In 1998, ARS scientists, along with representatives from the Council of State Governments' Southern Legislative Conference, initiated a National Fire Ant Strategy to help tackle the fire ant problem. In each of the infested states, an appointed state government representative and a team of state researchers work with ARS scientists and state extension personnel in cooperative field research.

The goal is to reduce imported fire ant infestations to levels below economic thresholds on agricultural lands. One way to help achieve this is by using biological controls to help tip the scale in favor of native ant species. In the past 2 years, ARS scientists have been working with state personnel on releasing biological control agents in 10 states.

ARS kicked off the first of these releases in July 1997. Tiny Brazilian phorid flies, Pseudacteon tricuspis, were released at sites in Gainesville, Florida. Phorid flies are deadly enemies of fire ants, stinging them and depositing eggs inside their bodies. Each fly larva eventually grows and moves into the host ant's head. When the larva is mature, it decapitates the ant and completes its development inside the severed head. Scientists believe these parasitic flies help reduce fire ant populations in South America--and could do the same in the United States.