Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/06
Outputs
Progress Report 1. What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? Why does it matter? Imported fire ants are a major pest in the United States with a geographic range covering over 300 million acres in fifteen states and Puerto Rico. These pests are estimated to cost over one billion dollars each year in the United States. The objective of this project is to utilize acoustics too detect, monitor and control fire ant populations. Behavioral responses of imported fire ants to an acoustical signal will allow us to develop a technique for surveying and monitoring fire ant populations, or to develop a novel non-chemical technique for control. This program, which combines regional programs and integrated pest management to develop novel strategies for the control of imported fire ants, falls primarily within Component 4 (Control Technology) of NP 104, with some aspects that
fall within Components 2 (Detection and Surveillance Technology) and 3 (Biology and Physiology). The project includes elements of 2.1 (Detection and Diagnostics), 3.2 (Physiology, Anatomy, and Biochemistry), 4.1 (Chemical Pesticides and Repellents), and 4.2 (Biological Control). Additional details can be found in the inhouse project 6402-22320-003-00D entitled, "Regional Integrated Management of Imported Fire Ant", the subordinate project 6402-22320-003-01S entitled, "Management of Imported Fire Ants," and in the project 6402-22320-005-00D entitled, "Detection and Acoustical Communication of Termites and Fire Ants." This is a final report. 2. List by year the currently approved milestones (indicators of research progress) This report serves to document research conducted under a Specific Cooperative Agreement between ARS and the National Center for Physical Acoustics, University of Mississippi. (FY 2002) 1. Analyze stridulatory sounds produce by major and minor workers of the black
imported fire ant to identify potential frequencies with some behavioral context. 2. Stridulatory sounds identified with a behavioral context will be generated with a signal generator in the presence of ants under lab and field conditions and the behavioral responses recorded. Year 2 (FY 2003) 3. Identify wingbeat frequencies produced by alate reproductives of black and hybrid imported fire ants with a low frequency microphone. 4. Analyze wingbeat frequencies for male and female alates of black and hybrid imported fire ants will be analyzed to identify potential frequencies for further study. Year 3 (FY 2004) 5. Identify wingbeat frequencies produced by alate reproductives of red imported fire ants with a low frequency microphone. 6. Analyze wingbeat frequencies for male and female alates of red imported fire ants will be analyzed to identify potential frequencies for further study. Year 4 (FY 2005) 7. Assess wingbeat frequencies produced by black imported fire ant alate
reproductives using a high speed camera. 8. Analyze wingbeat frequencies produced by black imported fire ants using a high speed camera. Year 5 (FY 2006) 9. Identify sound directionality of the wing beat frequencies produced by black and hybrid imported fire ants. 10. Analyze sound directionality of the wing beat frequencies for black imported fire ants using a series pf microphones surrounding alate reproductives. 11. Lab study to assess the effects of sound excitation of ants in an effort to increase production of phorid flies, a biological control agent of ants. 4a List the single most significant research accomplishment during FY 2006. Among the key results from this study were that the sound patterns recorded were consistent with those of an acoustic dipole source, with a significant component of the sound production appearing in the ultrasonic bandwidth (10000-40000 Hz). 5. Describe the major accomplishments to date and their predicted or actual impact. New software has been
developed which allows us to collect real-time data from up to 32 microphones at sampling rates of 96,000 samples/second, and the ability to synchronize these acoustic recordings with a high speed (10,000 fps) video camera has been demonstrated. A large (20-cm diameter) acoustic array has been constructed, which allows simultaneous measurements from 16-microphones. This array has been designed so that precise rotations of array allows for non-simultaneous sampling at a much higher resolution that previously permitted.
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Progress 05/22/01 to 05/21/06
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) The objective of the agreement will be to investigate acoustical communications among imported fire ants both within colonies and between colonies, and how the ants respond to acoustical vibration both in the air and in the soil. Approach (from AD-416) It is generally believed that chemical communication is the principal method for communication among ants, and that acoustical communications is relatively unimportant. Since a large number of ants produce sounds by stridulating, acoustical communication among ants may be very important. This could have significant impact if we can identify a behavioral response by imported fire ants (IFA) to an acoustical signal. Earlier research by the National Center for Physical Acoustics (NCPA) has shown that the black imported fire ant produces stridulatory sounds by gaster flagging. We also know that ants have chordotonal organs on the legs that are sensitive to vibrations in the substrate. The NCPA has developed a micro electro-technique, and a senstive acoustical sensor array for detecting vibrations from small insects. With an understanding of the acoustical responses from IFA we may be able to develop: 1) a nonchemical acoustical barrier; 2) a technique for surveying fire ant populations; or 3) a novel technique for their destruction. Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations This report serves to document research conducted under a Specific Cooperative Agreement between ARS and University of Mississippi, National Center for Physical Acoustics. Progress concluded with the 2006 Annual Report, but was not terminated because of financial management reasons. See 2006 Annual Report for last reported progress.
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Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/05
Outputs
1. What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? What does it matter? Imported fire ants are a major pest in the United States with a geographic range covering over 300 million acres in fifteen states and Puerto Rico. These pests are estimated to cost over one billion dollars each year in the United States. The objective of this project is to utilize acoustics too detect, monitor and control fire ant populations. Behavioral responses of imported fire ants to an acoustical signal will allow us to develop a technique for surveying and monitoring fire ant populations, or to develop a novel non-chemical technique for control. This program, which combines regional programs and integrated pest management to develop novel strategies for the control of imported fire ants, falls primarily within Component 4 (Control Technology) of NP 104, with some aspects that fall within
Components 2 (Detection and Surveillance Technology) and 3 (Biology and Physiology). The project includes elements of 2.1 (Detection and Diagnostics), 3.2 (Physiology, Anatomy, and Biochemistry), 4.1 (Chemical Pesticides and Repellents), and 4.2 (Biological Control). Additional details can be found in the in house research project 6402-22320-003-00D entitled, Regional Integrated Management of Imported Fire Ant, the subordinate research project 6402- 22320-003-01S entitled, Management of Imported Fire Ants and in the research project 0500-00044-014-00D entitled, Area-wide Fire Ant Suppression Project: Demonstration Site in Mississippi. 2. List the milestones (indicators of progress) from your Project Plan. Year 1 (FY 2002) Analyze stridulatory sounds produced by major and minor workers of the black imported fire ant to identify potential frequencies with some behavioral context. Stridulatory sounds identified with a behavioral context will be generated with a signal generator in the
presence of ants under lab and field conditions and the behavioral responses recorded. Year 2 (FY 2003) Identify wingbeat frequencies produced by alate reproductives of black and hybrid imported fire ants with a low frequency microphone. Analyze wingbeat frequencies for male and female alates of black and hybrid imported fire ants that will be analyzed to identify potential frequencies for further study. Year 3 (FY 2004) Identify wingbeat frequencies produced by alate reproductives of red imported fire ants with a low frequency microphone. Analyze wingbeat frequencies for male and female alates of red imported fire ants will be analyzed to identify potential frequencies for further study. Year 4 (FY 2005) Assess wingbeat frequencies produced by black imported fire ant alate reproductives using a high speed camera. Analyze wingbeat frequencies produced by black imported fire ants using a high speed camera. Year 5 (FY 2006) Identify sound directionality of the wing beat frequencies
produced by black and hybrid imported fire ants. Analyze sound directionality of the wing beat frequencies for black imported fire ants using a series pf microphones surrounding alate reproductives. Lab study to assess the effects of sound excitation of ants in an effort to increase production of phorid flies, a biological control agent of ants. 3a List the milestones that were scheduled to be addressed in FY 2005. For each milestone, indicate the status: fully met, substantially met, or not met. If not met, why. 1. Assess wingbeat frequencies produced by black imported fire ant alate reproductives using a high speed camera. Milestone Substantially Met 2. Analyze wingbeat frequencies produced by black imported fire ants using a high speed camera. Milestone Substantially Met 3b List the milestones that you expect to address over the next 3 years (FY 2006, 2007, and 2008). What do you expect to accomplish, year by year, over the next 3 years under each milestone? Year 5 (FY 2006)
Sound directionality of the wing beat frequencies for black imported fire ants will be determined using a series pf microphones surrounding alate reproductives. Lab study will be conducted to assess the effects of sound excitation using impeders to cause fire ants in a phorid fly rearing facility to disperse for the purpose of increasing the production of phorid flies, a biological control agent of ants. Stridulation studies will be conducted for small, medium and large workers, as well as male and female alates of black imported fire ants using a series microphones and high speed video images. 4a What was the single most significant accomplishment this past year? Vibrational Studies: An image tracking technique similar to particle image velocimetry (PIV) was used to quantify motion of ants on a planar surface after BIFA ants were stimulated to move by substrate vibrations at 466 Hz at five different amplitudes. While many of the ants responded immediately to the vibration by
moving, this movement was rapidly attenuated. 4b List other significant accomplishments, if any. Wing-beat frequencies: A publication is now being prepared on the wing- beat frequencies research begun in 2003 and continued in 2004. Field data has also been collected this summer of male and female BIFA alates taking off from grass blades from natural mounds in the field. No structure was placed over the mounds. These recordings of wing-beat frequencies recorded in the field will be compared to laboratory recordings. Stridulation studies: The Center for Sound Communication, Institute of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, visited the laboratory in May and June 2005 and conducted detailed studies on BIFA and RIFA. Studies included recordings of stridulation using 14 B&K microphones model 4939 and portable laser Doppler vibrometers (Polytech model PDV-100, and Ometron model 8336). High-speed video images (3000 to 6000 frames per second) synchronized with recorded waveforms of
the produced sounds/vibrations were analysed for abdominal movement/position versus waveform. Small, medium and large workers and male and female alates were studied in detail for both species of fire ants. Specimens recorded were saved individually for later microscopical study (light and scanning electron microscopy). Conduction of vibrations through the soil and legs of the fire ant were also studied. We hope to have the data completely analysed by the winter/early spring and then prepare a publication for a refereed journal. Stereo High-Speed Imaging of Alates of BIFA and RIFA: An improved high- speed video system has been developed for analyzing wing movement and associated wing-beat frequencies. Phorid Flies/BIFA interactions: A local dense population of Pseudacteon curvatus has been found this summer near Holly Springs National Forest parasitizing BIFA. We hope to begin shortly high speed videography and correlated sound studies of phorid fly/BIFA interactions. At this
point it may be possible to do this in a natural field situation. 5. Describe the major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact. New software has been developed which allows us to collect real-time data from up to 32 microphones at sampling rates of 96,000 samples/second, and the ability to synchronize these acoustic recordings with a high speed (10,000 fps) video camera has been demonstrated. A large (20-cm diameter) acoustic array has been constructed, which allows simultaneous measurements from 16-microphones. This array has been designed so that precise rotations of array allows for non-simultaneous sampling at a much higher resolution that previously permitted. 7. List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. (NOTE: List your peer reviewed publications below). See Inhouse research project report.
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Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/04
Outputs
1. What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? What does it matter? Imported fire ants are a major pest in the United States with a geographic range covering over 300 million acres in fifteen states and Puerto Rico. These pests are estimated to cost over one billion dollars each year in the United States. The objective of this project is to utilize acoustics to detect, monitor and control fire ant populations. Behavioral responses of imported fire ants to an acoustical signal will allow us to develop a technique for surveying and monitoring fire ant populations, or to develop a novel non-chemical technique for control. This program, which combines regional programs and integrated pest management to develop novel strategies for the control of imported fire ants, falls primarily within Component 4 (Control Technology) of NP 104, with some aspects that fall within
Components 2 (Detection and Surveillance Technology) and 3 (Biology and Physiology). The project includes elements of 2.1 (Detection and Diagnostics), 3.2 (Physiology, Anatomy, and Biochemistry), 4.1 (Chemical Pesticides and Repellents), and 4.2 (Biological Control). Additional details can be found in the in house CRIS Project 6402-22320-001-00D, "Regional Integrated Management of Imported Fire Ant," the subordinate CRIS 6402-22320-001-01S, "Management of Imported Fire Ants," and in the CRIS 0500-00044-014-00D, "Area-wide Fire Ant Suppression Project: Demonstration Site in Mississippi". 2. List the milestones (indicators of progress) from your Project Plan. Year 1 (FY 2002) Analyze stridulatory sounds produced by major and minor workers of the black imported fire ant to identify potential frequencies with some behavioral context. Stridulatory sounds identified with a behavioral context will be generated with a signal generator in the presence of ants under lab and field conditions
and the behavioral responses recorded. Year 2 (FY 2003) Identify wingbeat frequencies produced by alate reproductives of black and hybrid imported fire ants with a low frequency microphone. Analyze wingbeat frequencies for male and female alates of black and hybrid imported fire ants will be analyzed to identify potential frequencies for further study. Year 3 (FY 2004) Identify wingbeat frequencies produced by alate reproductives of red imported fire ants with a low frequency microphone. Analyze wingbeat frequencies for male and female alates of red imported fire ants will be analyzed to identify potential frequencies for further study. Year 4 (FY 2005) Assess wingbeat frequencies produced by black imported fire ant alate reproductives using a high speed camera. Analyze wingbeat frequencies produced by black imported fire ants using a high speed camera. Year 5 (FY 2006) Identify sound directionality of the wingbeat frequencies produced by black and hybrid imported fire ants. Analyze
sound directionality of the wingbeat frequencies for black imported fire ants using a series of microphones surrounding alate reproductives. Lab study to assess the effects of sound excitation of ants in an effort to increase production of phorid flies, a biological control agent of ants. FY 2007 This is an out year for the project. 3. Milestones: A. List the milestones that were scheduled to be addressed in FY 2004. How many milestones did you fully or substantially meet in FY 2004 and indicate which ones were not fully or substantially met, briefly explain why not, and your plans to do so. The milestones listed below were scheduled to be completed in Year 3. All of the milestones were completed. Wingbeat frequencies produced by alate reproductives of the red imported fire ants were recorded with a low frequency microphone. Wingbeat frequencies for male and female alates of red imported fire ants were analyzed to identify harmonic and fundamental frequencies. B. List the milestones
(from the list in Question #2) that you expect to address over the next 3 years (FY 2005, 2006, & 2007). What do you expect to accomplish, year by year, over the next 3 years under each milestone? Year 4 (FY 2005) The wingbeat frequencies produced by black imported fire ant alate reproductives will be determined using a high speed camera. These wingbeat frequencies will be compared with the results from the microphone studies. Determine wingbeat frequencies produced by black imported fire ants using a high speed camera and the high-sensitivity microphone array. Year 5 (FY 2006) Sound directionality of the wingbeat frequencies produced by black and hybrid imported fire ants will be identified. Sound directionality of the wingbeat frequencies for black imported fire ants will be determined using a series of microphones surrounding alate reproductives. Lab study will be conducted to assess the effects of sound excitation using impeders to cause fire ants in a phorid fly rearing
facility to disperse for the purpose of increasing the production of phorid flies, a biological control agent of ants. FY 2007 This is an out year for the project. 4. What were the most significant accomplishments this past year? A. Single most significant accomplishment during FY 2004 (one per Research (OOD) Project): An in-depth follow-up study to the FY 2003 measurements of sound produced by the wingbeat of black imported fire ants was conducted at the National Center for Physical Acoustics (NCPA). The frequency spectra and directivity pattern of sounds produced by the wingbeats of black imported fire ant alates was studied using two separate microphone arrays, in conjunction with the high-speed camera. The first array was comprised of a 10-cm diameter ring with 8 microphone positions. For these measurements, 7 B&K 4191 microphones and one B&K 4190 microphone were used. The second array was comprised of a 19.6-cm diameter ring with 16 B&K 4191 microphone arrays. The ring was
constructed so as to allow much finer resolution angular measurements. The highest resolution data collected so far has been from an effective spacing of about 5.6 degrees or a total of 64 angular positions. In all measurments, the ant was measured in both front and side profiles. The data were recording using MOTU 828mkii fire-wire audio interfaces, and the sampling rate was 96,000 samples/second, which permitted a maximum detectable frequency of nearly 50,000 Hz. Time-domain signals for recording periods of 30-60 seconds were recorded for later analysis. Simultaneous measurements were taken using a high-speed (10,000 frames/second) video camera. The position of the wings could be located relative to the acoustic signal to 1/10000-s accuracy using the simultaneously recorded synchronization signals produced by the video camera. Among the key results from this study were that a significant component of the sound production by the wing beat was in the high-frequency/ultra-sound
region (10000-40000 Hz). It is believed that this component is due to the break up of vortices generated by the wing motion. This discovery is particularly ultrasound detection in the far field can occur via viscous drag effects. (A followup study measuring the ultrasound-component of fire-ant stridulation is planned for FY 2005.) Secondly, the pattern (angular distribution) of sound measured by the arrays indicates a strong dipole component. If sound perception is important for fire ant communication, these measurements may also shed light in the reproductive behavior of the ant, a critical area to be understood for purposes of insect control. B. Other significant accomplishment(s), if any. Vibrational Studies. The behavior response of fire ants to substrate vibrations was determined to be 0.78 m/s2 over the frequency range 40, 3000 Hz. A study was performed at the USDA-ARS in Starkville, MS, to assess the potential impact on attacking phorid fly parasitization/pupation rates
in tubs shaken periodically at predetermined rates. Although the results were inconclusive, a number of confounding factors were identified, and an improved shaker is being constructed for use in FY 2005. Chemical Studies. Acetone was found to be a sexually dependent excitant for male alates of black imported fire ants. It is thought that this may be related to the presence of the carbonyl (C=O) group in acetone, which is also present in natural pheromones. C. Significant activities that support special target populations. None. D. Progress Report opportunity to submit additional programmatic information to your Area Office and NPS (optional for all in-house ("D") projects and the projects listed in Appendix A; mandatory for all other subordinate projects). 5. Describe the major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact. New software has been developed which allows us to collect real-time data from up to 32 microphones at sampling
rates of 96,000 samples/second, and the ability to synchronize these acoustic recordings with a high speed (10,000 fps) video camera has been demonstrated. A large (20-cm diameter) acoustic array has been constructed, which allows simultaneous measurements from 16-microphones. This array has been designed so that precise rotations of array allows for non-simultaneous sampling at a much higher resolution that previously permitted. 6. What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end- user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products? FY 2004: An invention disclosure has been filed with the University of Mississippi for a fire-ant trap, and a potential commercial partner has been identified for development of this technology.
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