Proceedings of the 2002 Imported Fire Ant Conference The Georgia Center for Continuing Education Athens, Georgia March 24-26, 2002 Hosted by: The University of Georgia Department of Entomology Support provided by: Ambrands Bayer Dow Garden Tech Scotts Wellmark 2002 Planning Committee: Dan Suiter, Chair Stan Diffie, Program Chair Beverly Sparks, Local Arrangements .... IFA PROCEEDINGS-MARCH 2002 - PAPERS IMPORTED FIRE ANT: HISTORY, IMPACT, ANDMANAGEMENT. DavidF.Williams... ....,.......... ....................................... 1 - " HOSTLOCATIONBEHAVIORINAPARASITOIDOFIMPORTEDFIREANTS. L.W.MorrisonandJ.R King ... : 4 - mE LIKELY RANGE ANDUNCONTROLLED RATE OF SPREAD OF RED IMPORTED FIRE ANTS INAUSTRALIA. - C.Vanderwoude,1 C.Scanlan,andR W.Suthurst .." ,.., NS PURIFICATION ANDCHARACTERIZATION OF AGLUTATmONE S-TRANSFERASE FROM - Solenopsis invicta. S.M. Valles... ... ...... ............ ............ ...... ... ... ... ............ ...... ... ...... ........................... ......NS SYMPATRY OF FIRE ANTPOLYGYNE ANDMONOGYNE SOCIAL FORMS. R.K.Vander Meer andG.N.Fritz 5 .... FIRE ANTPHEROMONE-BINDING PROTEINS. R.Renthal, K.Guntur,D.Velasquez,andlA Cassill... .........'" .....,... .....................NS SURVIVAL OF SMALL COLONIES OF Solenopsis invicta TRANSPLANTED TO Solenopsis .... (Diplorhoptrum) sp. INFESTED OR LOW ANT INFESTED AREAS. S. B. Vinson and A. Rao... ... ...... ... ... ... ............ ... ...... ...... ... ...... ...... ... ... ............ ... ... ......... NS - PREDATION OF RED IMPORTED FIRE ANT ALATES INCENTRAL GEORGIA. - R.Ipser, H.Peeler,andW.Gardner 10 LONG TERM EFFECT OF THE FIRE ANTPATHOGENS Vairimorpha invictae AND Thelohania solenopsae INARGENTINA. J. A.Briano, D.F.Williams,andD. H.Oi 15 - LIGHT INTENSITY AFFECTS DISTRIBUTION OF ATTACKING Pseudacteon curvatus - (DIPTERA: PHORIDAE) INALABORATORY REARING SYSTEM. J. T.Vogt... ........................." ................................. ............... ......... .......................16 DISPERSAL OF THE DECAPITATING FLY Pseudacteon tricuspis ACROSS NORTH FLORIDA ANDPLANS FOR FIELD RELEASES OF OTHER Pseudacteon sp. - S.D.Porter, L.W.MORRISON, J.Briano, andL. A NogueiradeSa " NS MECHANISMS OF INTERCOLONY TRANSMISSION OF Thelohania solenopsae INRED - IMPORTED FIRE ANTS. DavidH.OiandDavid.F.Williams 21 YELLOW HEAD DISEASE (VHD) CAUSED BYANEWLY DISCOVERED Mattesia sp. IN - POPULATIONS OF THE RED IMPORTED FIRE ANT,Solenopsis invicta. Roberto M. Pereira, DavidF.Williams,James1 BecnelandDavidH.Oi... ...23 ANEW TECHNIQUE FOR LABORATORY ASSESSMENT OF RED IMPORTED FIRE ANT - MOUND DRENCH TREATMENTS. Bastiaan M. Drees... ... .......................................... ............ ......... ..................................25 ..,.... - - FIPRONIL GRANULAR ANDBAIT +SEVIN TWO-STEP TREATMENTS ANDTHEIR - EFFECTS ONFIRE ANT "PAVEMENT" MOUNDS. Charles L.Barr ...26 - AREAWIDE SUPPRESSION OF FIRE ANT POPULATIONS INPASTURES: PROJECT OVERVIEW. RobertoM. Pereira .....27 - ANUPDATE OF THE RED IMPORTED FIRE ANTPROGRAM FOR THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD ANDAGRICULTURE. Mohammad Azhar ...29 - SURVEY RESULTS FROM NEIGHBORHOOD FIRE ANT PROGRAMS IN SANANTONIO, TX: . ACLOSER LOOK AT THE FACTS. NathanL.Riggs... NS - MITIGATING RIFA INSECTICIDE RUNOFF FROM CONTAINERIZED NURSERIES USING VEGETATIVE FILTER STRIP. - John Kabashima. DarrenHaver,DaveKim,Johanna Walters, KeanS. Gob,andTobiMancini NS FIRE ANTS DOWN-UNDER: PROGRESS TO DATE ON THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL ERADICATION PLAN FOR Solenopsis invic/a. - C.VanderwoudeandK. McCubbin .................. .............,. ... ...... 30 STUDIES ONATTRACTIVENESS ANDEFFECTIVENESS OF ANARTIFICIAL ENTOMOPHAGE DIET FED TO HYBRID IMPORTED FIRE ANTS. - J. T.VogtandA C.Cohen... ... ......... ... ... ...... 36 ANTFAUNAOF CANOPIED ANDOPEN HABITATS INCENTRAL GEORGIA. - R.Ipser, H.Peeler,andW.Gardner... ......... .......................................... ......... 39 CONSUMPTION OF RED IMPORTED FIRE ANTS BY NORTHERN BOBWHITE CmCKS: IMPACT ON SURVIVAL ANDWEIGHT GAIN. - P.E.Myers, C.R Allen.andP. M Horton... .................. ...... ... ............ NS SEED PREFERENCES OF mE RED IMPORTED FIRE ANT IN OKLAHOMA. - J. T.Vogt, StanleyA Rice,andStevenA Armstrong... ... 42 mGHER-ORDER PREDATION BY RED IMPORTED FIRE ANTS (HYMENOPTERA: - FORMICIDAE) ANDITS IMPACT ON COTTON APHID (HOMOPTERA: APHIDIDAE) POPULATIONS. LKaplan andM.D.Eubanks '''''''''''''''''' 43 - PREDICTING VULNERABILITY OF RARE ANDENDANGERED WILDLIFE SPECIES TO FIRE ANTIMPACTS INsoum CAROLINA: ASPATIAL RISK ASSESSMENT. LB. Parris andC.R Allen. P.M.HortonandE. Schmidt """'"'''''''''''' NS FIRE ANT DAMAGE TO TARGET LIFTERS ATANATIONAL GUARD FIRING RANGE IN . TEXAS. MichaelMerchantandMargieBarton............ ... ... ............... 45 - MODIFICATIONS TO AREARING SYSTEM FOR Pseudacteon curvatus (DIPTERA: PHORIDAE). J.T. Vogt ......... ...... ... ..."'''' ...... ......51 CO-EXISTENCE PATTERNS OF ANTANDTERMITE SPECIES INNEW ORLEANS CITY PARK. B.A.Wiltz """ ... ... ...... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 52 - IMPACTS OF THE RED IMPORTED FIRE ANT ONHERPETOFAUNA POPULATIONS. - J. T.Slater andC. R Allen... ..."-' ... .....,........,............ ... .........'" ...... NS IMPACTS OF RED IMPORTED FIRE ANTS ON GOPHER TORTOISE HATCHLING SURVWORSHIP AT CAMP SHELBY TRAINING SITE.- Deborah M. Epperson andCraigR Allen... "'".''' """'''''''''''''''''''''''' NS LIQUID TOXICANTS FOR RED IMPORTED FIRE ANTS. L.Greenberg andM.K.Rust ............... ... ... ......... NS SURVEYANDREGULATORY FOR THE IMPORTED FIRE ANT INTEXAS. AwinashP.Bhatkar... ........................................................,........................ ..........NS SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF RED IMPORTED FIRE ANT DISTRIBUTION IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA - Maria Diuk-Wasser, MichaelHearst,andShanaLowe...................................................... 58 POSTERS TEACHING MATERIALS FOR IMPORTED FIRE ANT TRAINING PROGRAMS. K. L Flanders, L.C.Graham, V.E.Bertagnolli,R N.Ward,K.E.Ward,andK. W.Creel... 64 AQUEEN PHEROMONE INDUCES WORKERS TO KILL SEXUAL LARVAE INCOLONIES OF THE RED IMPORTED FIRE ANT(Solenopsis invicta). R.J.DeslippeE,.AKlobucharD,.Velasqueza,ndRRenthal 65 """"""""'"'''' LACK OF INTERFERENCE WITH Rhinocyllus conicus ONMUSK THISTLE BYRED IMPORTED FIRE ANT. Mark A.Brinkman, WayneA Gardner,andG. DavidBuntin """ ... NS THE ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF RED IMPORTED FIRE ANTS IN TEXAS. C.F.~rd, K.M. Schroeder,V.Salin,andS.Robison... ............ ..................'" ....66 FIRE ANT, Solenopsis invicta, WORKER ALARM PHEROMONES ATTRACT Pseudacteon PHORID FLIES PARASITES. R.K.Vander Meer and S.D.Porter " .77 - RED IMPORTED FIRE ANTS EXPAND THEIR RANGE ACROSS THE WEST INDIES. LloydR.Davis,Jr., RobertK.VanderMeer, and SanfordD. Porter ...NS - IMPACTS OF THE RED IMPORTED FIRE ANT,Solenopsis invicta BUREN ON COTTON APHIDS ANDNOCTUIDS INCOTTON FIELDS. Rodrigo Diaz,AllenKnutson,andJulioBernal... ................................................'"'''''' ...NS - THE INFLUENCE OF TRAVEL TIME ON SUGAR LOADING DECISIONS ANDWATER BALANCE INA CENTRAL PLACE FORAGING ANT. J.B.MartinandS.B.Vinson ...NS - - - -.. BIOASSAY EVALUATION OF TRANSGENIC STRAINS OF Beauveria bassiana AGAINST Solenopsis invicta BUREN. MichaelSchraeder,HarlanThorvilson,andMichaelSanFrancisco ... 81 -.. GEOTACTIC BEHAVIOR OF FEMALE ALATES OF RED IMPORTED FIRE ANTS ON QUARANTINE REGULATED ARTICLES. Ronald D.Weeks, Jr. andBartDrees... ............... ...""" ... ...... .,. ...............NS &.,j COMPARATIVE DIAGNOSIS OF MICROSPORIDIAN INFECTIONS IN FIRE ANT COLONIES BYLIGHT MICROSCOPY TECHNIQUES (GIEMSA, TRICHROME, ANDCALCOFLUOR STAINS)ANDBYPCR.. 1-1 Y.Sokolova,I.Isakova,andJ.Fuxa...... ........:..............:................................. 85 RANGE EXPANSION OF THE IMPORTED FIRE ANT: 1918-2001(UPDATED). .... Anne-Marie Callcott , ............................................,...'" ...............91 EVALUATION OF "ORGANIC" PRODUCTS ANDHOME REMEDIES TO ELIMINATE RED IMPORTED FIRE ANT COLONIES. .... P.R.Nester andB. M.Drees " 94 ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PHORID FLY, Pseudacteon curvatus, INALABAMA FOR .... BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF IMPORTED FIRE ANTS. L. C. 'Fudd' Graham, V.E.Bertagnolli, S.D.Porter,H.D.Dorough.andA T.Kelley ...104 THE SCIENCE OF FIRE ANTS. u Kathy McLean andFuddGraham ...... 106 ANNUAL LOSSES CAUSED BY RED IMPORTED FIRE ANTS TO HOUSEHOLDS INTHE ..., SOUTHERN U.S. Lynne C. Thompson andSuzanneWiley... .......................,........................ ......... ...109 MODELING SOIL TEMPERATURES USING LANDSAT 7SATELLITE IMAGES: AN ..,; IMPORTANT VARIABLE FOR RED IMPORTED FIRE ANTRANGE EXPANSION MODELS. Matt Lane, RobertWeih,Jr,andLynneThompson... ..................... ......... ............114 "-' BEST TIMING FOR ONE APPLICATION OF AMDRO@ BAIT FOR RED IMPORTED FIRE ANT CONTROL IN THE SOUTHERN U.S. Lynne Thompson, SuzanneWiley,MichaelKorzukhin, andSanfordPorter.. ... ... ..... .....120 -.. COLD WINTER OF 2000-01DRASTICALLY REDUCES RED IMPORTED FIRE ANT POPULATIONS IN SOUTHERN ARKANSAS: USING AMODEL TO VERIFY WHAT WAS PERCEIVED. .... Lynne Thompson, MichaelKorzukhin, andSanfordPorter.,. ........................... ......'" ... ....125 - .- Solenopsis invicta -YES, Solenopsis wagneri NO! S.D.Porter 131 EPIZOOTIOLOGY OF A Thelohania sp. (MICROSPORA) INFECTING THE RED IMPORTED FIRE ANT INMISSISSIPPI. ..... D.A.Streett, ThomasBartonFreehmd,Jr 132 SURVEY OF IMPORTED FIRE ANTPOPULATIONS INMISSISSIPPI. D.A.Streett, ThomasBartonFreeland,Jr.,andRobertK. VanderMeer... ........................ ...135 ..... .... ..., '- AREA-WIDE SUPPRESSION OF BLACK IMPORTED FIRE ANTS ONPASTURE IN MISSISSIPPI. D.A.Streett, JamesT.Vogt,andRobertoM. Pereira... ..,....." ......... ...... 138 MITIGATING RIFA INSECTICIDE RUNOFF FROM CONTAINERIZED NURSERIES USING VEGETATIVE FILTER STRIP. DaveKim, Johanna Walters,KeanS.Gob,DarrenHaver,JohnKabashima,andTobiMancini .,. .NS - CALORIC ANAYLYSISOF VARIOUS CASTES WITHIN Solenopsis invicta COLONIES. C.A.Peterson andS. B.Vinson._....',"'" .........'" ...... ....:~.................. '" ............ NS - LITTER REMOVAL BYSMALL MAMMALS IN mE PRESENCE OF mREE DIFFERENT DENSITIES OF RED IMPORTED FIRE ANTS. T.L.Bedford,S.B.Vinsona,ndW.E.Grant......,.. ... .,. ...142 - ARE FIRE ANTS INTERFERING WIm BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF PECAN APHIDS? A.Calixto, A Knutson,M.Harris,B.Ree,andA Dean... .................................... ..........145 - POPULATION DECREASES OF mE RED IMPORTED FIRE ANTANDITS RELATIONSHIP TO WEATHER CONDmONS. . DougPetty, KellyLoftin,andDonna Shanklin... ..,................................. ............... 146 - SUMMARY OF INSECTICIDE TESTS DIRECTED AT MANAGING IMPORTED FIRE ANTS IN FIELD NURSERIES. - JasonB. Oliver, DerekBailey,KarenVail,andAnne-MarieCallcott... ... ........................ 152 EVALUATION OF ANEW HYDRAMETHYLNON BAIT FORMULATION. KellyLoftin, Donna Shanklin,andFranTomerlin... 159 - EFFECTS OF RED IMPORTED FIRE ANTS ANDHABITAT COMPLEXITY ONBIOLOGICAL CONTROL INCOLLARDS. - C.T.Harvey andM. D.Eubanks ,... NS CHARACTERIZATION OF APUTATIVE TENDING PHEROMONE INSolenopsis invicta. C. S.Brent andE. L.Vargo , ..163 - RANGE EXPANSION OF mE HYBRID IMPORTED FIRE ANTIN GEORIGA. Stan Diffie,RobertK.VanderMeer,andWayneGardner ..." ...165 - LISTOFREGISTRANTS........................ .................. .........'" ........................168 - - - IMPORTED FTRE ANT: HISTORY, IMPACT AM1 MANAGEMENT David F. Williams USDA-ARS, Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology 1600/1700 SW 23d Drive Gainesville, FL 32608 HISTORY The red imported h ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, was probably introduced in the port of Mobile, AL around 1930's. The first collections were obtained in Mobile and the 1'' identification was made as S. saksima var. richteri in 1930. In 1930, the infestation was limited to the Mobile area. The red imported fire ant continued to spread by means of mating flights, the movement of colonies and newly mated queens on flood waters, movement of nursery stock, bee hives, constcuction equipment, railroad cars and open truck beds. In 1949, a survey found 14 Mississippi, 12 Alabama and 2 Florida counties infested and then in 1 953, a four year survey by the USDA showed that this ant had spread to 102 counties in I 0 states. The increased mge of the red imported fire ant is now over 32 1 million acres in southern U.S. and Puerto Rico. The principal areas of expansion include Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Texas, North Caroba nd Virginia with recent infestations occuning in California, New Mexico, and Arizona. WACT The impact of S. invicta is extensive and occurs on human health, crops, livestock, wildlife, biodiversity, utilities, recreation, tourism, transportation (roadways), and envir0mmt.l quality. The most noticeable problem caused by fire ants is stinging of humam which in some cases cause serious injuries and can even result in death. S. invictca is also responsible for damage to farm products such as soybeans, okra, potatoes, corn, and young citrus trees. It also impacts on the nursery industry because of the federal quarantine requirement that all nursery stock and grass sod moving out of the fie ant infested areas be treated with approved insecticides. In addition, S invicta is a threat to domestic animals causing economic losses to farmers and can cause an overall reduction in biodiversity in many areas. The overall impact from S. invicta infestations across the southern U.S. is over $1 billion dollars annually. MANAGEPvfENT There are several reasons why S. invicta are dificult to control. For example, they have large populations, produce large numbers of reproductives, lack natural enemies, have little competition, are very aggressive and sting, and thrive in a wide range of habitats. During the World War IT years (1940-1947) dl control programs for S. dnvicta were haIted and this ant continued to spread. In 1948, Mississippi, Alabama, & Louisiana appropriated funds for control programs using 5 % chlordane dust. In 1 957, the U.S. Congress appropriated $2.4 million to USDA to initiate a federaVstate cooperative control and eradication program. In November, I 95 7, heptachlor and dieldrin were applied by air and ground equipment and within one year, environmental concern began because of high mortality seen in birds. During the 1960'~m~ir ex bait was developed by the USDA-ARS and in 1962, mirex bait replaced heptachlor as the treatment for S. invicta. Mirex was applied h m 1 962-1 978 using converted World War II aircraftovermore than 140million acres. Totaltreatmentcost was30 centsper acrewhich ~ includedthebait andapplication. Inthelate 1960's,mirexresidueswere detected innontarget organismsand allregistrations ofmirexwere cancelledin 1978. Theother reasons for - cancellationwere persistence inthe environment, accumulationin nontarget organisms,toxicity to estuarineorganisms anditspotential asacarcinogen. Followingthe banof mirex,political pressure onCongress forfindingareplacementwas intense,thus, Congress appropriated funds forthe USDA-ARSto begin anintensified searchfornew chemicals foruse in fire antbaits. .... This allowedan increasein thenumber ofchemicalsevaluatedforS. invicta baits by USDA- ARS. During 1958-1976(18years),2,678chemicalswereevaluated,however, from 1977-1988 (11years),4,432 productswere tested. Thehistorical developmentof chemicals forfire ant .... controlisasfollows: -1937calcium cyanidedust - -1947chlordane dust -1957heptachlor and dieldringranulars -1962- 1978mirex r..I -1980'shydramethylnon, fenoxycarb, andabamectin -1990'spyriproxyfen,methoprene, andspinosad -2000's fipronil . ..., Baits forS.invicta consists ofthe followingcomponents,(1)attractants(oils, sugars,proteins, andinsects), (2) toxicants (metabolicinhibitors-i.e. hydramethylnon; IGR's-i.e. fenoxycarb; .... reproductiveinhibitors-i.e. abamectin;chitinsynthesisinhibitors-i. e.teflubenzuron), and(3) carriers-ecoID grits, sawdust,clayormineral granules,andinsects). Thecriteria neededfor optimumchemicaluse inS. invictabaitsare: '-" -Delayed Toxicity -Effectiveover wide dosagerange -Formulateswith foodandcarrierseasily .... -Notrepellent to ants -Environmentally safe .... Thepresent control ofS. invictaconsistsmainly ofusingchemicals. The chemical control options arethe use ofbaits, contactinsecticides (sprays,drenches,dusts, granules, etc.)and combinationsofthese two. Present-dayfire antbaits generallygive80-95% controlwithin2 .... wks- 3monthsandlast4- 12months afterapplication. Most baits are applied at 1- 1.5lbsper acreandthe costs ofthe baitproductsrange from about$7.00- $12.00per lb. ..... Inthemid-1970's, there was anincreasein surveys fornatural controlagents forS. invictain SouthAmerica. Self-sustainingbiologicalcontrol agentscouldbecome amajor factorin . providinglong termsuppressionoffire antpopulations, somethingthat chemicals donotoffer. .... Also, fireantdensities aremore than 5times higherin theU.S.than in theirnative South America andthe only differencesappear tobe the naturalenemies in South America. Withmore than 30natural enemiesof fireantshavingbeen discoveredin SouthAmerica, several .... investigatorsbegan concentratingtheirresearch effortstowards searching forpotential biological controlagentsforuse againstS. invicta. Severalbiological controlagentsarepresently being studiedsuchasthe parasitic ant,Solenopsis .... daguerrei,decapitatingphorid flies,Pseudacteon tricuspis,P. curvatus, andP. littoralis, and .... 2 .... protozoans,Thelohaniasolenopsae, Vairimorphainvictae,andMattesia sp. In addition,studies havealsobeen conductedwith the fungus,Beauveriabassiana. SUMMARY Theredimportedfire ant,S.invicta,infest over321million acresinthe U.S., andare an , increasingproblemhaving a considerableimpact. Chemicalsare stillthemost effectivemethod ofcontrolbut self-sustainingbiologicalcontrolagentscouldprovide longtenn suppressionof fireantpopulations. Future controlshould involvemultiple strategiesofchemical,biological, behavioral,molecular,physical, andculturalmethods. Research andeducation areimportant ..... keysandwillplayvital roles inthe futuremanagementofthispest. -- - 3