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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Biological Control of Pests Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #164700
Title: DISTRIBUTION OF THELOHANIA SOLENOPSAE IN RED IMPORTED FIRE ANT POPULATIONS IN MISSISSISSIPPI

Author
item Streett, Douglas
item FREELAND, JR., THOMAS - DREC, STONEVILLE, MS
item Pranschke, Anthony

Submitted to: Imported Fire Ants Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/15/2004
Publication Date: 7/30/2004
Citation: Streett, D.A., Freeland, Jr., T.B., Pranschke, A.M. 2004. Distribution of Thelohania solenopsae in Red Imported Fire Ant Populations in Mississippi. Imported Fire Ants Conference Proceedings.

Interpretive Summary: The imported fire ants are serious pests affecting humans, wildlife, crops, and livestock. A systematic survey was conducted to document the distribution of an entomopathogen in natural populations of fire ants in Mississippi. This information will allow us to target specific sites for future regional fire ant management programs.

Technical Abstract: A systematic survey was conducted for the microsporidian parasite, Thelohania solenopsae in natural populations of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta. A total of 151 fire ant mounds were sampled from forty six counties in Mississippi. T. solenopsae was detected in 10% of the sampled mounds in this study. The intra-colony incidence of infection was generally low in the infected fire ant mounds with the exception of one mound from Madison county,MS.