title: Molecular genetic evidence of formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) colony survivorship after prolonged inundation.
abstract: Levee breaches because of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 inundated 80% of the city of New Orleans, LA. Formosan subterranean termites were observed actively foraging within in-ground monitoring stations within months after this period of flooding. It was unknown if the activity could be attributed to preexisting colonies that survived inundation or to other colonies surviving flooding by being located at higher elevations readily invading these territories. Genotypic profiles of 17 termite colonies collected from eight inundated locations before flooding were compared with termite colonies after flooding from the same locations to determine Formosan subterranean termite survival after sustained flooding. Results indicate that 14 colonies were able to survive inundation for extended periods.
authors.affiliation: City of New Orleans Mosquito, Termite, and Rodent Control Board, 2100 Leon C. Simon Drive, New Orleans, LA 70122, USA. cbowens@cityofno.com
authors.forename: Carrie B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Owens
authors.forename: Nan-Yao
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Husseneder
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Riegel
authors.forename: Kenneth S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055867:Cyclonic Storms; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D055868:Floods; D005838:Genotype; D020049:Isoptera / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D055820:New Orleans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D004247:DNA