Kelsey's wonderful Pseudacteon flies

A new North American species of Pseudacteon, Pseudacteon gracilisetus, was first found parasitizing Nylanderia arenivaga in June of 2009. Pseudacteon gracilisetus are a parasitic phorid fly that uses Nylanderia arenivaga (“fire ants”) as its host.  P.gracilisetus are found in randomly distributed areas around the United States including, South Carolina, New Jersey, Florida, Nebraska, and Texas.  Not far from a dirt road, female P.gracilisetus were found harassing the fire ants in a dive attack fashion.  The fire ants attempted to fight back but the P.gracilisetus attacked by diving onto the ant and injecting their eggs into the thorax of the ant’s body in less than one second.  The body of a P.gracilisetus parasite is locked with the body of the fire ant, allowing the eggs to be precisely placed inside the ant’s thorax.  Once the eggs hatch inside the ant, the maggots move into the head of the host and develop for 2-3 weeks.  Inside the head of the host ant, the maggot excretes a chemical which dissolves the host’s body, with only the head remaining.  The maggot eats everything in the head of the host and pupates, taking over the head cavity. The new fly is then born from the head of the ant.

            There are 62 species of Pseudacteon and an estimated 20 of those species attack an invasive ant species called Solenopsis invicta.  This particular ant species invaded into North America from South America.  Pseudateon can benefit a biological community by helping control invasive ant species.  Fire ants such as Solenopsis invicta, are an invasive species that cause harm to humans, animals, and livestock.  Since Pseudacteon gracilisetus is native to North America, researchers are introducing these ant parasitizing creatures into South America in attempt to eradicate their native fire ant population. With further research on Pseudateon, researchers can find ways to use parasites to help control invasive species.    

Below is an attached video displaying the attack of Pseudacteon on fire ants: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UThaL-D6U8

Brown, Brian V., Scott A. Schneider, and John S. LaPolla. "A New North American Species of Pseudacteon (Diptera: Phoridae), Parasitic on Nylanderia Arenivaga (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)." Annals of the Entomological Society of America (2010): 37-38. BioOne. Web.

Steyskal, George. "A NEW ANT-ATTACKING FLY OF THE GENUS PSEUDACTEON, WITH A KEY TO THE FEMALES OF THE NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES (DIPTERA, PHORIDAE)." OCCASIONAL PAPERS O F T H E MUSEUM OF ZOOLOGY (1944): n. pag. Deep Blue. University of Michigan Library. Web.