Invasive Species - Phorid Fly

INVASIVE SPECIES OF THE WEEK:

Parasitic Phorid Fly

Apocephalus borealis

WHERE ARE THEY FROM:

All over 

They were introduced to Mobile, Alabama in 1998.

They were introduced as an experiment. They wanted to see if they could help control fire-ant populations in the South.

The first time they did the experiment it didn't work, but it was tried again and they seemed to think it would work. 

WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE:

¹⁄₆₄–¹⁄₄ in (0.5–6 mm) in length

There is hump to the thorax

They range in color from black, brown or yellowish

WHAT THEY ARE:

Phorid flies are all over the world. They like little nasty places, like open pipes that get mossy, they are found around flowers. Some species were given the common name 'coffin fly', because they can live in coffins for a long time.

The larvae breed in many places, such as poo, fungi, decaying plants.

They romp around some very nasty areas so they can transport certain disease-causing organisms to food material.

WHY THEY ARE BAD:

 These flies are a nuisance to crops and  may be the cause for Colony collapse disorder.

Colony collapse disorder is causing bees to die. Bee's are vital to our ecosystem.

WHAT CAN YOU DO:

Controlling phorid fly infestations is done by riding them of their breeding locations.

Awesome Website for information: www.flyobsession.net.

Resources:Source=Image courtesy of the USDA Agricultural Research Center

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0029639

http://www.aces.edu/dept/extcomm/newspaper/feb22a02.html

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/05/photogalleries/zombie-ants/