A Case Study of the Formosan Subterranean Termite, Coptotermes formosanus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) Transported with a Non-Cellulosic Commercial Carrier in South Mississippi

This report provides new evidence that the spread of C. formosanus in Mississippi is also attributed to commercial activities with some non-wood carriers moved from infested coastal areas. Sequencing of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit II indicated that the genotype of a termite colony collected from a boat located in south Mississippi, (originally purchased in New Orleans, Louisiana by the owner) has not been previously documented in the southeastern mainland of the United States. Preliminary sequence alignment analysis exhibited that this termite sample from Mississippi was genetically more similar to colonies documented in southeastern Asia.