title: A Review of the Tawny Crazy Ant, Nylanderia fulva, an Emergent Ant Invader in the Southern United States: Is Biological Control a Feasible Management Option?
abstract: The tawny crazy ant,Nylanderia fulva(Mayr) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), has invaded states of the U.S. including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. Native to South America,N. fulvais considered a pest in the U.S. capable of annoying homeowners and farmers, as well as displacing native ant species. As it continues to expand its range, there is a growing need to develop novel management techniques to control the pest and prevent further spread. Current management efforts rely heavily on chemical control, but these methods have not been successful. A review of the biology, taxonomy, ecology, and distribution ofN. fulva, including discussion of ecological and economic consequences of this invasive species, is presented. Options for future management are suggested focusing on biological control, including parasitoid flies in the genusPseudacteon, the microsporidian parasiteMyrmecomorba nylanderiae, and a novel polynucleotide virus as potential biological control agents. We suggest further investigation of natural enemies present in the adventive range, as well as foreign exploration undertaken in the native range including Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina. We conclude thatN. fulvamay be a suitable candidate for biological control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA. wangzinan2014@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Zinan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA. LMoshman@agcenter.lsu.edu.
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moshman
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA. ekraus@agcenter.lsu.edu.
authors.forename: Emily C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Kraus
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA. bwils26@lsu.edu.
authors.forename: Blake E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA. nachar1@lsu.edu.
authors.forename: Namoona
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Acharya
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA. RDiaz@agcenter.lsu.edu.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Diaz
keywords: Myrmecomorba nylanderiae; Pseudacteon spp.; Solenopsis invicta; classical biological control; invasive ant