PUBLICATIONS
Introductions of phorid flies in Texas
Studies of phorid flies as potential biocontrol agents
South American phorids and Fire Ants: Community ecology
Phorid ecology in Texas
Ecology of Fire Ants in Texas
Reproduction and social forms of Fire Ants
Phorid developmental biology
Host specificity tests
Phorid taxonomy
Introductions of Phorid flies in Texas
Gilbert, L. E., and R. J. W. Patrock. 2002. Phorid flies for the biological suppression of imported fire ant in Texas: Region specific challenges, recent advances and future prospects. Southwestern Entomologist Supplement 25:7-17.
LeBrun, E. G., R. M. Plowes, and L. E. Gilbert. 2007. Dynamic expansion in recently introduced populations of fire ant parasitoids (Diptera: Phoridae). Biological Invasions Online: 10.1007/s10530-007-9177-y.
Plowes, R. M., and L. E. Gilbert. 2007. Advances and challenges in biocontrol efforts against fire ants in Texas. Biocontrol News and Information 28:67-68.
Gilbert, L. E., C. L. Barr, A. A. Calixto, J. L. Cook, B. M. Drees, E. G. LeBrun, R. J. W. Patrock, R. M. Plowes, S. D. Porter, and R. T. Puckett. 2007 in press. Introducing phorid fly parasitoids of Red Imported Fire Ant workers from South America to Texas: Outcomes vary by region and by Pseudacteon species released. Southwestern Entomologist.
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Studies of phorid flies as potential biocontrol agents
Feener, D. H., Jr., and B. V. Brown. 1992. Reduced foraging of Solenopsis geminata (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the presence of parasitic Pseudacteon spp. (Diptera: Phoridae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 85:80 - 84.
Orr, M. R., S. H. Seike, W. W. Benson, and L. E. Gilbert. 1995. Flies suppress fire ants. Nature 373:292-293.
Morrison, L. W. 1999. Indirect effects of phorid fly parasitoids on the mechanisms of interspecific competition among ants. Oecologia 121:113-122.
Folgarait, P. J., and L. E. Gilbert. 1999. Phorid parasitoids affect foraging activity of Solenopsis richteri under different availability of food in Argentina. Ecological Entomology 24:163-173.
Morrison, L. W. 2000. Biology of Pseudacteon (Diptera: Phoridae) ant parasitoids and their potential to control imported Solenopsis fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Recent Res. Dev. Entomol. 3:1-13.
Morrison, L. W. 2000. Mechanisms of Pseudacteon parasitoid (Diptera: Phoridae) effects on exploitative and interference competition in host Solenopsis ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 93:841-849.
Morrison, L. W., E. A. Kawazoe, R. Guerra, and L. E. Gilbert. 2000. Ecological interactions of Pseudacteon parasitoids and Solenopsis ant hosts: environmental correlates of activity and effects on competitive hierarchies. Ecological Entomology 25:433-444.
Mehdiabadi, N. J., and L. E. Gilbert. 2002. Colony-level impacts of parasitoid flies on fire ants. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B-Biological Sciences 269:1695-1699.
Mehdiabadi, N. J., E. A. Kawazoe, and L. E. Gilbert. 2004. Parasitoids and competitors influence colony-level responses in the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta. Naturwissenschaften 91:539-543.
Mehdiabadi, N. J., E. A. Kawazoe, and L. E. Gilbert. 2004. Phorid fly parasitoids of invasive fire ants indirectly improve the competitive ability of a native ant. Ecological Entomology 29:621-627.
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South American Phorids and Fire Ants: Community ecology
Orr, M. R., S. H. Seike, W. W. Benson, and L. E. Gilbert. 1996. Host location and attack behavior of parasitoid communities attacking fire ants in Brazil. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America 77:335.
Orr, M. R., S. H. Seike, and L. E. Gilbert. 1997. Foraging ecology and patterns of diversification in dipteran parasitoids of fire ants in South Brazil. Ecological Entomology 22:305-314.
Folgarait, P. J., O. A. Bruzzone, and L. E. Gilbert. 2003. Seasonal patterns of activity among species of black fire ant parasitoid flies (Pseudacteon: Phoridae) in Argentina explained by analysis of climatic variables. Biological Control 28:368-378.
Folgarait, P. J., P. D'Adamo, and L. E. Gilbert. 2004. A grassland ant community in Argentina: the case of Solenopsis richteri and Camponotus punctulatus attaining high densities in their native ranges. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 97:450-457.
Folgarait, P. J., O. Bruzzone, S. D. Porter, M. A. Pesquero, and L. E. Gilbert. 2005. Biogeography and macroecology of phorid flies that attack fire ants in south-eastern Brazil and Argentina. Journal of Biogeography 32:353-367.
Folgarait, P. J., R. J. W. Patrock, and L. E. Gilbert. 2007. Associations of fire ant phorids and microhabitats. Environmental Entomology 36:731-742.
Folgarait, P. J., R. J. W. Patrock, and L. E. Gilbert. 2007b. The influence of ambient conditions and space on the phenological patterns of a Solenopsis phorid guild in an arid environment. Biological Control 42:262-273.
Feener, D. H., M. R. Orr, K. Wackford, J. Longo, W. W. Benson, and L. E. Gilbert. 2008 in press. Geographic variation in resource dominance, discovery, and parasitoid-mediated competition in the Brazilian range of the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta). Ecology.
Wuellner, C. T. 2000. Male aggregation by Solenopsis richteri Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and associated mating behavior in Argentina. J. Insect Behav. 13:751-756.
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Phorid ecology in Texas
Morrison, L. W., and L. E. Gilbert. 1998. Parasitoid-host relationships when host size varies: the case of Pseudacteon flies and Solenopsis fire ants. Ecological Entomology 23:409-416.
Morrison, L. W., E. A. Kawazoe, R. Guerra, and L. E. Gilbert. 1999. Phenology and dispersal in Pseudacteon flies (Diptera: Phoridae), parasitoids of Solenopsis fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 92:198-207.
Morrison, L. W., E. A. Kawazoe, R. Guerra, and L. E. Gilbert. 2000. Ecological interactions of Pseudacteon parasitoids and Solenopsis ant hosts: environmental correlates of activity and effects on competitive hierarchies. Ecological Entomology 25:433-444.
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Ecology of Fire Ants in Texas
Porter, S. D., B. Van Eimeren, and L. E. Gilbert. 1988. Invasion of red imported fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): microgeography of competitive replacement. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 81:913-918.
Vargo, E., and S. D. Porter. 1989. Colony reproduction by budding in the polygyne form of Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 82:307-313.
Porter, S. D., and D. A. Savignano. 1990. Invasion of polygyne fire ants decimates native ants and disrupts arthropod community. Ecology 71:2095-2106.
Kaspari, M. 2000. Do imported fire ants impact canopy arthropods? Evidence from simple arboreal pitfall traps. Southwestern Naturalist 45:118-122.
Morrison, L. W. 2000. Mechanisms of interspecific competition between an invasive and two native fire ant species. Oikos 90:238-252.
Morrison, L. W. 2002. Long-term impacts of an arthropod-community invasion by the imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta. Ecology 83:2337-2345.
Sanchez-Pena, R., R. J. W. Patrock, and L. E. Gilbert. 2005. The red imported fire ant is now in Mexico: documentation of its wide distribution along the Texas-Mexico border. Entomological News 116:363-366.
Wuellner, C. T., and J. B. Saunders. 2003. Circadian and circannual patterns of activity and territory shifts: comparing a native ant (Solenopsis geminata, Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with its exotic, invasive congener (S. invicta) and its parasitoids (Pseudacteon spp., Diptera: Phoridae) at a central Texas site. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 96:54-60
Plowes, R. M., J. G. Dunn, and L. E. Gilbert. 2007. The urban fire ant paradox: native fire ants persist in an urban refuge while invasive fire ants dominate natural habitats. Biological Invasions 9:825-836.
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Reproduction and social forms of Fire Ants
Vargo, E., and D. Fletcher. 1989. On the relationship between queen number and fecundity in polygyne colonies of the fire ant, Solenopsis invicta. Physiological Entomology 14:223-232.
Porter, S. D., A. Bhatkar, R. Mulder, S. B. Vinson, and D. Clair. 1991. Distribution and density of polygyne fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Texas. Journal of Economic Entomology 84.
Vargo, E. L. 1997. Poison gland of queen fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) is the source of a primer pheromone. Naturwissenschaften 84:507-510.
Vargo, E. L. 1998. Primer pheromones in ants. Pages 293-313 in R. K. Vander Meer, M. D. Breed, K. E. Espelie, and M. L. Winston, editors. Pheromone communication in social insects ants, wasps, bees, and termites. Westview Press, Boulder, Colo.
Vargo, E. L. 1999. Reproductive development and ontogeny of queen pheromone production in the fire ant Solenopsis invicta. Physiol. Entomol. 24:370-376.
Vargo, E. L., and C. D. Hulsey. 2000. Multiple glandular origins of queen pheromones in the fire ant Solenopsis invicta. J. Insect Physiol. 46:1151-1159.
Passera, L., S. Aron, E. L. Vargo, and L. Keller. 2001. Queen control of sex ratio in fire ants. Science 293:1308-1310.
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Phorid developmental biology
Morrison, L. W., C. G. Dall'Agilo-Holvorcem, and L. E. Gilbert. 1997. Oviposition behavior and development of Pseudacteon flies (Diptera: Phoridae), parasitoids of Solenopsis fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Environ. Entomol. 26:716-724.
Morrison, L. W., S. D. Porter, and L. E. Gilbert. 1999b. Sex ratio variation as as function of host size in Pseudacteon flies (Diptera: Phoridae), parasitoids of Solenopsis fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 66:257-267.
Consoli, F. L., C. T. Wuellner, S. B. Vinson, and L. E. Gilbert. 2001. Immature development of Pseudacteon tricuspis (Diptera: Phoridae), an endoparasitoid of the red imported fire ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 94:97-109.
Wuellner, C. T., S. D. Porter, and L. E. Gilbert. 2002. Eclosion, mating, and grooming behavior of the parasitoid fly Pseudacteon curvatus (Diptera: Phoridae). Florida Entomologist 85:563-566.
Folgarait, P. J., O. A. Bruzzone, and L. E. Gilbert. 2002. Development of Pseudacteon cultellatus (Diptera: Phoridae) on Solenopsis invicta and Solenopsis richteri fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Environ. Entomol. 31:403-410.
Folgarait, P. J., O. A. Bruzzone, R. J. Patrock, and L. Gilbert, E. 2002. Developmental rates and host specificity for Pseudacteon parasitoids (Diptera: Phoridae) of fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Argentina. J. Econ. Entomol.; 95:1151-1158.
Folgarait, P. J., M. G. Chirino, and L. E. Gilbert. 2005. Morphological traits associated with pupae viability in Pseudacteon (Diptera : Phoridae) parasitoids. Revista de la Sociedad Entomologica Argentina 64:13-22.
Folgarait, P. J., M. G. Chirino, R. J. W. Patrock, and L. E. Gilbert. 2005. Development of Pseudacteon obtusus (Diptera: Phoridae) on Solenopsis invicta and Solenopsis richteri fire ants (Hymenoptera : Formicidae). Environmental Entomology 34:308-316.
Folgarait, P. J., R. J. W. Patrock, and L. E. Gilbert. 2006. Development of Pseudacteon nocens (Diptera : Phoridae) on Solenopsis invicta and Solenopsis richteri fire ants (Hymenoptera : Formicidae). Journal of Economic Entomology 99:295-307.
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Host specificity tests
Gilbert, L. E., and L. W. Morrison. 1997. Patterns of host specificity in Pseudacteon parasitoid flies (Diptera, Phoridae) that attack Solenopsis fire ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Environmental Entomology 26:1150-1154.
Morrison, L. W., and L. E. Gilbert. 1999. Host specificity in two additional Pseudacteon spp. (Diptera : Phoridae), parasitoids of Solenopsis fire ants (Hymenoptera : Formicidae). Florida Entomologist 82:404-409.
Wuellner, C. T., C. G. Dall'Aglio-Holvorcem, W. W. Benson, and L. E. Gilbert. 2002. Phorid fly (Diptera: Phoridae) oviposition behavior and fire ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) reaction to attack differ according to phorid species. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 95:257-266.
Porter, S. D., and L. E. Gilbert. 2004. Assessing host specificity and field release potential of fire ant decapitating flies (Phoridae: Pseudacteon). Pages 152-176 in R. G. van Driesche and R. Reardon, editors. Assessing host ranges for parasitoids and predators used for classical biological control: a guide to best practice. Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team
Porter, S. D., and L. E. Gilbert. 2005. Parasitoid case history: an evaluation of methods used to assess host ranges of fire ant decapitating flies. Pages 634-650. in M. S. Hoddle, editor. Second international symposium on biological control of arthropods. Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, Davos, Switzerland.
Estrada, C., R. J. W. Patrock, P. J. Folgarait, and L. E. Gilbert. 2006. Host specificity of four Pseudacteon spp. (Diptera: Phoridae), parasitoids of fire ants in Argentina (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Florida Entomologist 89:462-468.
Patrock, R. J. W., G. E. Albioni Montenegro, L. E. Gilbert, and P. J. Folgarait. 2006. Possible identification of cryptic species of S. invicta using parasitoid flies: parasitoid host discrimination is population dependent. Pages 164-349 in XVCongress of the IUSSIs, Washington, DC.
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Phorid taxonomy
Brown, B. V., and L. W. Morrison. 1999. New Pseudacteon (Diptera: Phoridae) from North America that parasitizes the native fire ant Solenopsis geminata (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 92:308-310.
Brown, B. V., P. Folgarait, and L. Gilbert. 2003. A new species of Pseudacteon attacking Solenopsis fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Argentina. Sociobiology 41:685-688.
Kronforst, M. R., P. J. Folgarait, R. J. W. Patrock, and L. E. Gilbert. 2007. Genetic differentiation between body size biotypes of the parasitoid fly Pseudacteon obtusus (Diptera: Phoridae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 43:1178-1184.
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