Introduction of the fire ant decapitating fly Pseudacteon obtusus in the United States: factors influencing establishment in Texas

The introduction of the fire ant parasitoid Pseudacteon nocens in North America: challenges when establishing small populations

“…1) may have played a role in the success or failure outcome as observed during the establishment of P. obtusus (Plowes et al 2011). Habitat conditions and host ant status are likely to reflect recent rainfall, while fly mortality may be high during extremely hot or cold episodes.…”

“…With previously introduced species of lab cultured adult flies of P. tricuspis, P. curvatus and P. obtusus, we either released adult flies or we parasitized colonies of S. invicta in the lab and returned the infected workers to the field Plowes et al 2011). Faced with small lab cultures of P. nocens we tried a new method whereby imported pupae were placed in a buried, insulated box from which enclosing flies could emerge through an escape tube.…”

“…We followed the same protocols used for successfully rearing three other phorid species, P. tricuspis, P. obtusus and P. curvatus (Pesquero et al 1995;Plowes et al 2011;Porter et al 1997;Vogt et al 2003). These efforts failed and a series of modifications to the protocols was attempted to overcome potential issues such as high larval mortality, mating failures, and low oviposition rates.…”

“…The goal was to provide sites with year round warmth and moisture, and with a high abundance of host fire ants. River corridors are considered likely to act as refuge source populations in times of drought, and also to serve as corridors to aid the spread of introduced flies (Plowes et al 2011). The three sites used were in Kenedy (27.16°N, 97.96°W), Gonzales (29.31°N, 97.38°W) and Dimmit (28.50°N, 99.63°W) counties.…”

Mitigating the allergic effects of fire ant envenomation with biologically based population reduction

“…Pseudacteon curvatus Borgmeier is the second and most successful species of decapitating fly established in the United States (2000 and 2003). A fourth species, Pseudacteon obtusus Borgmeier was recently established in Florida in 2008 [24] and several sites in Texas in 2006 [26]. A biotype from Las Flores, Argentina, has been established on black and hybrid fire ants in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee.…”