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Post-Release Host-Specificity Testing of Pseudacteon tricuspis, a Phorid Parasitoid of Solenopsis Invicta Fire Ants

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Abstract

Inherent in any biological control program is the risk of nontarget effects. Pseudacteon tricuspisBorgmeier, a parasitoid phorid fly, has been introduced to the United States from South America as a potential biocontrol agent of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invictaBuren. We conducted tests of host specificity on introduced populations of P. tricuspis, which are attracted to alarm pheromones released by their hosts during events such as mound disturbances and interspecific interactions. We monitored disturbed mounds of S. invicta and its close congener, S. geminata(F.), during the expansion of P. tricuspis across north Florida and after populations had been established for ~3 years. We also tested host acceptance in established populations of P. tricuspis by offering trays containing S. invicta, S. geminata, and 14 additional ant species representing 12 different non-Solenopsis genera. Although P. tricuspiswas commonly observed to hover over and attempt to oviposit on S. invicta, we never observed any parasitization attempts on any other ant species. As predicted by laboratory tests, released populations of P. tricuspis appear to be highly host specific and pose no obvious threat to nontarget species.

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Author notes

  1. Lloyd W. Morrison

    Present address: Department of Biology, Missouri State University, 901 S National Ave, Springfield, MO, 65897, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, USDA-ARS, P.O. Box 14565, Gainesville, FL, 32604, USA

    Lloyd W. Morrison & Sanford D. Porter

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  1. Lloyd W. Morrison
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  2. Sanford D. Porter
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Correspondence to Lloyd W. Morrison.

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Morrison, L.W., Porter, S.D. Post-Release Host-Specificity Testing of Pseudacteon tricuspis, a Phorid Parasitoid of Solenopsis Invicta Fire Ants. Biocontrol 51, 195–205 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-004-4655-y

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