Release and Establishment of the Little Decapitating Fly Pseudacteon cultellatus (Diptera: Phoridae) on Imported Fire Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Florida
Keywords:
Solenopsis invicta, biological control, field releaseAbstract
The little decapitating fly Pseudacteon cultellatus Borgmeier (Diptera: Phoridae) from Argentina was released as a self-sustaining biological control agent against the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Florida to parasitize small fire ant workers associated with multiple-queen colonies. This fly appears to be established at 2 of 5 release sites, but populations still remain very low (≤ 1% of total Pseudacteon flies) and localized more than 2 yr after their release. Further releases of P. cultellatus in the United States should be limited to a few additional sites in different habitats or climatic regions where this fly might be more successful.
La mosca pequeña decapitadora Pseudacteon cultellatus Borgmeier (Diptera: Phoridae) de Argentina fue liberada como un agente de control biológico autosustentable contra la hormiga de fuego importada, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), en Florida para parasitar obreras pequeñas de esta hormiga asociadas a colonias con múltiples reinas. Esta mosca parece estar establecida en dos de los cinco sitios de liberación, pero la población sigue siendo muy baja (≤ 1% del total de las moscas liberadas) y focalizada más de dos años después de su liberación. Nuevas liberaciones de P. cultellatus en los Estados Unidos deberían estar limitadas a unos pocos sitios adicionales en diferentes hábitats o regiones climáticas donde esta mosca podría ser más exitosa.
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