Transcript No Slide Title

These miniature decapitating flies (Order:
Diptera, Family: Phoridae, Genus:
Pseudacteon), also called phorid flies, are
naturally occurring enemies of fire ants in
South America. There are over 20
different species of phorid flies that attack
fire ants in South America.
The female injects an egg into the thorax
of the fire ant. When the parasitoid egg
hatches, the larva migrates into the fire
ant’s head where it feeds on internal
tissue. When the larva is ready to pupate,
it releases a chemical that causes the fire
ant’s head to fall off.
The larva will push the ant’s tongue
apparatus and mouthparts aside and use
the ant head as a pupal case. The fly
emerges from the ant head 2-6 weeks
later. The fly’s life cycle from egg hatch
to adult fly emergence is 5-12 weeks,
depending on the environment’s
temperature.
In Alabama, three species of phorid fly,
Pseudacteon tricuspis, Pseudacteon
curvatus, and Pseudacteon litoralis,
have been released. Pseudacteon
tricuspis and Pseudacteon curvatus are
established. More releases of different
species and biotypes are needed to
significantly impact Alabama’s fire ant
populations.
Photos courtesy
Dr. Sanford Porter (2, 3)
Scott Bauer (1, 4)