Areawide Project and Phorid Decapitating Flies Sanford Porter USDA-ARS, CMAVE, Gainesville, FL Sanford Porter USDA-ARS, CMAVE, Gainesville, FL Areawide 2 October 2006

Released Pseudacteon tricuspis Pseudacteon curvatus Pseudacteon litoralis Released Pseudacteon tricuspis Pseudacteon curvatus Pseudacteon litoralis

Jaguariuna Biotype Currently occupies >40,000 square miles Expanding outward from multiple sites at ~25 miles/year Currently occupies >40,000 square miles Expanding outward from multiple sites at ~25 miles/year

Results of a four year study in North Florida did not show impacts above the 10-30% sensitivity of the study.

Consequently, additional species of flies and other natural enemies will be needed to help tilt the ecological balance against imported fire ants.

Pseudacteon curvatus A very small species that attacks small fire ants Two Biotypes: Las Flores (Black Fire Ants) Formosa (Red Fire Ants) A very small species that attacks small fire ants Two Biotypes: Las Flores (Black Fire Ants) Formosa (Red Fire Ants)

Las Flores Biotype Formosa Biotype Pseudacteon curvatus Formosa Biotype: 1. Over wintered in FL, OK, SC, and TX 2. Out >50 miles in FL Formosa Biotype: 1. Over wintered in FL, OK, SC, and TX 2. Out >50 miles in FL

P. curvatus occurs at much higher densities at polygyne sites than P. tricuspis P. curvatus occurs at much higher densities at polygyne sites than P. tricuspis

Pseudacteon litoralis Released in FL (5 sites) AL (1 site), MS (1 site), LA (1 site) 1 st Generation Flies Most Sites Appears to have failed at most sites But, did overwinter in Alabama (2006) Released in FL (5 sites) AL (1 site), MS (1 site), LA (1 site) 1 st Generation Flies Most Sites Appears to have failed at most sites But, did overwinter in Alabama (2006)

Preparing to Release Pseudacteon obtusus Preparing to Release Pseudacteon obtusus

Attacks medium and large fire ants Safety tests completed Approved for field release!!! Field releases Fall 2006? Attacks medium and large fire ants Safety tests completed Approved for field release!!! Field releases Fall 2006?

Future Targets Pseudacteon cultellatus Pseudacteon solenopsidis Pseudacteon nocens Pseudacteon obtusus (sm. form) Pseudacteon tricuspis (S. richteri) Pseudacteon litoralis (new biotype) Future Targets Pseudacteon cultellatus Pseudacteon solenopsidis Pseudacteon nocens Pseudacteon obtusus (sm. form) Pseudacteon tricuspis (S. richteri) Pseudacteon litoralis (new biotype)

Pseudacteon cultellatus From Corrientes, Argentina, Dec 2005 Very small, attacks minor workers Reared through 4th generation in quarantine From Corrientes, Argentina, Dec 2005 Very small, attacks minor workers Reared through 4th generation in quarantine

Pseudacteon solenopsidis very different from other decapitating flies Attacks medium and large ants after herding them off trails Never attracted to disturbed ants Hard to collect in large numbers very different from other decapitating flies Attacks medium and large ants after herding them off trails Never attracted to disturbed ants Hard to collect in large numbers

Pseudacteon nocens Attacks small to large fire ants Can be abundant around dawn and dusk four attempts to rear this fly in the lab have failed (mating problems?) Attacks small to large fire ants Can be abundant around dawn and dusk four attempts to rear this fly in the lab have failed (mating problems?)

Pseudacteon obtusus (small form) Pseudacteon obtusus (small form) small, like P. curvatus undescribed species rarely common attracted to nests and trails small, like P. curvatus undescribed species rarely common attracted to nests and trails

Pseudacteon tricuspis (black fire ants) Pseudacteon tricuspis (black fire ants) the true tricuspis only collected from areas with black fire ants strongly prefers black fire ants in the lab the true tricuspis only collected from areas with black fire ants strongly prefers black fire ants in the lab

Pseudacteon litoralis (new biotype) Pseudacteon litoralis (new biotype) Common on large fire ants Most active at dawn and dusk biotypes from Corrientes and Formosa do very poorly in the lab Common on large fire ants Most active at dawn and dusk biotypes from Corrientes and Formosa do very poorly in the lab

Completed Post-Release Tests In Progress Trip Planned December Trip Planned December

Decapitating Flies Mermithid Nematodes Eucharitid Wasps Parasitic Ant Decapitating Flies Mermithid Nematodes Eucharitid Wasps Parasitic Ant