Fire Ant Mound Densities in the United States and Brazil (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Porter, Sanford D.; Fowler, H. G.; Mackay, William P.

doi:10.1093/jee/85.4.1154

Cited by 129 publications

(87 citation statements)

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“…A number of comparative ecological studies have demonstrated that S. invicta nest density, nest volume, and population density compared with other ant species in the community are significantly greater in the USA compared with South America where the ant is native [6,7]. These differences have been attributed to a lack of natural enemies in the USA as a result of a bottleneck event at the time of introduction [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Positive-Strand RNA Viruses Infecting the Red Imported Fire Ant,Solenopsis invicta

Valles

2012

Psyche: A Journal of Entomology

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The imported fire ants,Solenopsis invictaandS. richteriwere introduced into the USA between 1918 and 1945. Since that time, they have expanded their USA range to include some 138 million hectares. Their introduction has had significant economic consequences with costs associated with damage and control efforts estimated at 6 billion dollars annually in the USA. The general consensus of entomologists and myrmecologists is that permanent, sustainable control of these ants in the USA will likely depend on self-sustaining biological control agents. A metagenomics approach successfully resulted in discovery of three viruses infectingS. invicta.Solenopsis invicta virus 1(SINV-1), SINV-2, and SINV-3 are all positive, single-stranded RNA viruses and represent the first viral discoveries in any ant species. Molecular characterization, host relationships, and potential development and use of SINV-1, SINV-2, and SINV-3 as biopesticides are discussed.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Positive-Strand RNA Viruses Infecting the Red Imported Fire Ant,Solenopsis invicta

Valles

2012

Psyche: A Journal of Entomology

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“…Early attempts at eradication eventually yielded to quarantine and the pursuit of sustainable control methods in hope of establishing an ecological balance (Williams et al, 2001). In areas where S. invicta is indigenous, the infestation rate is a fraction of that observed in the United States which has been attributed to the lack of natural enemies in introduced areas (Porter et al, 1992).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of Thelohania solenopsae (Microsporidia: Thelohaniidae) in Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) by multiplex PCR

Valles

Perera

et al. 2002

Journal of Invertebrate Pathology

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Oligonucleotide primer pairs were designed to unique areas of the small subunit (16S) rRNA gene of Thelohania solenopsae and a region of the Gp-9 gene of Solenopsis invicta. Multiplex PCR resulted in sensitive and specific detection of T. solenopsae infection of S. invicta. The T. solenopsae-specific primer pair only amplified DNA from T. solenopsae and T. solenopsae-infected S. invicta. This primer pair did not produce any amplification products from DNA preparations from uninfected S. invicta, seven additional species of microsporidia (including Vairimorpha invictae), or Mattesia spp. The Gp-9-specific primers recognized and amplified DNA from Solenopsis xyloni, Solenopsis richteri, Solenopsis geminata, the invicta/richteri hybrid, and monogyne and polygyne S. invicta, but not from T. solenopsae, and, as such, served as a positive control verifying successful DNA preparation. Multiplex PCR detected T. solenopsae in worker fire ants infected with as few as 5000 spores. Furthermore, multiplex PCR detected T. solenopsae in all developmental stages of S. invicta. However, detection could be made more sensitive by using only the T. solenopsae-specific primer pair; ants infected with as few as 10 spores were able to be discerned. Multiplex PCR detection of T. solenopsae offers the advantages of a positive control, a single PCR amplification, detection of all developmental stages, and increased sensitivity and specificity compared with microscopy.

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“…The average density of fire ant colonies in the region (38.18 ± 6.44, n=12) was intermediate if compared with the values found for S. invicta (30 ± 37 and 55 ± 8 colonies/ha) in surveys carried out in South America by Porter et al (1992Porter et al ( , 1997. Solenopsis saevissima and S. invicta had a narrow latitudinal sympatric band in the study region situated between 22º24' and 21º35'S.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 53%

“…Solenopsis invicta also has a wide distribution, including Paraguay, a great extension in Bolivia, in northeastern Argentina, north of Uruguay and a northsouth band of Brazil that goes from the state of Rondônia to the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Both S. invicta and S. saevissima are parapatric in Brazil, with known zones of contact in the states of Mato Grosso do Sul, São Paulo and Paraná (Porter et al 1992, MacKay et al 1994, Shoemaker et al 2006.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geographical transition zone of Solenopsis fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and Pseudacteon fly parasitoids (Diptera: Phoridae) in the state of São Paulo, Brazil

Pesquero¹,

Penteado-Dias²

2011

Neotrop. entomol.

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Solenopsis saevissima (Smith) and Solenopsis invicta Buren are the most abundant and widely distributed fire ants in Brazil. The occurrence of the two fire ant species and of their parasitoids Pseudacteon spp. is described for a climatic and phytophysiognomic transition area in the state of São Paulo. Both fire ant species have a parapatric distribution, apparently determined by the climate: S. saevissima predominates in the north part of São Paulo (Aw climate), while S. invicta in the south (Cfa climate). A sympatric area is observed between the latitudes 21ºS and 23ºS. Two different communities of parasitic decapitating flies were associated with S. saevissima in the north and with S. invicta in the south, with a sympatric area in the municipality of São Carlos (21º58'S 47º53'W). The possible causes of this biogeographic pattern are discussed. Preference tests with Pseudacteon flies challenge the association of P. litoralis Borgmeier, P. curvatus Borgmeier, P. wasmanni Schmitz, P. pradei Borgmeier and P. obtusus Borgmeier with S. saevissima, and P. dentiger Borgmeier, P. disneyi Pesquero and P. lenkoi Borgmeier & Prado with S. invicta.

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Fire Ant Mound Densities in the United States and Brazil (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Cited by 129 publications

References 0 publications

Positive-Strand RNA Viruses Infecting the Red Imported Fire Ant,Solenopsis invicta

Positive-Strand RNA Viruses Infecting the Red Imported Fire Ant,Solenopsis invicta

Detection of Thelohania solenopsae (Microsporidia: Thelohaniidae) in Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) by multiplex PCR

Geographical transition zone of Solenopsis fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and Pseudacteon fly parasitoids (Diptera: Phoridae) in the state of São Paulo, Brazil

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