Fire Ant Biological Control Agents: Pseudacteon Decapitating Flies and other Parasites

PORTER, S.D.; CALCATERRA, L. A.; VARONE, L.; BRIANO, J. A.

Orlando, Florida, EE.UU.

Congreso; XXVI International Congress of Entomology; 2016

University of Florida

Densities of the fire ant Solenopsis invicta are much higher in invaded habitats in the United States and other parts of the world than they are in the native South American range where host-specific pathogens and parasites are common. Decapitating flies in the genus Pseudacteon and a number of other parasites have been assessed as potential biocontrol agents in studies of their life history, host specificity, and impacts on host fire ant colonies and populations. To date 6 species of decapitating flies have been successfully released in the United States and a number of other parasites have been screened as potential biocontrol agents. This paper will summarize this work (doi: 10.1603/ICE.2016.95321).