Project Number: 6402-22320-003-10
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Feb 01, 2005
End Date: Jan 31, 2010

Objective:
A USDA-ARS demonstration project for the suppression of fire ants on pastures has been established in five states; Florida, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas. Biological control agents of fire ants, e.g. microsporidia and phorid flies are being used in conjunction with registered bait products to demonstrate area-wide management of fire ant populations on pastures.

Approach:
The USDA-ARS area-wide demonstration project established against imported fire ants in pastures in Mississippi will use introductions of biological control agents of fire ants, e.g. microsporidia and phorid flies with registered fire ant bait products to demonstrate area-wide management of fire ant populations on pastures. The impact of integrated chemical methods; hydramethylnon and methoprene, in conjunction with biological methods; a microsporidian parasite Thelohania solenopsae and a phorid fly, Pseudacteon curvatus will be assessed against the black imported fire ant (Solenopsis richteri) in pastures. Pre- and post-treatment assessments, and environmental and economic evaluations will be made to assess the progress and success of the project.