The Invasive Species Research Lab at BFL has led key research into the imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, and some prospective biological controls. After the imported fire ant arrived at BFL in 1981, the field station began studying the invader's pattern of expansion and competitive interactions. In the years following the invasion, the lab released several species of phorid flies from South America that are host-specific parasitoids of this invasive ant, and has established a research program into several known pathogens of fire ants. A long-term study of ant community changes at BFL spans the time since the fire ant arrived to the present day.
In recent years, the lab has begun researching other invasive species that have colonized Texas. One new species of interest is the tawny crazy ant (Nylanderia fulva), which can displace ants in sites that it colonizes. It is unique in that it can neutralize fire ant venom with its own formic acid, giving it the potential to outcompete even the tenacious imported fire ant.
The lab is also studying invasive grasses like buffel grass and guinea grass, African grasses that were originally introduced as pasture grass. Researchers at BFL are currently investigating management treatments that will lower the success of these grass species and are also studying the basic population biology of these grasses.
Another invasive plant, the giant reed, has become established in large patches along the river bank at BFL. Recently, gall-forming wasps and scale insects were released in conjunction with the USDA as biocontrol agents of the reed. The success of this biocontrol at the field lab will be assessed over the next several years.