On Mon, 20 Mar 1995 [log in to unmask] wrote:
 
> I read an article recently in our local newspaper about a South American fly
> that the government is considering bringing into the United States to help
> control the fire ants that have invaded the Southeast. The gnat-sized fly
> lays eggs on the ants back, which hatch out and feed on the fire ant.  With
> the honeybee a close relative of the ant, could this fly attack our
> honeybees?  The research is being conducted by Richard S. Patterson, an
> entomologist with USDA.  Does anyone have any more information on this
> research ?  We definitely need help with fire ants, but bringing in an insect
> that is not native to our country, could have disastrous effects.
> Steve Genta -- Greenville, South Carolina
> [log in to unmask]   or   [log in to unmask]
>
 
I'm not up on the new molecular techniques of taxonomy, so maybe I've
missed something, but aren't honey bees and ants in two entirely
different superfamilies (Apoidea and Formicoidea, respectively)? Looks as
if they're not very closely related at all. A parasite specific for ants
should pose not threat to bees.