Project Number: 6615-32000-035-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Oct 01, 2000
End Date: Jan 10, 2005

Objective:
(1) Develop & demonstrate biologically-based integrated large scale mgmt. programs for imported fire ants (IFA); (2) field evaluate Pseudacteon phorid flies in populations of IFA; (3) evaluate the impact of the pathogen, Thelohania solenopsae on field populations of IFA & develop delivery systems; (4) discover other IFA biocontrol agents; (5) isolate & characterize IFA kairomones & pheromones; (6) develop detection methods for IFA pathogens and for distinguishing IFA from native ants.

Approach:
(1) Conduct releases of biological control agents with bait treatments for areawide integrated mgmt. of fire ants; (2) Monitor changes in IFA and native ant populations by periodic sampling of these ants for the presence and spread of phorid flies at treatment sites and at control sites; (3) Determine rate of spread or expansion of T. solenopsae by periodic sampling using ELISA and other detection methods, and evaluate new formulations of spores; (4) conduct searches for new pathogens and additional groups of IFA natural enemies in So. America and in the U.S.; (5) Collect volatile kairomones & pheromones from IFA using elec. shock grids, identify using GC-MS, and assay blends for desired behavioral traits to increase attack rates by phorids and collect volatile pheromones from IFA, identify using GC-MS, and assay blends for use in making IFA baits more species-specific; (6) use an antibody and DNA-based methods (polyclonal antibody capture and monoclonal reporting) for field detection of T. solenopsae in IFA and use an immunologically-based method for rapid field identification of IFA.