Project Number: 6615-32000-041-11
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Aug 27, 2007
End Date: Mar 30, 2011

Objective:
Use data from multiple genetic markers of different classes (allozymes, microsatellites, mitochondrial DNA sequences, nuclear DNA sequences) to identify the native source population(s) of the fire ant Solenopsis invicta introduced into the U.S.A.

Approach:
1) Collect numerous nest samples of S. invicta from twenty locations throughout the native range of the species in South America; 2) Generate genetic data for S. invicta collected from all native sites as well as from several sites located throughout the U.S.A.; 3) Analyze data using multiple complementary statistical and phylogenetic methods to infer the region of the native range from which the introduced ants originated; 4) Subsequently sample at high-resolution ants in this native source region combined and perform additional detailed genetic analyses to pinpoint with reasonable confidence the source population(s) of introduced S. invicta.