Project Number: 6402-22320-003-14
Project Type: Nonfunded Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 01, 2007
End Date: Sep 01, 2009

Objective:
Development of biosensor based on the red imported fire ant-derived chemicals and the mechanisms which phorid flies use to detect the fire ants.

Approach:
Following are outlines of approaches we will take: 1) Determination of the volatile chemical profile associated with foragers and nests of the red imported fire ants; 2) Determination of the chemical cues which phorid flies use to locate their hosts; 3) Determination of the specific biochemical mechanisms of host finding used by phorid flies and identification of receptors, tissues, organelles and cells which are responsible for signal transfer in host finding of the phorid flies; and 4) Development of biosensor based on the identified receptors, tissues, organelles or cells.