|
|
|
|
filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
 Posted - 05/19/2009 : 05:30:30
|
Probably, very few here have ever gotten tangled up with a fire ant nest. Those who have, including myself, will embrace this parasitic, little fly like a deep-water Baptist embraces the concept of Jesus.
| Scientists may finally be on their way to controlling the pesky fire ants that have invaded the American South: They're releasing swarms of parasitic flies that first turn the ants into zombies and then decapitate them. The non-native ants are at the top of scientists' hit lists because they cause an estimated $1 billion in damage in Texas each year. The insects swarm on circuit breakers and other electrical equipment, damaging them severely. Swarms of the stinging insects can also severely injure humans and can kill smaller animals, such as calves and pets, that stumble across nests |
It couldn't happen to a nicer ant, to have an ancient nemesis that evolved with it, rejoin it.
|
"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist! 
|
|
|
Kil
Evil Skeptic
USA
13477 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2009 : 08:03:28 [Permalink]
|
Good luck with the fire ants!
The story reminds me of the infestation of Ash Whitefly's here in California. And it was bad. Besides what the little bugger did to agriculture in our state, our cars were getting ruined by the honeydew these things dropped and everything outside was sticky with it. It was a mess.
Ash Whitefly Siphoninus phillyreae
The Situation: Ash whitefly represents an outstanding biological control success in California. Ash whitefly was first introduced into California in the late 1980s and was a significant pest of fruit and shade trees such as ash, pear and pomegranate. In the absence of natural enemies, ash whitefly populations exploded out of control. The pest originated and occurs widely in the Middle East and Mediterranean and was accidentally introduced into California via infested plant material. The University of California, Riverside's Department of Entomology has provided aid in controlling this pest in areas in which ash whitefly has subsequently invaded.
Damage: Ash whitefly infests 40 species of plants in California. Left unchecked, its numbers rise to substantial levels within a wide variety of host plants. Feeding by adult and young whiteflies extracts plant nutrients, resulting in defoliation of trees, loss of fruit and, in severe cases, death of the host tree. Severe impact on outdoor activities in urban areas was caused by the enormous numbers of flying whitefly adults. Honeydew build-up on exposed surfaces also resulted in ruined paint on cars parked beneath shade trees along city streets. |
And to the rescue, a tiny wasp:
| Research: The University of California, Riverside's Department of Entomology and the California Department of Food & Agriculture developed a biological control program which involved scientists exploring for natural enemies in the pest's area of origin in the Middle East and Mediterranean. Several candidate species were shipped where they were tested for efficacy against the ash whitefly. One candidate, Encarsia inaron, shipped to the University of California, Riverside's federal quarantine facility was cleared for release in areas of ash whitefly infestation in California and was soon responsible for the dramatic crash of local ash whitefly populations. This tiny parasite is still keeping the ash whitefly under strict control in all areas of California |
The Ash Whitefly seem to be gone now, or in such low numbers that they don't matter. And the good news is the wasp only feeds on them, from the inside out, as a common part of a typical wasps life cycle. They too start out as parasites.
|
Uncertainty may make you uncomfortable. Certainty makes you ridiculous.
Why not question something for a change?
Genetic Literacy Project |
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Parasites rule!
