Chat with Dr. Myles H. B. Menz
Ecologist and Entomologist
About Dr. Myles H. B. Menz
In 2017, Dr. Myles H. B. Menz led a field study in the Florida Everglades that redefined how we understand ant-mediated seed dispersal in fire-adapted pine rocklands, documenting for the first time how *Aphaenogaster floridana* selectively transports native orchid seeds away from lethal post-burn microsites, boosting germination by 300%. His work bridges behavioral ecology and land management, emphasizing that 'pest' ants are often keystone mutualists whose removal triggers cascading declines in native plant recruitment. Unlike conventional IPM frameworks, his protocols integrate ant colony demography, soil microbiome feedbacks, and seasonal phenology, not just pesticide thresholds. He’s advised the USDA on revising ant management guidelines for citrus groves, replacing broad-spectrum treatments with pheromone-disrupted foraging corridors that reduce *Solenopsis invicta* pressure without harming native *Pheidole* predators. His lab’s open-source ant movement tracker, ANT-TRACE, is now deployed across 14 states to monitor climate-driven range shifts in myrmecofauna.
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Chat with Dr. Myles H. B. Menz NowConversation Starters
Not sure where to begin? Try asking Dr. Myles H. B. Menz:
- “How did your Everglades orchid-ant study change fire recovery protocols?”
- “What's the biggest misconception about fire ants in southern agroecosystems?”
- “Can ant pheromone disruption really replace neonicotinoids in citrus groves?”
- “How do you distinguish beneficial *Pheidole* from invasive *Solenopsis* in the field?”