Sticky Traps for Monitoring Pseudacteon Parasitoids of Solenopsis Fire Ants

A newly developed method for passively trapping adult Pseudacteon phorid flies, which parasitize workers of Solenopsis saevissima complex fire ants, is described. Adult flies responding to deployed Solenopsis invicta midden were captured when they landed on a Tanglefoot-coated perch, which is part of the trap. This sampling method provided a uniform, repeatable, and verifiable sample that allowed continuous and simultaneous sampling among locations, which can only be accomplished with other techniques by substantially increasing the number of observers. A field test showed the superior operational efficiency and effectiveness of this method relative to other techniques. These traps have been shown effective in various phorid habitats in Texas and Florida. We expect this trap to also be effective in detecting/monitoring phorid flies in other locations.