1.   But if past methods are any indication, the phorid fly may be their best hope.

2.   Different flies use different species and the imported ant must be controlled with imported phorid flies.

3.   Dozens of gnat-sized Brazilian phorid flies, bred in a University of Texas research program, were zeroing in on ant mounds scattered among the daisies.

4.   If the phorid fly scares the red ant enough, it may give the native ant population time to once again gain a foothold.

5.   My guess is that the phorid flies would grow bored hovering around the fire ant hills, waiting for barefooted politicians to wander by.

6.   Q. Will just one species of the phorid flies solve the imported fire ant problem in North America?

7.   So biological control with phorid flies seems worth trying, given that the greatest risk of these specialized flies might be that they will attack native fire ants.

8.   That research continues on a limited supply of imported phorid flies.

9.   The natives are held in check by a native phorid fly.

10.   The phorid fly is almost microscopic in size and there are many species that prey on ants, Gilbert said.