Sherman A. Phillips

Yeasts in mound soil of the red imported fire ant.

Soil yeast occurrence and abundance was studied in brood chambers within mounds of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta , and adjacent non-mound soil from Texas. Ten yeast species were isolated from fire ant brood chamber soil and 13 from non-mound soil. Relative frequencies of Candida parapsilosis and C. lipolytica were greater in brood chamber soil, and Cryptococcus terreus occurred more frequently in non-mound soil. Rhodoturula rubra, R. minuta , and Candida vini only occurred in non-mound soil. Mean cfu g −1 of soil was greater in brood chamber soil. Fire ants alter the community composition and relative abundance of yeasts within mounds due to creation of unique microhabitat patches.

The Straw Itch Mite, Pyemotes Tritici (Acari: Pyemotidae), as a Biological Control Agent of Red Imported Fire Ants, Solenopsis Invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The straw itch mite, Pyemotes tritici (Lagreze-Fossat and Montane), is a parasitic pyemotid mite that has generated considerable interest as a biological control agent of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren. To evaluate the efficacy of this mite against S. invicta under the conditions of central Texas, a large-scale field trial was conducted during 1985. A total of 244 S. invicta colonies was mapped and colony size and activity ratings recorded. During May, two applications of mites cultured on Angoumois grain moth-infested wheat kernels were introduced into 103 colonies, and 141 control colonies were treated with Angoumois grain moth-infested wheat kernels not infested with mites. The colonies were also twice treated in October. Throughout the test period, colonies were periodically inspected and rated. Analysis of the data using t-tests did not reveal significant differences in ratings between mite-treated and control colonies. Therefore, the straw itch mite, P. tritici, was not found to be an effective biological control agent of the red imported fire ant.

AN INSECT GROWTH REGULATOR (PRO-DRONE) FOR EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF THE RED IMPORTED FIRE ANT (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE)

Pro-Drone, an insect growth regulator (IGR) with juvenile hormone activity, was aerially applied twice at the rates of 11.86 g AI/ha in large-scale field trials for control of the red imported fire...