Identifier

etd-1110103-154159

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Human Resource Education and Workforce Development

Document Type

Dissertation

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine program participants’ knowledge and perceptions of the effectiveness of the French Quarter Formosan Termite Program. The management of the Formosan subterranean termite is critical to the economic well-being of not only Louisiana, but the U.S. Estimates of property damage, repairs, and control measures exceed $1 billion per year in the U.S., of which $500 million is in Louisiana and $300 million is in the New Orleans area. In 1998, the LSU Agricultural Center, a statewide agricultural research and extension campus of Louisiana State University, in cooperation with the Agricultural Research Service, began a large area pilot test in New Orleans’ French Quarter. The goal of the program was to reduce densities of the Formosan termite and validate the effectiveness of area-wide management. Five years after the beginning of the program, data indicate that the Formosan termite population in this test area has been reduced by about 50%. Another aspect of the program was a termite management education program designed to teach and inform property owners and managers, about the Formosan termite. The major objective of this part of the project was to provide and deliver information designed to educate the public on the biology and control of the Formosan termite. The French Quarter program needed to be evaluated from the viewpoint of the participants of the study in order to assess their perceptions of the effectiveness of the program and to measure their knowledge of educational aspects of the program. All 225 property owners and managers in the original 15-block area of the French Quarter Program were surveyed with a 70.7% response rate. Based on results of the study, it was concluded that the majority of the participants thought that the program was important, effective, and should be continued and expanded to other areas of the French Quarter. Knowledge scores derived from specific survey questions indicated that the participants were knowledgeable about termite biology, identification, prevention, control, and management. Continued funding for both further research and education directed towards the Formosan subterranean termite is warranted based on the results of the study.

Date

2003

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Krisanna Machtmes

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_dissertations.969

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