| 1319026 |
fire ant decapitating fly |
Pseudacteon curvatus |
This scanning electron micrograph shows a side view of the hooked ovipositor of Pseudacteon curvatus, a very small fire ant-decapitating fly from South America. Magnified about 200x. |
| 1323029 |
fire ant decapitating flies |
Pseudacteon spp. |
This Brazilian fly makes fire ants literally lose their heads. The South American phorid fly, Pseudacteon , is a highly specific, natural enemy of fire ants. ARS scientists hope to import it for tests in the United States, where fire ants lack natural enemies. They feed on crops and sting people and animals in 11 states. Beheading a live host-a rarity among parasitic flies-is standard procedure for Pseudacteon flies. And they attack only fire ants. The female deposits an egg on or in a fire ant's body. Weeks later, a maggot has moved through the unlucky ant's neck into its head-and eaten the contents. The head falls off after an enzyme-made by ant or maggot (scientists don't know which)-dissolves its connecting tissue. |
| 1319018 |
fire ant decapitating flies |
Pseudacteon spp. |
Fire ants will do anything to resist attack by the tiny phorid fly measuring only about one-sixteenth of an inch. A highly specific natural enemy, the female pierces a fire ant's head and releases an enzyme that later decapitates it. |
| 1319020 |
fire ant |
Solenopsis geminata |
A fire ant decapitated by an enzyme released from a mature phorid fly larva living inside the host ant. |
| 1295007 |
fire ant decapitating flies |
Pseudacteon spp. |
Female decapitating fly preparing to attack a fire ant worker (left); eight of about 20 species of decapitating flies known to attaack fire ants in South America (right) |
| 1295008 |
fire ant decapitating flies |
Pseudacteon spp. |
Fire ant worker decapitated by maggot just prior ro pupariation (left); Pseudacteon puparium removed from fire ant head (right) |
