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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Imported Fire Ant and Household Insects Research » Docs » Accomplishments

Past Accomplishments

Star icon Discovered sulfluramids, a new class of delayed action insecticide for control of ants, cockroaches, and termites
Star icon Discovered and developed 7 chemicals for use in fire ant baits - 5 are commercially available today
Star icon Discovered fire ant recruitment, attractant, and induction pheromones
Star icon Established benefit of pheromone-enhanced baits
Star icon Discovered hybridization between the red and black imported fire ants
Star icon Discovered fire ant repellents

Recent Accomplishments

Star icon Discovered the life cycle of phorid flies and methods to mass rear and field release them
Star icon Released two Phorid fly species in the field for fire ant control
Star icon Discovered pathogen Thelohania solenopsae in U.S. and methods to infect field populations
Star icon Discovered a new spore type in Thelohania solenopsae
Star icon Discovered Mattesia sp., a new pathogen of fire ants in the U.S
Star icon Developed PCR detection method for Thelohania solenopsae
Star icon Determined that fire ant alarm pheromones attract Phorid flies
Star icon Field release and evaluations of 2 fire ant biocontrol agents in 11 southern states
Star icon Initiated first Areawide program for the suppression of fire ants using IPM in 5 states
Star icon Discovered fire ant attractant for bait enhancement

Future Goals

Plus icon Search for and develop additional fire ant biological control agents
Plus icon Develop technology for mass production & delivery of successful biocontrol agents
Plus icon Transfer technology of new biocontrol agents, and formulations to private industry and other federal and state government agencies
Plus icon Develop novel uses for pheromones in fire ant control
Plus icon Transfer repellent and attractant technology to commercial interests
Plus icon Expand molecular biology & genetic studies
Plus icon Implement Areawide integrated management programs against fire ants