Research

Phorid Fly Success in Alabama

Since the first release of phorid flies into Alabama in 1998, the flies have spread over 2/3 of the state, and are continuing to spread outward by 10-20 miles each year. The expansion of the phorid flies continues to be monitored each summer.

This past summer, Wilcox County became the first site in the United States to have three species of phorid fly established in one place, and also the only place in the country where the Pseudacteon litoralis species has ever been recovered in the field. Pseudacteon tricuspis, Pseudacteon curvatus, and now Pseudacteon litoralis are all combating fire ants together at this site.

There are more than 20 different species of phorid fly present in South America, which is the fire ant and phorid fly's natural home. The Alabama Fire Ant Management Program plans to release a fourth of these species into Alabama this summer, Pseudacteon obtusus. This phorid species attacks smaller fire ant workers and prefers trailing or solitary ants; whereas the other three species are attracted to mound disturbances.

For more information on the biological control of fire ants, visit www.eXtension.org or browse through our Fire Ant Report Archive.

Figure 1 Locations of phorid flies in Alabama.

Location:	Years:	Species:	Released by:	Cooperators:
Macon	1999	P. tricuspis	Graham	Michael Williams, landowner
Franklin	2000	P. tricuspis	Graham	Tim Reed, ACES
Talladega	2000	P. curvatus	Graham Bertagnolli	Henry Dorough, ACES
Lowndes	2001	P. tricuspis	Graham	David Oglesby, ACES David Daniel, ACES
Madison	2002	P. curvatus	Ken & Rufina Ward	Alabama A&M
Colbert	2002	P. curvatus	Ken & Rufina Ward	Natchez Trace
Walker	2002	P. curvatus	Graham	Danny Cain, ACES
Baldwin	2002	P. tricuspis	Graham	Marla Faver. ACES
Barbour	2003	P. tricuspis	Graham	Charlie Mason, ACES
Cullman	2003	P. curvatus	Graham	Charles Pinkston, ACES
Marengo	2003	P. tricuspis	Graham	Kevan Tucker, ACES
Tuscaloosa	2004	P. tricuspis	Graham	Michelle Mobley, ACES
Dekalb	2005	P. tricuspis	Graham	Tony Dawkins, AAES
Wilcox	2005	P. litoralis	Graham	Jack Biddle, landowner
Mobile	2006	P. curvatus	Graham	Bruce Porter, Fish and Wildlife Services
Lee	2008	P. obtusus	Graham	Phil and Daria Story, landowners

Table 1 Locations of phorid fly releases in the state of Alabama.

Extension Resources

Decapitating Phorid Flies Attacking Imported Fire Ants

Phorid Flys in the News

Article Name: >Fear of predators may be a bigger killer than the predators themselves
Media Contact: Todd McLeish
"When biologists consider the effects that predators have on their prey, they shouldn’t just count the number of individuals consumed. According to a University of Rhode Island ecologist, they must also examine the effects of fear."

Fire Ant Management

For a variety of management tactics, visit our publications page, and more information on fire ant management can be found at www.extension.org.

Extension Resources

Last Updated: March 28, 2013