?EUR??,,????'??We then found a way to encapsulate the vegetative material in the fungus, called mycelia, into a pellet. We were able to dry down the pellet, or dehydrate it, so that they?EUR??,,????'???re like Grape Nuts, then store it,?EUR??,,????'?? said Thorvilson.

Thorvilson said Texas Tech?EUR??,,????'???s main field research took place in the Texarkana area. Field trials also are set for independent sites in College Station, Gainsville, Fla., and Gulfport, Miss.

?EUR??,,????'??The general idea of the fungus is to broadcast it over a field where there are many colonies. When the ants go to investigate for food, they find these pellets. They are attracted to the pellets, pick them up and deliver them to their colony. In the moist underground of the colony, the pellets rehydrate, produce spores and kill off the ants,?EUR??,,????'?? Thorvilson said.

Thorvilson said Texas Tech?EUR??,,????'???s biological attack on fire ants through application of fungal bait, is just one weapon in the fight to eradicate them.

?EUR??,,????'??As soon as we?EUR??,,????'???re ready to bring on a commercial partner and market this product, it will be another tool in our pest management toolbox. Used in conjunction with insecticides, parasites and other means of control, we might be able to suppress them enough to alleviate some of the economic damage they cause,?EUR??,,????'?? Thorvilson said. He anticipates it will take an additional two years to ready the fungal bait for sale in stores.

Contact Harlan Thorvilson, Ph.D. at (806) 742-2764 or rthgt@ttacs.ttu.edu, Professor of entomology, Texas Tech University, department of plant and soil science.