Project Number: 6402-22320-005-04
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Jul 03, 2006
End Date: May 21, 2011

Objective:
The objective of the agreement will be to investigate acoustical communications among imported fire ants both within colonies and between colonies, and how the ants respond to acoustical vibration both in the air and in the soil.

Approach:
Stridulatory acoustic production will be investigated in small, medium and major workers and male and female alates using accelerometers, microphones, and portable laser vibrometers. Detection of near-field acoustics by fire ants will be investigated using particle image velocimetry and high-speed videography for analysis of air movements around fire ant alate wings. Fire ant and phorid fly interactions will be investigated using field high-speed videography throughout the summer and fall field seasons. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy of external fire ant and phorid fly cuticle will be made to detect potential sensory receptors that may be used in intraspecific and interspecific recognition and communication.