Bugwood.org
A small study suggests invasive fire ants could be controlled by Solenopsis invicta virus 3.
An article in June’s the Journal of Invertebrate Pathology explained how researchers successfully reduced wild Florida populations of imported fire ants. The ants reduce nearby biodiversity, so the team used a virus called Solenopsis invicta virus 3 to kill them.
During the evaluation, the researchers observed a seven-fold reduction in nest numbers, as well as an equally significant reduction in nest size.
"Laboratory tests have shown that Solenopsis invicta virus 3 may be an effective natural control agent against its host, the red imported fire ant," the so-authors wrote.
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