ALEJANDRO CALIXTO

Title: Extension Associate– Fire Ant Research and Management Program

Education:
BS., Biology, 1997
MS., Entomology, 2004
Ph.D., Entomology, Texas A&M University, 2008

Specialization:  Fire Ant Mangement, Ecology (ants and spiders)

Selected Publications

Gilbert, L. E., C. L. Barr, A. Calixto, J L. Cook, B.  M. Drees, E. G. LeBrun, R. J. W. Patrock, R. Plowes, S. D. Porter and R. T. Puckett. Introducing phorid fly parasitoids of red imported fire ant workers from South America to Texas:  Outcomes vary by region and by Pseudacteon species released. 2008. Southwest. Entomol. 33: 15-29.

Calixto, A., M. K. Harris, A. Knutson and C. L. Barr. 2007. Responses of Native Ants to Solenopsis invicta Buren Reduction using Broadcast Baits. Env. Entomol. 36: 1112-1123.

 Calixto, A., A. Dean and M. K. Harris. 2007. Sampling ants with pitfall traps: propylene glycol vs water as kill/preservative agent. Southwest. Entomol. 32: 87-91.

Calixto, A., M. K. Harris and C. L. Barr. 2007. Resurgence and Persistence of  Dorymyrmex flavus Mc Cook Following Reduction of Solenopsis invicta Buren with a Broadcast Bait. Env. Entomol. 36: 549-554.

Puckett, R. T., A. Calixto, C. L. Barr and M. K. Harris. 2007. Passive Traps for Monitoring Pseudacteon Parasitoids of Solenopsis Fire Ants. Env. Entomol. 36: 584-588.

Calixto, A. and H. W. Levi. 2006. Notes on the natural history of Aspidolasius branicki (Araneae, Araneidae) at Tinigua National Park, Colombia with a revision of the genus. Bulletin of the British Aracnological Society. 13: 314-320.

Calixto, A., A. Dean, A. Knutson and M. K. Harris. 2006. Density changes of two earwigs, Labidura riparia (Pallas) and Euborellia annulipes (Lucas) following fire ant Reduction in Mumford , Texas. Southwest. Entomol. 31: 97-101.

Barr, C. and A. Calixto. 2005. Electrical stimulation of Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) to enhanced phorid fly, Pseudacteon tricuspis (Diptera: Phoridae) detection. Southwest. Entomol. 3: 165-168.

Calixto, A., A. Dean, B. Ree, L. Brooks and M. K. Harris. 2004. A banding technique for studying spiders in pecan canopies. Newsl. American Arachnological Society. 67: 5.

Harris, M. K., A. Knutson, A. Calixto, A. Dean, B. Ree and L. Brooks. 2003. Impact of Red Imported Fire Ant on foliar herbivores and natural enemies. Southwest. Entomol. Supplement No. 27. Pp. 123-134.

Dean, A., A. Calixto, and M. K. Harris. 2004. Spiders in Texas pecans. Newsl. American Arachnological Society. 67: 5.

Calixto, A., A. Dean, A. Knutson, M. K. Harris and B. Ree. 2003. Spiders in Texas pecans, are they affected by fire ants?. Newsl. American Arachnological Society. 66: 4.

Cadena, C. D., M. Alvarez, J. L. Parra, I. Jimenez, C. A. Mejia, M. Santamaria, A. M. Franco, C. A. Botero, G. D. Mejia, A. M. Umana, A. Calixto, J. Aldana and G. A. Londono. 2000. The birds of CIEM, Tinigua National Park, Colombia: an overview of thirteen years of ornithological research. Cotinga 13: 13-21.

Calixto, A. 1997. Spiders at the CIEM: a preliminary list. Field Studies of Fauna and Flora. La Macarena, Colombia. 10: 33-37.

Extension Publications (Electronic)

Schofield, K., Cooper, B. Drees and A. Calixto, 2007. Establishment of Fire Ant Parasitic Fly Pseudacteon curvatis (Diptera: Phoridae) in Denton County and the Release of Pseudacteon tricuspis (Diptera: Phoridae) in Pilot Point , TX in 2006. Pp 26-36. In Urban IPM Program Summary Report 2005, Texas Cooperative Extension. http://fireant.tamu.edu/research/projects/pdf/2005_urbanIPM_summary_rpt.pdf

Brown, E., B. Drees and A. Calixto . 2007. Evaluation of Petro-Canada Turf Product 1 & 2 for Suppression of Red Imported Fire Ants. Pp. 65-67. In Urban IPM Program Summary Report 2005, Texas Cooperative Extension. http://fireant.tamu.edu/research/projects/pdf/2005_urbanIPM_summary_rpt.pdf

Barr, C., B. Gillium and A. Calixto . 2006. Effectiveness of Extinguish Fire Ant Bait When Mixed with Fertilizer. Pg. 46-47. In Red Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Program Result Demonstration Handbook 1999-2003. http://fireant.tamu.edu/research/arr/year/99%2D03/

Barr, C. and A. Calixto . 2006. Effectiveness of Indoxacarb Numbered Compounds Palestine Municipal Airport . Pg. 18-21. In Red Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Program Result Demonstration Handbook 1999-2003. http://fireant.tamu.edu/research/arr/year/99-03/

Knutson, A., B. Ree, B. Whitney and A. Calixto . 2003. Evaluation of Extinguish for Fire Ant Control in Pecans in Comanche County , Texas . 1999-2002. Result Demonstration Handbook, Red Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Program, Texas Cooperative Extension. Pg. 37-39. In Red Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Program Result Demonstration Handbook 1999-2003. http://fireant.tamu.edu/research/arr/year/99-03/

Barr, C. and A. Calixto . 2003. Effectiveness of Amdro ® Yard Treatment Applied as Individual Mound Treatments, Broadcast and in Combination. Result Demonstration Handbook, Red Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Program, Texas Cooperative Extension. Pg. 81-83. In Red Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Program Result Demonstration Handbook 1999-2003. http://fireant.tamu.edu/research/arr/year/99-03/

Barr, C. and A. Calixto . 2003. Granular Bifenthrin Applied as Individual Mound Treatments and Broadcast for the Control of Fire Ants. Result Demonstration Handbook, Red Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Program, Texas Cooperative Extension. Pg. 84-86. In Red Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Program Result Demonstration Handbook 1999-2003. http://fireant.tamu.edu/research/arr/year/99-03/

Barr, C. and A. Calixto . 2003. IGR Bait Individual Fire Ant Mound Treatments for Small-Area Fire Ant Control. Result Demonstration Handbook, Red Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Program, Texas Cooperative Extension. Pg. 87-88.  In Red Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Program Result Demonstration Handbook 1999-2003.
http://fireant.tamu.edu/research/arr/year/99-03/

Publications In Preparation

Calixto, A., B. Drees, A. Gardea, M. K. Harris and Johnny Johnson. Estimating Solenopsis invicta Buren densities using food lures.

Calixto, A., A. Dean, M. K. Harris, A. Knutson and B. Ree. Foliage and Ground Dwelling Spiders in Two Pecan Orchards in Central Texas.

Calixto, A., A. Dean, M. K. Harris and B. Ree. Sampling spiders using corrugated cardboard bands.

Awards & Scholarships

2008 3d Place Student competition oral presentation – SWBESA Annual Meeting

2007 John Henry Comstock Graduate Student Award - Entomological Society of America.

2007 1st Place Oral Presentation – Student Research Week – Texas A&M University.

2007 2nd Place Student competition oral presentation – SWBESA annual meeting.

2006 Knox and Mary Parr Scholarship, Texas Cooperative Extension. Texas A&M University System.

2005 Outstanding Student Research Award. Association of Former Students and Office of Graduate Studies, Texas A&M University.

2005 Graduate Student Research and Presentation Grant. Association of Former Students and Office of Graduate Studies, Texas A&M University.

2005 Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, 1st place “Arthropods in Action” category, 1st Annual Arthropod Image Competition.

2004 Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University Competitive scholarship.

2003 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences competitive Scholarship - Texas A&M University.