Since the beginning of human existence, this race has used science to protect and advance its society. However, over time, the use of this modification has created both positive and negative repercussions. In 1999, the community of Denton, Texas, introduced a non-native species to eradicate its fire ant problem. While the introduction of this species, the phorid fly, immediately benefited the community, it will also have long-term effects on Denton's ecosystem. In order to weigh both the risks and benefits of the phorid fly, it is important to consider all the arguments for and against this fly. However, before presenting the advantages and disadvantages of the phorid fly, the problem must be put into perspective. The fire ants that invaded the town of Denton were not native to the area and caused many problems for area residents. Ants are extremely aggressive and attack anyone who disturbs their nest, leaving marks that last for weeks. The ants also invaded residents' homes, ensuring no space was safe from their sting. They can damage crops, electrical equipment and the ecosystem. Solenopsis invicta, the scientific name for the invasive fire ant, has reduced biodiversity among reptiles, lizards and small mammals by causing organisms to die. In total, ants are estimated to cost the United States a billion dollars a year (not accounting for economic losses which add another ninety million). The phorid fly is a parasitic species whose host animal is the ant. In Denton, the fire ant infestation was partly due to the fact that there were no predators native to the area in which the fire ants took up residence. The main limiting factor for fire ants was rain which washed away... middle of paper ......genuityWorks citedhttp://people.ucsc.edu/~sphilpot/Publications_files/Philpott_etal_2004_Oikos.PDF http:// www.ars.usda.gov/sp2UserFiles/Place/66151015/publications/Gilbert_et_al-2008(M-4307).pdf http://people.missouristate.edu/lloydmorrison/PDF%20files/RecResDevEntomol(00)3;1- 13.pdf http://sswe.tamu.edu/PDF/SWE_S25_P007-17.pdf Callcott, Anne-Marie A., Sanford D. Porter, Ronald D. Weeks, Jr., and LC “Summary.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. US National Library of Medicine, February 18, 2011. Web. April 1, 2014. Philpott, Stacy M. and Gabriella L. Pardee. “Environmental entomology”. BioOne. Np, and Web. April 1, 2014. “Issg database: information on the impact of Solenopsis Invicta. » Issg database: information on the impact of Solenopsis Invicta. Np, and Web. April 01, 2014. "Web.biosci.utexas.edu - /." Web.biosci.utexas.edu. Np, and Web. April 1. 2014.