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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #404784
Research Project: Managing Invasive Weeds and Insect Pests Using Biologically-Based Methods

Location: Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research

Title: Survey of phorid flies Pseudacteon sp. to anage red imported fire ants [Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)] in Northwest Florida

Author
item KIARA, IVY - Florida A & M University
item SHARMA, ANAMIKA - Florida A & M University
item KANGA, LAMBERT - Florida A & M University
item Legaspi, Jesusa
item ELSHARWAKY, ISLAM - Florida A & M University

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/2/2023
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The Red Imported Fire Ant (RIFA) is an aggressive invasive species from South America that causes issues in agriculture and urban pest management. These ants cause over $6 billion of damage annually. Natural enemies, such as insect-killing fungi, bacteria, and viruses from its native range are used to manage RIFA in the USA. Phorid flies (Pseudacteon sp.) have coevolved with RIFA in South America. In nature, they attack the ants by laying their eggs in the thorax and the larvae grow and feed on the head of the ant which leads to decapitation. In this study, we are surveying six species used for the experiment named Pseudacteon culltellus, Pseudacteon curvatus, Pseudacteon littoralis, Pseudacteon nocens, Pseudacteon obtusus, and Pseudacteon tricuspis. These phorid flies, although released at different times, have a varied spreading range. We are surveying the I-10 corridor in the Northwest part of Florida from Jacksonville to Pensacola.