Why should we be interested in studying our native species of ant-attacking phorid flies?
Studies of flies, genus Pseudacteon, that live, reproduce, and thrive on host fire ants in North America can reveal much about details of phorid natural history. Understanding the biology of these temperate-zone phorids could provide important guidance for developing optimum methods for introducing phorids from South America which would attack the pest fire ant species. A strain of our native species (S. geminata) the Tropical Fire Ant is an invasive pest in many other countries. Lessons we learn from studies in Texas may be applicable in areas where the Tropical Fire Ant is invasive.
