Subterranean termite infestation of urban structures in the Tucson basin: Patterns and influences. Item Type text; Dissertation-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Colwell, Curt Edward. Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 24/09/2021 20:16:31 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/184258 INFORMATION TO USERS The most advanced technology has been used to photo­ graph and reproduce this manuscript from the microfilm master. UMI films the original text· directly from the copy submitted. Thus, some dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from a c9mputer printer. 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Other _____________________________ U'MI f. 1 SUBTERRANEAN TERMITE INFESTATION OF URBAN STRUCTURES IN THE TUCSON BASIN: PATTERNS AND INFLUENCES by Curt Edward Colwell A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGY In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In the Graduate College UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 1987 1- . 2 THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA GRADUATE COLLEGE As members of the Final Examination Committee, we certify that we have read the dissertation prepared by --------------------------------------------Curt Edward Colwell entitled SUBTERRANEAN TERMITE INFESTATION OF URBAN STRUCTURES IN THE TUCSON BASIN: PATTERNS AND INFLUENCES and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement Doctor of Philosophy Date Date 11/16/87 Date 11/16/87 Date 11/16/87 Date Final approval and acceptance of this dissertation is contingent upon the candidate's submission of the final copy of the dissertation to the Graduate College. I hereby certify that I have read this dissertation prepared under my direc' and nd that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation Date 11/¥6J87! I ) 3 STATEMENT BY THE AUTHOR This dissertation has been submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for an advanced degree at the University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library. Brief quotations from this dissertation are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgment of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the head of the major department or the Dean of the Graduate College when in his or her judgment tha prposed use of the material is in the interests of scholarship. In all ohter instances, however, permission must be obtained from the author. SIGNED: " C r. 4 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author gratefully acknowledges selection as first recipient of the Truly Nolen Urban Pest Management Fellowship Award established by the Truly Nolen Company. without the company's continuing support, this study would not have been possible. I also thank Bill Spaulding, Bob Hartley, Bill Nolen, and Lauren Schaap, all of Truly Nolen Company, for their support and expert advice. Additional appreciation is expressed to Dr. Robert L. Smith for services rendered as Committee Chairman, and to all Committee participants: Dr. Leon Moore, Dr. Michael K. Rust, Dr. Astrid Kodric-Brown, Dr. James H. Brown, and especially to Dr. William L. Nutting for masterful insight, advice, and sincere interest in my general welfare. I am also indebted to Dr. Michael W. Trosset of the University of Arizona, Department of Statistics, who unselfishly provided invaluable statistical expertise throughout. Finally, I am deeply appreciative of my parents, whose constant support and encouragement inspired me to achieve. 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF FIGURES. 6 LIST OF TABLES. 7 ABSTRACT ••••• 9 INTRODUCTION. 11 METHODS and MATERIALS .• 16 Termite Control Questionn~ire ••• 16 Bait Study ••••••.•• 16 Termite Contracts •••••••••• ~ .• 19 Analysis ..................... 24 Termite Control Questionnaire. 24 Bait Study .•••••••• 26 Termite Contracts .•••••••••••• 26 RESULTS. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 28 Questionnaire Response................. 28 Bait study........................... 33 Termite Contract Dispersion Analysis.. 47 Retreatment Rate Analysis............. 61 DISCUSSION •••••••••••••.•••••••.•••.•••.•••• 72 Interpretation of Questionnaire Response....... 72 Interpretation of Termite Foraging Activity.... 82 Interpretation of Termite Contract Dispersion.. 87 Influences on Retreatment Rate................. 89 CONCLUSION • . .. .. .. 91 APPENDIX A - TERMITE CONTROL QUESTIONNAIRE. 95 LITERATURE CITED •••••••••••••••••••.••••••• 97 6 LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure 1. Bait site locations •••••••••••••••••••••••• 17 Figure 2. Historical expansion of Tucson, Arizona •••• 22 Figure 3. Numbers of termites observed at bait sites during weekly observations ••••••••••••••••• 38 Figure 4. Numbers of termites observed at site 1 during weekly observations ••••••••••••••••• 39 Figure 5. Numbers of termites observed at site 3 during weekly observations ••••••••••••••••• 40 Figure 6. Numbers of termites observed at site 4 during weekly observations ••••••••••••••••• 41 Figure 7. Numbers of termites observed at site 5 during weekly observations ••••••••••••••••• 42 Figure 8. Numbers of termites observed at site 8 during weekly observations ••••••••••••••••• 43 Figure 9. Numbers of termites observed at site 9 during weekly observations ••••••••••••••••• 44 Figure 10. Numbers of termites observed at site 10 during weekly observations •••••••••••••••• ~ 45 Figure 11. Numbers of termites observed at site 12 during weekly observations ••••••••••••••••• 46 Figure 12. Dispersion of subterranean termite contracts held by primary cooperator....... 78 Figure 13. Dispersion of subterranean termite contracts held by primary cooperator ••••••• 79 Figure 14. Dispersion of subterranean termite contracts held by cooperating pest control companies, excluding primary cooperator •••• 80 Figure 15. Dispersion of subterranean termite contracts held by cooperating pest control companies including primary cooperator ••••• 81 7 LIST OF TABLES Page TABLE I. Termiticide use by pest control companies in Tucson, Arizona, 1986-1987 •••••••••• 31 TABLE II. Termiticide use by jobs performed in Tucson, Arizona, 1986-1877 ••••••••••••• 32 TABLE III. Predominant vegetation at bait sites ••••••• 34 TABLE IV. site characteristics and termite species observed. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 35 TABLE V. Termite observations by species •••••••••••• 36 TABLE VI. Contingency table; termite contract density by wall material ••••••••••••••• 48 TABLE VII. Contingency table; termite contract density by air-conditioning type ••••••• 49 TABLE VIII. Contingency table; termite contract density by exterior structures ••••••••• 50 TABLE IX. contingency table; termite contract density by foundation type ••••••••••••• 51 TABLE X. Contingency table; termite contract density by soil grade •••••••••••••••••• 52 TABLE XI. Contingency table; termite contract density by soil permeability ••••••••••• 53 TABLE XII. Contingency table; termite contract density