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Marina Ascunce
Imported Fire Ant and Household Insects Research
Research Molecular Biologist

Phone: (352) 374-5706
Fax: (352) 374-5818

(Employee information on this page comes from the REE Directory. Please contact your front office staff to update the REE Directory.)

Projects
Management of Fire Ants and Other Invasive Ants
In-House Appropriated (D)
  Accession Number: 436291
Survey of Bacterial Microbes on Fire Ant Nests
Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement (S)
  Accession Number: 445062

Publications (Clicking on the reprint icon Reprint Icon will take you to the publication reprint.)
Measuring local genetic variation in permethrin resistant head lice, pediculus humanus capitis (Phthiraptera: Pediculidae), from Buenos Aires, Argentina Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Toloza, A.T., Ascunce, M.S., Reed, D. 2024. Measuring local genetic variation in permethrin resistant head lice, pediculus humanus capitis (Phthiraptera: Pediculidae), from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Journal of Medical Entomology. 18(11). https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjae048.
Prevalence and Genetic Diversity of a Microsporidian Parasite in the Black Imported Fire Ant and its Social Parasitic Ant (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Solenopsis) in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ascunce, M.S., Kassu, G., Bouwma, A., Oi, D.H., Reed, D.L., Briano, J., Shoemaker, D. 2023. Prevalence and Genetic Diversity of a Microsporidian Parasite in the Black Imported Fire Ant and its Social Parasitic Ant (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Solenopsis) in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Insects. 14(12):901. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14120901.
Ant Community Composition in a citrus grove reveals eastern expansion in Florida of the South American big-headed ant, Pheidole obscurithorax Naves (1985) Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ascunce, M.S., Porter, S.D., Carroll, K.C., Perez, P., Nisip, A.J., Aufmuth, J., Justice, L.M., Gavilanez-Slone, J.M., Qureshi, J.A., Lucky, A. 2024. Ant Community Composition in a citrus grove reveals eastern expansion in Florida of the South American big-headed ant, Pheidole obscurithorax Naves (1985). Florida Entomologist. 107(1). https://doi.org/10.1515/flaent-2024-0011.
Nuclear genetic diversity of head lice sheds light on human evolution Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ascunce, M.S., Toloza, A.C., González-Oliver, A., Reed, D.L. 2023. Nuclear genetic diversity of head lice sheds light on human evolution. PLOS ONE. 18(11). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0293409.
Preliminary assessment of bacterial antibiotic resistance and candidatus liberibacter asiaticus titer in three Florida commercial citrus groves Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
De Gracia Coquerel, M., Wegerif, J., Mcauley, A., Read, Q.D., Chowdhury, N., Jeong, K., Morris, J., Martins, S.J., Goss, E., Ascunce, M.S. 2023. Preliminary assessment of bacterial antibiotic resistance and candidatus liberibacter asiaticus titer in three Florida commercial citrus groves. Crop Protection. 172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2023.106350.
Are ants good organisms to teach elementary students about invasive species in Florida Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Zollota, S., Perez, P., Allen, J., Argenti, T., Read, Q.D., Ascunce, M.S. 2023. Are ants good organisms to teach elementary students about invasive species in Florida. Insects. 14(2): 118. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14020118.
Genetic and chemical profiling of Solenopsis spp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) intercepted in Hawaii Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ascunce, M.S., Vander Meer, R.K., Chinta, S.P., Ogura-Yamata, C., Oishi, D. 2022. Genetic and chemical profiling of Solenopsis spp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) intercepted in Hawaii. Florida Entomologist. 105(1):91-94. https://doi.org/10.1653/024.105.0114.
Genetic variablity of Hapalaxius crudus, based on the 5' region of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene shed light on epidemology of palm lethal decline phytoplasmas Reprint Icon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Humprhines, A.R., Ascunce, M.S., Goss, E.M., Helmick, E.E., Bartlett, C.R., Myrie, W., Barrantes, E.A., Zumbado, M.A., Bustillo, A.E., Bahder, B.W. 2021. Genetic variablity of Hapalaxius crudus, based on the 5' region of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene shed light on epidemology of palm lethal decline phytoplasmas. Phytofrontiers. 1:127-134. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-12-20-0048-R.
Global invasion history of the Fire Ant Solenopsis invicta - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ascunce, M.S., Yang, C., Oakey, J., Calcaterra, L., Wu, W., Shih, C., Goudet, J., Ross, K.G., Shoemaker, D.D. 2011. Global invasion history of the Fire Ant Solenopsis invicta. Science. 331:1066-1068.
Molecular diversity of the microsporidium Kneallhazzia solenopsae reveals an expanded host range among fire ants in North America - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ascunce, M.S., Valles, S.M., Oi, D.H., Shoemaker, D.D., Plowes, R., Gilbert, L., Lebrun, E.G., Sanchez-Arroyo, H., Sanchez-Pena, S. 2010. Molecular diversity of the microsporidium Kneallhazzia solenopsae reveals an expanded host range among fire ants in North America. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 105:279-288.
Species delimitation: A case study in a problematic ant taxon - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ross, K.G., Gotzek, D., Ascunce, M.S., Shoemaker, D.D. 2009. Species delimitation: A case study in a problematic ant taxon. 59(2):162-184.
Ecological metrics predict connectivity better than geographic distance - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hokit, G., Ascunce, M.S., Ernst, J., Branch, L., Clark, A. 2009. Landscape Characteristics influence spatial genetic variation of the Florida scrub lizard (Sceloporus woodi). Conservation Genetics. 11(1):149-159.
A new method for distinguishing colony social forms of the fire ant Solenopsis invicta - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Shoemaker, D.D., Ascunce, M.S. 2010. A new method for distinguishing colony social forms of the fire ant Solenopsis invicta. Journal of Insect Science. 10(73):1-11.
Characterization of 24 microsatellite markers in eleven species of fire ants in the genus Solenopsis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ascunce, M.S., Bouwma, A.M., Shoemaker, D.D. 2009. Characterization of 24 microsatellite markers in eleven species of fire ants in the genus Solenopsis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Molecular Ecology Resources. Available: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/122313880/HTMLSTART.
Molecular identification of the economically important invasive citrus root Weevil Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ascunce, M.S., Nigg, H.N., Clark, A. 2009. Molecular identification of the economically important invasive citrus root Weevil Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Florida Entomologist. 92(1):167-172.
Twenty-three new microsatellite loci in the stable fly Stomoxys calcitrans (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ascunce, M.S., Yang, C.C., Geden, C.J., Shoemaker, D.D. 2009. Twenty-three new microsatellite loci in the stable fly Stomoxys calcitrans (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae). Molecular Ecology Resources. 9:271-273.
Morphological and genetic characterization of Saimiri boliviensis - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Steinberg, E.R., Nieves, M., Ascunce, M.S., Palermo, A.M., Mudry, M.D. 2009. Morphological And Genetic Characterization of Saimiri boliviensis (Primates: Cebidae): Implications For Management And Conservation. Conservation Genetics.30:29-41.
A new method for distinguishing colony social forms of the fire ant Solenopsis invicta - (Abstract Only)
Ascunce, M.S., Shoemaker, D.D. 2008. A new method for distinguishing colony social forms of the fire ant Solenopsis invicta. The Annual Symposium of the American Genetic Association; Genetics and Genomics of Behavior. Meeting Abstract. p.15.
Y-chromosome variability in four Native American populations from Panama. - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ascunce, M.S., Gonzalez-Oliver, A., Mulligan, C.J. 2008. Y-chromosome variability in four Native American populations from Panama. Human Biology. 80(3):287-302.