Stamping Out Fire Ants

Fire ants are a menace to humans, animals, and agriculture. They reduce crop yields, injure livestock, damage farm and electrical equipment, and put human lives at risk when stung, from allergic reactions to their venom. Fire ants currently infest about 350 million acres, with up to 60 colonies per acre and each colony can have more than 200,000 workers. They reproduce during mating flights that distribute millions of new queens several times a year; this makes eradication nearly impossible. Fortunately, researchers from the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) are working on a variety of innovative, diverse strategies to control the spread of fire ants. Learn more below:
 

Citrus Greening Portal

What is Huanglongbing or Citrus Greening?

Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening, poses the most serious threat that the Florida citrus industry has ever faced. The bacteria that cause citrus greening - three species of Liberibacter – most likely originated in Asia prior to 1900 and has slowly spread throughout the world in many citrus growing areas. In countries where the disease is endemic, different varieties of citrus trees like “sweet orange” begin to decline within 3-4 years after planting, resulting in reduced fruit crop and fruit quality. 

Citrus greening FAQs

Citrus greening was first detected in Florida in 2005. By 2008, it had been identified in most of the citrus growing counties in the state. Despite intense efforts, citrus greening now threatens the survival of Florida citrus, has a toehold in other citrus areas, and poses a threat to the entire U.S. citrus industry. 

What are we doing to control citrus greening?

ARS scientists across the country are actively engaged in research with university and industry partners on all aspects of this disease problem, including the host, pathogen, and insect vector. We are making great progress in not only understanding how citrus greening infiltrates healthy citrus trees, but how to protect these trees from the disease. Our goal is to overcome citrus greening and ensure the U.S. citrus industry can provide consumers with tasty, high quality citrus fruits for years to come.

Lady beetles are synonymous with sunshine and summertime, buzzing around tall green grass and plants from small gardens to large meadows. Perhaps the most familiar lady beetle is the iconic red bug with black spots, but there are hundreds of species, both native and non-native to the United States.

Lady beetles prey on a wide variety of aphids, or insect pests, making them essential to biological pest control. It’s for this reason that ARS scientists continually work to collect, research, and identify the most beneficial species of lady beetles to help curb the use of pesticides.

While many lady beetles are native to all 50 states, when it comes to crossing the Pacific to the islands of Hawaii, there are no lady beetles inherent to the tropical ecosystem.

“There is no evidence, at this point, that any of the lady beetles in Hawaii are native, those that exist have all been brought in from other places in the world,” said Louis Hesler, entomologist and lead scientist at the North Central Research Laboratory for Integrated Cropping System Research in Brookings, SD.

Presently, ARS researchers have collected and identified 50 lady beetles that are beneficial, serving as champions of Hawaiian biological pest control.

Recently, Hesler’s team received two apparently new kinds of lady beetles from collaborators in Hawaii. The team is currently working to research and identify whether these two kinds will also benefit the islands.

“We want to inform the pest management practitioners, horticulturalists, and the people that are involved in production agriculture and landscape architecture to give them a handle on what biological resources are available for pest control,” Hesler said. “We’re trying to develop a list of all species that are established, or confirmed, in Hawaii.

“There’s been a lot of beneficial insects, like lady beetles, that have been introduced in Hawaii but not all have been proven within the environment,” Hesler added. “So, it’s important we document those lady beetles that are fully established.” – Tami Terella-Faram, ARS Office of Communications

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Locking Out Viruses

Aphids are a well-known foe of anyone who grows plants, whether they’re farmers or home gardeners. The tiny insects harm plants by sucking sap from them, but they’re also very good at spreading viruses that are bad for plants – including important crops. One ARS researcher found a breakthrough way to keep aphids and the diseases they spread at bay, using the infamous spike protein that’s located on the outside of viruses. Find out more about how this game-changing technology can save plants.

Planet vs. Plastics

One of the great challenges to sustainability today is plastics — so much so that the theme of Earth Day in 2024 was “Planet vs. Plastics.” There are many reasons that plastics post a threat —  from their sources in non-renewable petrochemicals to the fact that they can last for long periods in the environment, long after people have finished using them for their intended purposes. They can also produce harmful particles called microplastics that end up in the food system and our bodies. What solutions does ARS offer to this challenge? 

Listen to this Earth Day interview with scientist Bill Orts to hear about some of the promising solutions that we’re developing — including plastics made from renewable agricultural byproducts, and more!

Salmonellosis (salmonella poisoning) is a leading cause of foodborne illness in the U.S., with over one million illnesses per year. Salmonellosis is transmitted through the consumption of contaminated food products, including raw or under-cooked poultry, eggs, meat, raw or unpasteurized dairy products, and fruits and vegetables. It can also be transferred from handling pets — particularly some birds and reptiles. 

To combat its harmful effects, USDA is launching a "Grand Challenge" initiative to combat Salmonella. Learn how ARS is using the Grand Challenge to determine ways to identify and reduce Salmonella infections by reading our Under the Microscope Q&A.

ARS researchers in West Lafayette, IN, are examining how cattle, swine, and poultry are raised in an effort to improve their quality of life. To reach their goal, the researchers are focusing on three priority areas under modern farming conditions: pain or distress, animal health and productivity, and harmful effects caused by climate variability. 

Modern farming refers to the use of technology to improve agricultural practices. Examples include the dairy industry's use of automated milk feeders for young calves and the use of monitors to track an animal’s movements. In both cases, data can note changes in behavior and help predict the onset of disease. Early detection means a sick animal can receive treatment sooner, reducing suffering, production losses, and the chance of the illness spreading. This approach could save treatment-related expenses and improve animal welfare.

Animal welfare science is a relatively young field that combines several scientific disciplines. One discipline that figures prominently is ethology, the study of animal behavior.

“We will continue to optimize animal welfare to maintain stakeholder confidence in animal agricultural practices,” said Jessica Pempek, an ARS animal scientist. “There is an ethical and moral obligation to ensure that animals under human care have a good quality of life, regardless of if they are used for companionship or food production.” Read more here.

Cooking with Science: The Video Series

Ready to get cooking with science? USDA’s Agricultural Research Service is proud to present a new cooking series that blends culinary dishes with food science. In each episode we highlight a talented chef who creates wonderful, delicious recipes right before your eyes. Our research experts are also in the kitchen for savory discussions on the science of cooking and to explain how they are making the foods we eat safer, tastier, more sustainable, and more plentiful. Strap on your apron and break out your chemistry book – Cooking with Science is on the air!

Invasive plants pose serious threats to both our agriculture and our ecosystems. One of the biggest threats is the way these plants can drain water supplies, by consuming large amounts of available water that would otherwise support local plants and crops. In the southwestern U.S., the fast-growing Arundo plant has become one of the worst offenders. 

To address the problem without using chemical sprays, ARS scientists are identifying insects that can feed on and kill the Arundo plant. Importantly, these host-specific insects will not harm other plants or negatively affect the ecosystem in those areas. This is the first biocontrol project targeting an invasive grass. Watch this video to learn more about how scientists are zeroing in on safe, natural biocontrol approaches to combat the Arundo plant.