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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Biological Control of Pests Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #143176
Title: EPIZOOTIOLOGY OF A THELOHANIA SP. (MICROSPORA) INFECTING THE RED IMPORTED FIRE ANT IN MISSISSIPPI

Author
item Streett, Douglas
item FREELAND, THOMAS - MS STATE UNIV.,STONEVILLE

Submitted to: Imported Fire Ants Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/20/2002
Publication Date: 3/24/2002
Citation: STREETT, D.A., FREELAND, T.B. EPIZOOTIOLOGY OF A THELOHANIA SP. (MICROSPORA) INFECTING THE RED IMPORTED FIRE ANT IN MISSISSIPPI. IMPORTED FIRE ANTS CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS. 2002. P.132-134.

Interpretive Summary: The use of microorganisms to control imported fire ants is a form of biological control. This study documents the natural spread of a disease caused by a microorganism throughout imported fire ant populations at a site in Mississippi. A better understanding of how this disease spreads through a fire ant population will lead to improvements in this method for biological control.

Technical Abstract: Epizootiological studies were conducted of Thelohania solenopsae in natural populations of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta. There was an increase in the inter-colony prevalence of infection in fire ant populations during the course of the season. In addition, the level of infection in ants from infected mounds increased as the season progressed.