Introducing Phorid Fly Parasitoids of Red Imported Fire Ant Workers from South America to Texas: Outcomes Vary by Region and by Pseudacteon Species Released

Comparing electroantennogram and behavioral responses of two Pseudacteon phorid fly species to body extracts of Black, Red and Hybrid imported fire ants, Solenopsis spp.

“…This biotype failed to establish seven times when released on Red fire ant in Gainesville, Florida (2000-2001 (Graham et al, 2003). A second biotype of P. curvatus collected from S. invicta near Formosa, Argentina was released on Red fire ant in Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, andTexas (Vazquez et al, 2004, 2006;Gilbert et al, 2008;Callcott et al, 2011).…”

“…(Porter, 1998a). Several phorid fly species have been introduced to the southern United States for biological control of the invasive imported fire ant complex consisting of Solenopsis richteri Forel, Solenopsis invicta Buren and their Hybrid (S. richteri  S. invicta) (which are shortened as ''Black'', ''Red'' and ''Hybrid'', respectively) (Gilbert et al, 2008;Callcott et al, 2011). The first two released species, Pseudacteon tricuspis Borgmeier and Psuedacteon curvatus Borgmeier, have successfully established in most release sites and dispersed at a rate of ca 20 km per year Thead et al, 2005;Pereira and Porter, 2006;Vazquez et al, 2006;Henne et al, 2007;Porter, 2010), and the established populations appear to be as highly host specific as pre-release populations and pose no obvious threat to nontarget species (Vazquez and Porter, 2005;Morrison and Porter, 2006).…”

Kneallhazia(=Thelohania)SolenopsaeInfection Rate ofPseudacteon curvatusFlies Determined by Multiplex PCR

“…Four species of Pseudacteon endoparasitiod flies (P. tricuspis Borgmeier, P. curvatus Borgmeier, P. litoralis Borgmeier, and P. obtusus Borgmeier) have been released and established in the USA for biological control of Solenopsis invicta and S. richteri (Graham et al 2003;Porter et al 2004;Vazquez et al 2006;Gilbert et al 2008). The parasitoid oviposits an egg into an adult fire ant worker and the maggot that hatches migrates to the head of the ant where it develops, pupates, and ultimately kills the host (Porter 1998).…”

Fire Ant Decapitating Fly Cooperative Release Programs (1994–2008): TwoPseudacteonSpecies,P. tricuspisandP. curvatus, Rapidly Expand Across Imported Fire Ant Populations in the Southeastern United States

“…A third phorid species, Pseudacteon litoralis Borgmeier, was established at a single site in Alabama in 2005 (Porter et al 2011) and a fourth species, Pseudacteon obtusus Borgmeier, has been established recently at sites in Texas (Gilbert et al 2008) and Florida (S.D.P.). Pseudacteon cultellatus Borgmeier has recently been approved for field release (April 2010) and Pseudacteon nocens Borgmeier and several additional fly species are being reared and/or test-released in Austin, TX (L.E.G.…”

“…The University of Texas group then began cooperating with Patricia Folgarait (Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Buenos Aires, Argentina) and focused on rearing and releasing P. tricuspis and P. curvatus in the hot and drier eco-regions of central and southern Texas (Appendices 1, 2; Gilbert and Patrock 2002; Gilbert et al 2008). …”