Anty Herbal

Interesting note over at Ketzel Uprooted about an herbal treatment for aches and pains that is supposedly an excellent repellent for red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta). According to Ketzel, a blurb in the latest issue of Hortideas says that Feng Yu Jing, a blend of camphor, menthol, methyl salicylate and other ingredients, somehow staves off the nasty little insects. No info on the how and why, unfortunately.

Weekend Blog Blogging

Some recent interesting invasive species posts in the blogosphere:

• Myrmecos Blog nicely covers the latest research on imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) from the journal PNAS. The researchers found that the ties between anthropogenic disturbance and the fire ants were strong, with intact forest patches remaining fire ant-free (thanks budak!).
• Huckleberry Days does introduced doves in British Colombia. Insightful words and some good photos, too.
• Living the Scientific Life has a great post about new research delving into the origins of the monk parrot (Myiopsitta monachus) invasion, with molecular evidence tying that invasion to the international pet trade.

Cohabitatation

Could European fire ants (Myrmica rubra) and Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica, Polygonum cuspidatum, Reynoutria japonica, etc. etc.) be in cahoots to take over North America? Researchers from Skidmore College in New York are aiming to find out. After initial investigations revealed that the ants were dining on the nectar proffered along knotweed stems, via structures known as extrafloral nectaries, a biology professor and his students decided to look more closely at the relationship between these two non-native species. Now they're mapping knotweed and ant populations and doing some neat experiments, including wounding knotweed leaves to check whether the ants come to the plant's defense (they did!). News from Skidmore has the whole story.

Not So Smooth Sailing

New Zealand appears to have avoided a potential fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) incursion thanks to a smart-thinking yacht owner. According to this report at Scoop, Biosecurity NZ officials were called to a marina in Auckland earlier this February when said yacht owner noticed the ants following a trip that included a stop in the Caribbean, where it is thought that the ants hitched a ride. The officials think the infestation was contained with insecticide treatments but are going to continue monitoring the yacht just to be sure. This story is just begging to be anthropomorphized (no pun intended) - I picture the fire ants hiding out until they thought the coast was clear, only to be confronted by backpack pesticide sprayer-gun-toting biosecurity officials staking out the yacht :-).

Thanks to Andrew B. for sending in a link to this story. For more ISW posts about fire ants, click here.

Anty Money - Update

Regarding last week's blog entry about the fire ant-infested plant bought by an Oklahoma resident at the local Walmart: Turns out it wasn't a bulb at all, as originally reported. If you visit the web page from ChannelOklahoma.com, there is a video of the original news story. The reporter mentions that it was the root ball and soil of a pine tree (not a plant bulb) in which the ants were found. Though the video is very blurry, it looks like the tree may be a Norfolk pine (Araucaria heterophylla). The report ends with a recommendation that, if you buy a plant "the first thing you should do when you get home is..." inspect the plant and the soil for insects. I'm thinking that if you live in the area, where those ants were found, you don't really want to wait until you get home to do that.

Anty Money?

The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture is investigating the apparent transport of fire ants into the state. According to this story from ChannelOklahoma.com, a family bought a plant bulb from their local Walmart, only to have the mother be attacked by fire ants in the soil when she tried to repot it. The article does not indicate the species of plant the stinging insects were found in, and scientists have yet to confirm the ant species (they could be red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) or little fire ants (Wasmannia auropunctata), among other species). If they are indeed fire ants, Walmart's plant distributor could be fined.

Anty Virus

ARS News is reporting that their scientists have found the first known virus to infect the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta). The virus, in the Dicistroviridae family, has been given the creative name Solenopsis invicta virus-1 (SINV-1). I guess they are hoping to find more :-)

ImportAnt News

The Premier of Taiwan announced earlier in the week that he wants red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) eradicated from that country by 2007. As reported by CNA News, a team made up of members from several different government agencies will be assembled to unertake this great task.

A Strain on Ant Relations

Back in February 2003 I posted about the Agricultural Research Service's efforts to find a biological control for the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta). Now a kind reader has pointed out this March 2004 article from AgNews, about the detection of a protozoan (Thelohania solenopsae) in wild populations of the ant. Discovered in more than 75% of the Texas counties where the red imported fire ant is found, this strain of Thelohania solenopsae appears to have found its way to the ants without human intervention, and tests show that it is different from the strain used in laboratory tests.

Thanks to Thomas D. for sending in the link to this story.

Asian Invasion

Red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) continue their nasty, globetrotting ways in the eastern hemisphere. According to this report from The China Post, the South American ants are now in Taiwan, first discovered in cargo containers a few years ago. Scientists are warning that if strong steps are not taken soon, the health of Taiwan's human population and livestock will be at risk, and that country's economy could take a hit of over $100 billion per year.

Kills Pets Dead.

It's been just over two years since Australia began its eradication campaign against the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta). Recently, the prime method used against these biting insects, poison bait, is under investigation by the Queensland government, after several homeowners complained that their pets had died. As reported at news.com.au, the government is denying that the bait could be what caused the deaths of dogs, birds and fish in southeast Queensland. The bait used reportedly needs to be present at a low toxicity, since it works by interrupting the ant's growth cycle, and is meant to be eaten after it's been taken back to the nest. The poisons contained in the bait are S-methoprene and pyriproxyfen (.pdf link), chemicals also found in products such as flea-control collars.

Fly By

This week's Dave Barry column (or last week's, depending on where you live) was a humourous take on his encounters with imported red fire ants (Solenopsis invicta). Dave recently met with researchers in Florida that are working with the decapitating phorid fly (Pseudacteon tricuspis), a biocontrol agent that uses the ants as incubators (and food) for its offspring. Don't forget to read the cute related comic in the top right corner of the page.

Dead ant, dead ant.....

There was an imported red fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) conference in California this past week, and some attendees are sounding more optimistic than ever about eradicating the annoying invasive insects. According to this article in the Orange County Register, the county has gone from being heavily infested to having the ants restricted mostly to median strips and landscaped areas. No information in the article about how they did it, but apparently the region had some help from its dry climate and sage scrub habitat, both of which inhibit the ants' ability to colonize and reproduce. You can click here to see the entire conference agenda.

Antidote

The Agricultural Research Service has a fire ant research team stationed in Florida, searching for new ways to control the dangerous red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta). According to this article from the ARS Newlink, there are at least two biocontrols that show potential, a parasite ant (Solenopsis daguerrei) and a pathogen (Thelohania solenopsae). More information about current fire ant research can be found here.

Good Neighbors

It seems with all the furor that erupted over the spread of fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) through the U.S., an associated invasive species was being overlooked. According to ScienceDaily, scientists at Texas A&M University have reported that the Rhodesgrass Mealybug (Antonina graminis) was discovered living in association with fire ants, and in fact were provided lodging, along with an aphid species, in "shelters" built by the ants nearby their own mounds. More research needs to be done to explain exactly why the ants sometimes build these shelters, but it is obvious that they do have a symbiotic relationship with the mealybugs. You can read the abstract for this study, published in this month's Ecology.

Playing with Fire Ants

I have to admit I was pretty alarmed when I heard a news report this morning about Fire Ants being found in Maine. A web search brought up this report which indicates that they've been around New England for over 50 years. It turns out they're actually talking about the European Fire Ant (Myrmica rubra), a less aggressive species and a less painful biter than the Imported Red Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta) that's causing major problems in the southern U.S. Still worth keeping an eye out for them though.