Abstract
Research was conducted in order to determine predictive correlations among temperature (heat units), precipitation, and springtime subterranean termite swarming in Texas. Heat units were accumulated from December 21 through the date of the initial spring swarms for the years 1994-99 in nine Texas cities. Analysis of the heat unit data showed that none of the fifty-four initial spring swarm events occurred before a minimum of 602 heat units had accumulated, so this was determined to be the minimum heat unit threshold for this set of swarm data. Additionally, mean accumulations of heat units were statistically similar in seven of the nine cities. Analysis of the precipitation data showed no statistical significance among accumulated amounts of precipitation. However, individual precipitation events closely preceding the initial swarm dates were statistically significant, as over 90% of the initial swarms occurred within three days of the first precipitation event following the minimum heat unit threshold date.
Furman, Barry Daine (2000). Prediction of spring subterranean termite swarms in Texas with relation to temperature and precipitation. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /ETD -TAMU -2000 -THESIS -F9.