625 Prevalence of systemic adverse reactions to hymenoptera sting in a general population in Uruguay

Host Specificity and Risk Assessment of Releasing the Decapitating Fly Pseudacteon curvatus as a Classical Biocontrol Agent for Imported Fire Ants

“…They damage citrus trees (Banks et al, 1991), soybeans (Adams et al, 1983;Banks et al, 1990), potatoes (Adams et al, 1988), corn (Drees et al, 1991), and other crops (Adams, 1986;Drees, 1988). They are a major medical concern to approximately half a million people who are severely allergic to even a single fire ant sting (ϳ1% of the population; Adams and Lofgren, 1981;Stafford et al, 1989;Baluga et al, 1996) and to many more young children who are repeatedly stung by hundreds of fire ants when they accidently step onto the mounds. Fire ants are also a major nuisance to millions of additional people who are stung while gardening, hiking, working, golfing, or simply standing outside.…”

Managing nuisance social insects in urban environments: an overview

“…Also, the Pharaoh ant in Korea and in the USA, for example, may cause bronchial asthma and thus become a problem especially in hospitals, since they have the potential to mechanically transmit pathogenic bacteria (Beatson 1972;Eichler 1990;Kim et al 2007). Another example is the red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta, for which many people (approximately 1% of the world population) can suffer severe allergenic responses to even a single sting (Stafford et al 1989;Baluga et al 1996;Porter 2000). These impacts on humans added to the fact that social insects can achieve high numbers, even in the urban setting, and are often alien species, partly explains why social insects are unwanted in urban environments and deserve attention from the pest management standpoint.…”