Parasitoid complex attacking fire ants (Solenopsis spp.) in southern South America

LUIS CALCATERRA, LAURA VARONE, AND JUAN BRIANO

Cardiff University, Wales, UK

Workshop; IX European Workshop on Insect Parasitoids; 2005

The occurrence of three parasitoids against invasive fire ants was surveyed mainly in Argentina. At least 16 species were found: Pseudacteon flies (14), Orasema wasps (1-3), and Caenocholax strepsipterans (1-2). Flies were widely distributed, wasps common, and strepsipterans only detected near the Paraná and Paraguay rivers junction. A new Pseudacteon species was discovered. Caenocholax fenyesi and Orasema xanthopus were recorded for the first time parasitizing Solenopsis invicta in Argentina.