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2010 Imported Fire Ant Survey Final Report James P. Pitts*, Kevin A

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2010 Imported Fire Ant Survey Final Report James P. Pitts*, Kevin A 2010 Imported Fire Ant Survey Final Report James P. Pitts*, Kevin A. Williams, and Joseph S. Wilson Department of Biology Utah State University, Logan UT Introduction: Imported fire ants 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 fire ant Fig. 1. Red imported fire ant.1 mounds unattractive, but ants are aggressive and can sting humans and other animals. 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 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae) 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 2010 CAPS (Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey) sampling to southern Utah (i.e., Washington Fig. 2. Winged red imported fire ant.2 County), because that habitat was identified as the most 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 2010 survey Fig. 3. Map of some of the collection sites for 2010. Methods: Fire ant sampling occurred over five different dates in 2010: 26‐27 April, 2‐3 June, 17‐22 June, 21‐22 July, and 26‐27 August. There were 27 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 27 areas sampled in 2010, representative ants from 14 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 13 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 four sites. Finding the Argentine Ant in Utah was not unexpected, however, given that this invasive species is found throughout the 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 and 2009. 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). Park UTM East UTM West Date Species 2450E Park 275092 4110126 3 June, 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. Forelius sp. Formica sp. Paratrechina sp. Solenopsis xyloni 22 June, 2010 Paratrechina sp. Solenopsis xyloni 21 July, 2010 Solenopsis xyloni 1100 East Park 272503 4108702 20 June, 2010 Formica sp. Linepithema humilis 1990S 2740E 275278 4106469 27 April, 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. Formica sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. 233E 200S 270870 4109597 27 April, 2010 Camponotus sp. Dorymyrmex sp. Formica sp. Linepithema humilis Pogonomyrmex sp. Paratrechina sp. Solenopsis xyloni Bloomington Park 269142 4103811 26 April, 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. Forelius sp. Lasius sp. 2 June, 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. Formica sp. Lasius sp. Paratrechina sp. Solenopsis xyloni 20 June 2010 Forelius sp. Formica sp. Lasius sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. 22 July, 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. Lasius sp. Linepithema humilis Pogonomyrmex sp. 26 August 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. Lasius sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. Bluff Street Park 269244 4111279 19 June 2010 Forelius sp. Lasius sp. 21 July 2010 Forelius sp. Lasius sp. Monomorium sp. Park UTM East UTM West Date Species Canyon View Park 265393 4112779 2 June 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. Forelius sp. Solenopsis xyloni 22 July 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. Solenopsis xyloni 23 July 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. 26 August 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. Cedar High School 317212 4170769 20 June, 2010 Lasius sp. Pheidole sp. Centennial Park 274619 4110401 3 June, 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. Formica sp. Paratrechina sp. Solenopsis xyloni Christiansen Park 267436 4103058 2 June, 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. Lasius sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. 20 June, 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. Lasius sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. 22 July, 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. Solenopsis xyloni 26 August, 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. Cottonwood Cove Park 267679 4107985 18 June, 2010 Pogonomyrmex sp. Solenopsis xyloni 21 June, 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. Lasius sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. 22 July, 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. Solenopsis xyloni 26 August, 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. The Fields Phase 2 274660 4104176 27 April, 2010 Solenopsis xyloni Larkspur Park 271804 4106188 19 June, 2010 Forelius sp. Paratrechina sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. 21 June, 2010 Formica sp. Forelius sp. Lasius sp. Park UTM East UTM West Date Species 21 July, 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. Formica sp. Lasius sp. Mathis Park 275499 4112283 19 June 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. 21 June 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. 22 July 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. 26 August 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. Nisson Park 275499 4112283 19 June 2010 Formica sp. Solenopsis xyloni Pine View Park 275767 4109200 3 June, 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. Santa Clara Town Hall 265058 4112444 19 June 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. Santa Clara Height's 265275 4112665 19 June, 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. Forelius sp. Seth's House 270527 4110556 27 April, 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. Solenopsis xyloni Springs Park 274545 4107186 3 June, 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. Formica sp. Star Nursery 276482 4112126 27 April, 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. Formica sp. Sun River 267520 4101622 26 April, 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. Forelius sp. Tonaquint Park 269287 4106280 2 June, 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. Forelius sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. 17 June, 2010 Crematogaster sp. Dorymyrmex sp. Paratrechina sp. Pheidole sp. Solenopsis xyloni 21 June, 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. 22 July, 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. 26 August, 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. Pogonomyrmex sp. Town Center Park 282685 4115763 22 June, 2010 Pogonomyrmex sp. Solenopsis xyloni Park UTM East UTM West Date Species Vernon Worthen Park 271166 4109430 2 June, 2010 Formica sp. Lasius sp. Monomorium sp. Pheidole sp. Solenopsis xyloni 19 June, 2010 Solenopsis xyloni Washington City Park 277158 4112349 3 June, 2010 Formica sp. Solenopsis xyloni 20 June, 2010 Formica sp. Lasius sp. Pheidole sp. Paratrechina sp. Washington Fields 276196 4109423 27 April, 2010 Dorymyrmex sp. .
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