Project Number: 6615-32000-041-06
Project Type: Nonfunded Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Jul 12, 2007
End Date: Nov 29, 2008

Objective:
The primary objective of the proposed research is to determine patterns of genetic differentiation (genetic structure) in populations of the inquiline social parasite Solenopsis daguerrei, a natural enemy and potential biological control agent of the Red Imported Fire Ant S. invicta.

Approach:
In addition to extensive collections already made, we will collect S. daguerrei from four host populations throughout the range of these parasites in Argentina. Multiple genetic markers (i.e. microsatellites and mitochondrial DNA sequences) will be used to infer patterns of genetic structure at different spatial scales including relatedness among parasites within single host nests, average relatedness between mating pairs, differentiation among parasites collected from different host nests at the same geographic location, differentiation among parasites collected from nests of different host species at the same geographic location, and differentiation among parasites collected from different geographic populations.