2011 Imported Fire Survey Final Report James P. Pitts* and Kevin A. Williams Department of Biology Utah State University, Logan UT

Introduction: Imported fire were first introduced to the southern United States in the 1930’s from South America. Imported fire ants can feed on many agricultural crops, including corn, soybean and fruit trees. Established ant mounds have more than 200,000 members and can reach over two feet high. The above ground mounds make cultivation, irrigation and harvesting almost impossible. Large numbers of imported fire ants can kill young crops, and plant damage is exacerbated during drought-stress periods. Imported fire ants can also infest urban areas and become a nuisance pest that deters outside activity. For example, golf courses, parks and private homes can be devastated because ant colonies can permanently damage turf and woody ornamental plants. Not only are imported Fig. 1. .1 mounds unattractive, but ants are aggressive and can sting humans and other . Some humans and domestic animals are sensitive to the ant venom and multiple stings can be potentially fatal. This survey will help detect early migrating winged adults in southern Utah and may ultimately prevent establishing colonies with timely eradication.

Objective: To survey for the detection of imported fire ants (: Formicidae: ) in Utah. The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren (RIFA; Figs. 1, 2), and the black imported fire ant, S. richteri Forel (BIFA), were of particular interest to this survey. These two species are not known to occur in Utah, but S. invicta is confirmed in surrounding southern states. We restricted our 2011 CAPS (Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey) sampling to southern Utah (i.e., Washington County), because that habitat was identified as the most Fig. 2. Winged red imported fire ant.2 likely area for immigrating alates (winged individuals) to be detected in Utah based on climate and other habitat preferences (JPP, personal experience). The absence of native fire ants is considered a reflection of recent invasive attempts by RIFA and BIFA.

* Designated PI for 2011 survey

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Fig. 3. Map of some of the collection sites for 2011.

Methods: Fire ant sampling occurred over four different dates in 2011: 8-10 march, 29-30 May, 3 June, and 4-5 September. There were 20 different areas, mostly parks sampled in Washington County; however, not each park was sampled every time (Fig. 3). At each location, a representative sample of ants was collected and stored in vials with alcohol until they could be sorted with a stereomicroscope. In the lab, collected and stored in vials with alcohol until they could be sorted with a stereomicroscope. In the lab, ants were tentatively identified to genus by two USU 1 graduate students (JSW and KAW), and identified to Fig. 4. Argentine ant. the lowest taxon by JPP. The following Table lists the ants collected at each site. In particular, we noted the presence or absence of native Solenopsis spp. at every site.

Results: Of the 20 areas sampled in 2011, representative ants from 10 genera were collected. During this survey, RIFA or BIFA were not detected at any of the sites. A native Solenopsis species, S. xyloni, was detected at 14 of the sites, and indicates RIFA/BIFA have not yet established in Washington County, Utah. The Argentine ant, Linepithema humilis (Fig. 4), was collected at one site. Finding the Argentine Ant in Utah was not unexpected, however, given that this invasive species is found throughout the 2

United States and has been previously collected in Utah in San Juan County at Goulding Trading Post (Allred, 1982, Ants of Utah, The Great Basin Nat. 42: 415–511) and by us in Washington County in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Image References 1 Ken Walker, Museum Victoria, Melbourne, Australia (www.ipmimages.org). 2 Natasha Wright, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (www.ipmimages.org). 3 April Noble (www.antweb.org).

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Park UTM East UTM West Date Species 2450E Park 275092 4110126 9 March, 2011 Dorymyrmex sp. 29 May, 2011 Dorymyrmex sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. Solenopsis xyloni 4 Sept, 2011 Dorymyrmex sp. Formica sp. Paratrechina sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. Solenopsis xyloni Bloomington Hills 272708 4104619 29 May, 2011 Dorymyrmex sp. Lasius sp. 4 Sept, 2011 Forelius sp. Lasius sp. Paratrechina sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. Bloomington Park 269142 4103811 9 March, 2011 Lasius sp. Paratrechina sp. 3 June, 2011 Formica sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. Bluff Street Park 269244 4111279 30 May 2011 Dorymyrmex sp. Forelius sp. Formica sp. Lasius sp. Paratrechina sp. Solenopsis xyloni 5 Sept 2011 Forelius sp. Lasius sp. Boots Cox Park 272087 4107885 9 March, 2011 Solenopsis xyloni 4 Sept, 2011 Formica sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. Solenopsis xyloni Christiansen Park 267436 4103058 3 June, 2011 Dorymyrmex sp. Forelius sp. Formica sp. Lasius sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. 4 Sept, 2011 Dorymyrmex sp. Forelius sp. Formica sp. Lasius sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. Solenopsis xyloni

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Park UTM East UTM West Date Species Dixie Downs Park 267048 4112335 5 Sept, 2011 Dorymyrmex sp. Forelius sp. Formica sp. Lasius sp. Paratrechina sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. Solenopsis xyloni Tapinoma sp. Larkspur Park 271804 4106188 29 May, 2011 Lasius sp. Paratrechina sp. Hurricane Valley Heritage Park 296828 4116886 5 Sept, 2011 Solenopsis xyloni Nisson Park 275499 4112283 9 March, 2011 Formica sp. 29 May, 2011 Formica sp. 4 Sept, 2011 Formica sp. Paratrechina sp. Solenopsis xyloni Pine View Park 275767 4109200 9 March, 2011 Monomorium sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. Royal Oaks Park 267728 4112447 5 Sept, 2011 Dorymyrmex sp. Forelius sp. Formica sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. Solenopsis xyloni Shadow Mountain Park 268430 4111263 30 May, 2011 Dorymyrmex sp. Linepithema sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. 5 Sept, 2011 Dorymyrmex sp. Lasius sp. Linepithema sp. Slick Rock Park 274888 4109361 10 March, 2011 Solenopsis xyloni 29 May, 2011 Dorymyrmex sp. Forelius sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. 4 Sept, 2011 Dorymyrmex sp. Forelius sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. Solenopsis xyloni

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Park UTM East UTM West Date Species J.C. Snow Park 270837 4108079 29 May, 2011 Pogonomyrmex sp. Solenopsis xyloni 4 Sept, 2011 Dorymyrmex sp. Paratrechina sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. Solenopsis xyloni Springs Park 274545 4107186 9 March, 2011 Dorymyrmex sp. Formica sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. 29 May, 2011 Dorymyrmex sp. Formica sp. 4 Sept, 2011 Formica sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. Tonaquint Park 269287 4106280 10 March, 2011 Dorymyrmex sp. 4 Sept, 2011 Dorymyrmex sp. Lasius sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. Solenopsis xyloni Vernon Worthen Park 271166 4109430 8 March, 2011 Formica sp. Lasius sp. Solenopsis xyloni 29 May, 2011 Dorymyrmex sp. Lasius sp. Solenopsis xyloni Washington City Park 277158 4112349 9 March, 2011 Solenopsis xyloni 29 May, 2011 Formica sp. Solenopsis xyloni 4 Sept, 2011 Dorymyrmex sp. Formica sp. Lasius sp. Paratrechina sp.

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