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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Imported Fire Ant and Household Insects Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #158809
Title: SURVEY OF IMPORTED FIRE ANT (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) POPULATIONS IN MISSISSIPPI

Author
item STREETT, DOUGLAS - 6402-45-00
item FREELAND, THOMAS - USDA,OFFICE OF CHIEF ECON
item Vander Meer, Robert - Bob

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/18/2006
Publication Date: 3/1/2006
Citation: Streett, D.A., Freeland, T.B., Vander Meer, R.K. 2006. Survey of Imported Fire Ant (Hymenoptera: formicidae) Populations in Mississippi. Florida Entomologist. 89(1): 91-92.

Interpretive Summary: Novel control strategies using biological control agents are currently being implemented in Mississippi. In many cases, these biological control strategies are host specific, so the distribution of fire ant populations in Mississippi will prove critical in the development of regional programs to control imported fire ants. Two species of imported fire ants, the red and black imported fire ant, and their hybrid are found in Mississippi. The distribution of these fire ant populations will be used to develop regional management programs for this pest in Mississippi.

Technical Abstract: This study determined the distribution of the red and black imported fire ant, and thier hybrid ant populations in Mississippi. The reange of hybrid populations was found to extend to twenty-seven counties in Mississippi. Biuological control strategies are typically species specific, so the distribution of these fire ant populations in Mississippi will prove critical in the development of region-wide programs to control imported fire ants.