Article
Ecology
Nicholas V. Travanty, Edward L. Vargo, Charles S. Apperson, Loganathan Ponnusamy
Summary: The long-standing association between insects and microorganisms plays a crucial role in the success of social insect groups. In this study, the bacterial microbiomes in soils with and without red imported fire ants were characterized, revealing significant differences in bacterial community structures. Red imported fire ants were found to have a notable impact on soil microbial communities, with differences in abundance of certain taxa and distinct bacterial compositions in worker ants compared to nest soils.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ting Xiong, Si-quan Ling, Jia-li Liu, Xin-nian Zeng
Summary: This article studied the toxicity of Fluralaner against S. invicta and the involvement of metabolism-related enzymes in the metabolism process of Fluralaner. The results showed that Fluralaner was effective against S. invicta through topical application and feeding application, and cytochrome P450 monooxygenase and carboxylesterase might be involved in the detoxification of Fluralaner.
PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Entomology
J. T. King, J. Starkey, V. R. Holmes, R. T. Puckett, E. L. Vargo
Summary: Host-parasitoid interactions can change the behavior of the host through direct infection or presence. In the case of red imported fire ants, their foraging behavior is affected by the presence of decapitating flies. Through studying the molecular processes involved, we found upregulation of immune gene defensin-2, but no significant differences in three other immune-related genes.
Article
Entomology
Pradeep Paudel, Farhan Mahmood Shah, Dileep Kumar Guddeti, Abbas Ali, Jian Chen, Ikhlas A. Khan, Xing-Cong Li
Summary: Imported fire ants are significant pests in the United States, and their control heavily relies on synthetic insecticides. However, plant-derived compounds carvacrol and thymol have shown potent repellency against the ants, suggesting their potential as safe and environmentally friendly alternatives for fire ant control.
Article
Entomology
Huanling Xing, Yingqi Hu, Liupeng Yang, Jianhao Lin, Haiyi Bai, Yanqun Li, Rezwan Tanvir, Ling Li, Mei Bai, Zhixiang Zhang, Hanhong Xu, Hong Wu
Summary: This study investigated the insecticidal properties of essential oils from the bark and leaves of Cinnamomum loureirii Nees on Solenopsis invicta using the fumigation method. It was found that the essential oils extracted from the leaves were more effective in killing the ants compared to those from the bark. Cinnamyl acetate played a vital role in enhancing the insecticidal effect. The essential oils caused disorganization and shedding of the ants' antennae morphology and receptors, resulting in their death.
JOURNAL OF PEST SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Xiaoliang Wang, Yujia Qin, Yanling Xu, Xiaodong Feng, Shouqi Zhao, Yongyue Lu, Zhihong Li
Summary: The red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren) is a highly successful and destructive invasive ant species. Utilizing the MaxEnt modeling approach and comprehensive surveillance data, the distribution of S. invicta in China resulting from climate change was predicted. It was found that S. invicta has been rapidly spreading to new areas annually, with transportation of seedlings and deployment of turfgrass being the major pathways. Efforts to control this pest have effectively reduced its occurrence and economic loss. The MaxEnt model predicts further expansion of S. invicta in China due to climate change, with moisture variables playing a key role.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Yuzhe Du, Aiming Zhou, Jian Chen
Summary: This study explored the olfactory and behavioral responses of S. invicta to structurally different acetate esters, identifying potential fire ant attractants and repellents. Compounds such as pentyl acetate and tran-2-hexenyl acetate were found to be potential attractants, while hexyl acetate and cis-3-hexenyl acetate were identified as potential repellents. These findings may aid in developing new products for fire ant management.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Nicholas Travanty, Edward L. Vargo, Coby Schal, Charles S. Apperson, Loganathan Ponnusamy
Summary: This study investigated the effects of bacteria cultured from the nest soils of red imported fire ants on worker ant behaviors. The results showed that Arthrobacter woluwensis (Actinobacteria) attracted worker ants while bacteria identified as Firmicutes generally repelled ants. These findings provide a basis for the development of new control strategies for the red imported fire ant.
Article
Agronomy
Jie Chen, Yangyang Zhou, Yanyuan Lei, Qingxing Shi, Guojun Qi, Yurong He, Lihua Lyu
Summary: The for (Sifor) gene plays a critical role in the behavioral transition between foragers and nurses of red imported fire ants. The expression patterns of Sifor and PKG vary in different castes, body sizes, ages, and tissues of fire ants. RNA interference-mediated Sifor knockdown induces the transition of foragers toward the nurse phenotype, while PKG activation results in the transition of nurses toward the forager phenotype.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Yongqing Tian, Zhixiang Zhang
Summary: This study evaluated the toxicity of the ethanol extract from the roots of Sophora flavescens against the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta). Two active compounds, matrine and sophocarpine, were isolated and found to significantly reduce the foraging response and food consumption of the fire ant workers. These findings suggest that S. flavescens roots have the potential to be used as a natural control agent for the fire ant.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yuzhe Du, Jian Chen
Summary: This study demonstrated the importance of Orco and SiOBP5 in red imported fire ants for their responses to alarm pheromones. Knocking down SiOBP5 through RNA interference significantly disrupted alarm pheromone communication, suggesting that disrupting SiOBP5 and Orcos could potentially be useful in the management of red imported fire ants.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Li Chen, Lloyd W. Morrison
Summary: Pseudacteon flies, parasitoids of South American fire ants, have been successfully established in the US to control imported fire ant species. The released fly species complex is expected to reduce the abundance of imported fire ants, and future research should focus on documenting the overall reduction in host ant populations.
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
(2021)
Article
Virology
Cesar Augusto Diniz Xavier, Margaret Louise Allen, Anna Elizabeth Whitfield
Summary: This study identified and characterized five putative new viruses associated with Solenopsis invicta in introduced areas, including novel negative-sense single-stranded RNA viruses. The findings suggest a long-term association of these viruses with the invasive ant species and potential active replication within their bodies.
Article
Biology
Yanyuan Lei, Waqar Jaleel, Muhammad Faisal Shahzad, Shahbaz Ali, Rashid Azad, Rao Muhammad Ikram, Habib Ali, Hamed A. Ghramh, Khalid Ali Khan, Xiaolong Qiu, Yurong He, Lihua Lyu
Summary: The study reveals that red imported fire ants exhibit circadian foraging rhythm activities at different temperatures, with maximum foraging occurring at 14:00. Temperature plays a significant role in foraging activity, with colonies showing preference for moderate soil temperatures. Fluctuating temperature impacts individual locomotor activity, but does not alter the rhythm activity.
SAUDI JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Waqar Jaleel, Qunchen Li, Khalid Ali Khan, Farmanur Rahman Khan, Farman Ullah, Rashid Azad, Qingxing Shi, Guojun Qi, Lihua Lyu
Summary: The red imported fire ant is a notorious species worldwide, and the most effective control method is the broadcast application of baits, particularly fatty oil. Understanding the sugar taste mechanism of fire ant workers through observing feeding behavior is crucial to improving sugar bait efficacy against these ants. This study described the feeding ethogram of minor fire ant workers and explored ways to block or deactivate the sensitivity of gustatory sensilla on these ants for better study outcomes. Ablation for antennae flagellum and HCL solution for foreleg tarsi were found to be more suitable for studying the gustatory behavior of fire ant workers on sucrose solution.
JOURNAL OF KING SAUD UNIVERSITY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Virology
Steven M. Valles, Sanford D. Porter
ARCHIVES OF VIROLOGY
(2015)
Article
Entomology
Sanford D. Porter, Steven M. Valles, Alexander L. Wild, Roberta Dieckmann, Nicola J. R. Plowes
FLORIDA ENTOMOLOGIST
(2015)
Editorial Material
Entomology
Sanford D. Porter, Steven M. Valles, Roberto M. Pereira
FLORIDA ENTOMOLOGIST
(2016)
Article
Entomology
Sanford D. Porter, Jenny M. Gavilanez-Slone, Steven M. Valles
FLORIDA ENTOMOLOGIST
(2016)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ingrida Olendraite, Nina I. Lukhovitskaya, Sanford D. Porter, Steven M. Valles, Andrew E. Firth
JOURNAL OF GENERAL VIROLOGY
(2017)
Article
Entomology
Sanford D. Porter, Robert M. Plowes
FLORIDA ENTOMOLOGIST
(2018)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Steven M. Valles, Sanford D. Porter, Luis A. Calcaterra
Article
Entomology
J. Gavilanez-Slone, S. D. Porter
Article
Zoology
Steven M. Valles, Sanford D. Porter
JOURNAL OF INVERTEBRATE PATHOLOGY
(2019)
Review
Entomology
Li Chen, Sanford D. Porter
Article
Entomology
Sanford D. Porter, Robert M. Plowes, Charlotte E. Causton
FLORIDA ENTOMOLOGIST
(2018)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lin Hu, Robert K. Vander Meer, Sanford D. Porter, Li Chen
CHEMISTRY & BIODIVERSITY
(2017)
Article
Entomology
Steven M. Valles, James K. Wetterer, Sanford D. Porter
FLORIDA ENTOMOLOGIST
(2015)
Review
Entomology
David H. Oi, Sanford D. Porter, Steven M. Valles
MYRMECOLOGICAL NEWS
(2015)
Article
Ecology
Qun-Hui Shi, Lin Hu, Wen-Kai Wang, Robert K. Vander Meer, Sanford D. Porter, Li Chen
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2015)