Positive-Strand RNA Viruses Infecting the Red Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta

The imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta and S. richteri were introduced into the USA between 1918 and 1945. Since that time, they have expanded their USA range to include some 138 million hectares. Their introduction has had significant economic consequences with costs associated with damage and...

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Main Author: Steven M. Valles
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:Psyche: A Journal of Entomology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/821591
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author Steven M. Valles
author_facet Steven M. Valles
author_sort Steven M. Valles
collection DOAJ
description The imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta and S. richteri were introduced into the USA between 1918 and 1945. Since that time, they have expanded their USA range to include some 138 million hectares. Their introduction has had significant economic consequences with costs associated with damage and control efforts estimated at 6 billion dollars annually in the USA. The general consensus of entomologists and myrmecologists is that permanent, sustainable control of these ants in the USA will likely depend on self-sustaining biological control agents. A metagenomics approach successfully resulted in discovery of three viruses infecting S. invicta. Solenopsis invicta virus 1 (SINV-1), SINV-2, and SINV-3 are all positive, single-stranded RNA viruses and represent the first viral discoveries in any ant species. Molecular characterization, host relationships, and potential development and use of SINV-1, SINV-2, and SINV-3 as biopesticides are discussed.
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spelling doaj-art-46afb2ff006f455fa9bcbe838b2e17af2025-08-20T03:36:13ZengWileyPsyche: A Journal of Entomology0033-26151687-74382012-01-01201210.1155/2012/821591821591Positive-Strand RNA Viruses Infecting the Red Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis invictaSteven M. Valles0USDA-ARS, Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, 1600 SW 23rd Drive, Gainesville, FL 32608, USAThe imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta and S. richteri were introduced into the USA between 1918 and 1945. Since that time, they have expanded their USA range to include some 138 million hectares. Their introduction has had significant economic consequences with costs associated with damage and control efforts estimated at 6 billion dollars annually in the USA. The general consensus of entomologists and myrmecologists is that permanent, sustainable control of these ants in the USA will likely depend on self-sustaining biological control agents. A metagenomics approach successfully resulted in discovery of three viruses infecting S. invicta. Solenopsis invicta virus 1 (SINV-1), SINV-2, and SINV-3 are all positive, single-stranded RNA viruses and represent the first viral discoveries in any ant species. Molecular characterization, host relationships, and potential development and use of SINV-1, SINV-2, and SINV-3 as biopesticides are discussed.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/821591
spellingShingle Steven M. Valles
Positive-Strand RNA Viruses Infecting the Red Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta
Psyche: A Journal of Entomology
title Positive-Strand RNA Viruses Infecting the Red Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta
title_full Positive-Strand RNA Viruses Infecting the Red Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta
title_fullStr Positive-Strand RNA Viruses Infecting the Red Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta
title_full_unstemmed Positive-Strand RNA Viruses Infecting the Red Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta
title_short Positive-Strand RNA Viruses Infecting the Red Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta
title_sort positive strand rna viruses infecting the red imported fire ant solenopsis invicta
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/821591
work_keys_str_mv AT stevenmvalles positivestrandrnavirusesinfectingtheredimportedfireantsolenopsisinvicta