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Description:
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Few investigations have examined the relationship between Solenopsis complex and its internal microflora . Most investigations on the red imported fire ant are either control oriented or emphasize the species' negative impact on ecosystems . Therefore , the objective of this research were (1 ) to isolate and identify yeasts from the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta (2 ) to determine the impact of associated yeasts on red imported fire ant colony vigor , and (3 ) to clarify the significance of the association by obtaining and comparing sterol profiles of the yeast flora and the red imported fire ant .
Colonies were collected from five locations in Texas : Beaumont , Huntsvllle , Waco , Stephenville , and Abilene . These sites represent a transect along a decreasing moisture gradient from the southeastern to the northwestern region of the state . Colonies were randomly collected during the winter of 1992 , and the spring , summer , and fall months of 1993 . Physiological and morphological tests showed that the 327 yeast isolates from Solenopsis invicta haemolymph represent five yeast species : Candida parapsilosis (168 Isolates ) , Candida lipolytica (123 isolates ) , Candida guillermondii (18 isolates ) , Candida rugosa (9 Isolates ) , and Debaryomyces var hansenii (9 ) . |