Host specificity testing of the Solenopsis fire ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) pathogen, Kneallhazia (=thelohania) solenopsae (Microsporidia: Thelohaniidae), in Florida

Abstract

Post-entry host specificity testing was conducted on ants in Florida for the fire ant pathogen, Kneallhazia solenopsae. The pathogen was not detected in 47 samples that contained 9 non-Solenopsis invicta species and a total of 308 ants. Ants were collected from 3 field sites where K. solenopsae was present at the time of sampling. These sites were either at or within 0.7 km of an area where K. solenopsae was observed 12 yr earlier. Infections also were not detected in 23 laboratory colonies consisting of 6 non-S. invicta ant species that were inoculated with K. solenopsae, i.e., Linepithema humile Mayr, Monomorium floricola (Jerdon), Camponotus floridanus (Buckley), Tetramorium sp., Solenopsis xyloni McCook, and Solenopsis geminata (F.). Thus, transmission of K. solenopsae to non-S. invicta ants was not evident in our field and laboratory testing.