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Town ants: the beginning of John Moser’s remarkable search for knowledge

Informally Refereed

Abstract

John C. Moser’s career spans over 50 years, and his research has focused on understanding the biology of town ants (Atta texana) and phoretic mites and other associates of ants and pine bark beetles. His approach to developing methods for the control of these pests has been to understand more completely the biology of these organisms. This research approach has established Moser as an internationally recognized expert in leaf-cutting ant biology and as a premier authority on phoretic mites and other associates of pine bark beetles. John’s efforts have led to the largest collection (over 30,000 specimens) of mites associated with forest insects in the world. This knowledge is leading entomologists, ecologists, and pathologists to consider the possible role of mites in insect-fungal symbioses and disease transmission in trees.

Keywords

Atta texana, Dendroctonus frontalis, Dutch elm disease, fungal ascospores, mites and other pine bark beetle associates, southern pine beetles, southern pines, Texas leaf-cutting ants

Citation

Barnett, J.P.; Streett, D.A.; Blomquist, S.R. 2016. (slightly revised, redesigned, and reprinted May 2016) Town ants: the beginning of John Moser’s remarkable search for knowledge. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-GTR-182. Asheville, NC: USDA-Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 53 p.
Citations
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/45306