Termites in Wisconsin1

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Abstract
The eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), is the only species of termite establishedin Wisconsin. Infestations of this species have occurredonly in municipalities, a fact that indicates they originatedfrom the transport of infested lumber. Surveillance of theground-dwelling colonies in pockets of infestation at 2areas showed that migration and fragmentation of acolony rather than flight from a colony were very likelythe principal mode of annual dispersal. If the termites can establish ground-dwelling colonies in cold climates, conventional termite protection of buildings may be warranted for any threatened municipalities. Fluctuations of annual termite activity and development at 2 areas reflected a definite pattern of new colony formation and growth. The pattern was modified by weather conditions. Adverse weather, particularly dryness, tended to inhibit differentiation of the termites. Some differences from the usual description of termite life are discussed, and a hypothetical nutritional mechanism for caste determination is presented. A diagram postulating the life cycle of R. flavipes is included. Low temperature and limited moisture did not necessarily limit the northern extention of the range of R.flavipes, because the termites could, to a point, avoid the adverse conditions by retreating to subterranean galleries. Prolonged temperatures near 0°C probably could be a significant limiting factor, because they could be an effective barrier to the movement of termites. If restricted movement barred termites for a long period from nutrients near the surface of the ground, eventually a colony coulddie from starvation. Perhaps the ultimate factor that determined whether termites could survive in a cold climate was the warm-season capacity of reproductives to restore population losses that occurred during the cold season.

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