Project Number: 6402-22320-001-01
Project Type: Specific C/A

Start Date: Jul 20, 2001
End Date: Jul 19, 2006

Objective:
The goal of this project will be the management of the imported fire ant on agricultural, industrial, wildlife, urban and recreational areas in Mississippi and neighboring areas. Specific objectives of this cooperative research program will be the following; 1) Develop new bait technologies utilizing novel chemical and biologically-based agents; 2) Cooperate with ARS to develop several large area management programs; 3) Develop a strong educational and technology transfer program for the area-wide suppression programs; 4) Conduct basic and applied research in the areas of biology and ecology to augment area-wide suppression of the red imported fire ant.

Approach:
New bait technologies utilizing synthetic chemicals and microbials will be evaluated in small scale plots to identify the most effective treatments for implementation into large scale programs. Native species of ants will be inventoried to compare diversity of native ant species with abundance of imported fire ants either naturally or under different management strategies. Assess the impact of imported fire ants on native ant species and monitor ant populations in area-wide program areas. Programs will be implemented through cooperation with the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. Information will be coordinated with the ARS Information Office and the Mississippi State University Extension Service. Identify morphological, biochemical, and molecular markers to distinguish between red and black imported fire ants, and the hybrids of these two species.

Project Team

Streett, Douglas Clarence Collison - Head, Dept. Of Entomology And Pathology 662-686-5229

Project Annual Reports

FY 2003   FY 2002   FY 2001

Related National Programs

Veterinary, Medical and Urban Entomology (104)