How can we introduce phorid flies in our county?
We have recently began a pilot program to assist local extension agents and private interest groups to participate in acquiring their own phorid “infections.” Fire ants are collected in the area to be treated with phorids according to our instructions. Ants are separated from soil at Brackenridge Field Laboratory. We show participants where to place out trays of ants in phorid fly “hot spots.” The flies will arrive and attack the fire ant workers. These phorid fly-infected ants are then transported back to their home colony and reintroduced. Establishment of phorid populations will require multiple replicates of this process over 6 weeks.
