Researchers to update TSCRA on efforts to control fire ants

TSCRA Daily News Update, Sept. 15, 2008

Researchers to update TSCRA on efforts to control fire ants

Drs. Larry Gilbert and Ron Plowes will update cattle raisers on their research on controlling imported fire ants at TSCRA's fall meeting, Sept. 21-23, Tyler.

Gilbert will report on the results of past and ongoing releases of several species of Pseudacteon phorid flies in about 40 sites in Texas in a cooperative effort to bring pest fire ants under control.

Gilbert says, "After a brief overview of the history of the fire ant invasion and our early attempts to understand it, my talk will center on our lab's ongoing efforts with collaborators to understand the relationship of phorid flies and fire ants in South America, test their specificity, introduce them to Texas and then study their spread and impact."

Five species of phorids have been released into Texas. "We know that three have established and are spreading. My talk will bring things up-to-date and reflect on the question of understanding just how phorid flies affect fire ants…. Many advances have been made since my last talk to TSCRA in 2003."

Members of TSCRA are encouraged to attend the fall meeting in Tyler, as are non-member cattle raisers and landowners who'd like to learn more about the work Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association does on behalf of producers in Texas and Oklahoma.

For more information on the TSCRA fall meeting, click here.