Effects of Monitor Examination Intervals on Resource Affinity by Reticulitermes spp. (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)1

Monthly visits to 2 field sites in southern Mississippi were made to determine the influence of monitor examination on feeding site affinity by southeastern native subterranean termites (Reticulitermes spp.). Wooden board monitors were examined once every 30, 60, or 90 days. Presence of live termites and damage to the boards (both binary parameters) were collected for each plot examined over a 3-yr period, along with monthly soil moisture (as percentage of soil saturation) and temperature at 15.24 cm depth. Time to first occurrence of termite presence and/or damage and subsequent occurrences indicated no difference among the treatments, indicating that none of the treatments influenced termite foraging affinity.