| Abstract: | The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, is a globally invasive pest. Fire ant decapitating Pseudacteon flies (Diptera: Phoridae) are natural enemies of Solenopsis fire ants. They are parasitoids from the same native range as S. invicta. These parasitoid phorid flies are used as biological control agents to combat S. invicta populations in the United States because they are host specific on S. invicta and have pronounced indirect effects. Much is known about the life history of Pseudacteon flies and their effects on the foraging behavior of S. invicta. However, little is known about the molecular basis of host manipulation. To address this research gap, we utilized molecular approaches to explore the genetics behind the changes observed at the colony and individual level of S. invicta in the presence of Pseudacteon curvatus and individual S. invicta workers parasitized by Pseudacteon curvatus. Specifically, we used real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and whole-transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq). We also explored the transcriptome of P. curvatus. Our results suggest that the mere presence of attacking P. curvatus causes changes in gene expression of S. invicta foragers. Further, S. invicta workers parasitized with P. curvatus experience many changes in gene expression. Of note, genes related to immune function, muscle function, development, and foraging experienced significant changes. Due to the complex nature of the topics investigated, we also explored the use of informal STEM education and science communication to better plan science outreach. We found that it is important to understand an audience's characteristics before performing extensive outreach projects. The electronic version of this dissertation is accessible from https://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/198753 |
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