monitored in New Orleans (includes data from Henderson & Delaplane 1994) mean alate trap counts have increased with each year. These data indicate that F ormosan subterranean termites have adapted well to New Orleans. It is suggested that the fusion of colonies and lack of territoriality permi ts this species to exploit its food resource more completely.