Consequences of harvester ant incursion into urbanized areas: A case history of sting anaphylaxis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

John H. Klotz; Justin O. Schmidt; Jacob L. Pinnas; Stephen A. Klotz

Consequences of harvester ant incursion into urbanized areas: A case history of sting anaphylaxis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

John H. Klotz, Justin O. Schmidt, Jacob L. Pinnas, Stephen A. Klotz

Medicine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Over a two-year period in Arizona, there were 237 reported cases of people stung by ants. Most of these cases were caused by harvester ants and native fire ants, which pose a significant health risk to a small percentage of the population who are allergic to their sting. We report a case of anaphylaxis in Tucson caused by a sting of Pogonomyrmex rugosus. In addition, due to the severity of their sting, harvester ants can also become a nuisance pest when they infest urban environments. A field survey and a phone survey of pest control companies in Tucson demonstrated the prevalence of harvester ants in residential areas. Increasing urbanization in the habitat of Pogonomyrmex species will lead to increasing numbers of serious reactions to their stings.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	543-551
Number of pages	9
Journal	Sociobiology
Volume	45
Issue number	3
State	Published - Jun 1 2005

Keywords

Allergic reaction
Anaphylaxis
Harvester ants
Pogonomyrmex
Stings

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Insect Science

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title = "Consequences of harvester ant incursion into urbanized areas: A case history of sting anaphylaxis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)",

abstract = "Over a two-year period in Arizona, there were 237 reported cases of people stung by ants. Most of these cases were caused by harvester ants and native fire ants, which pose a significant health risk to a small percentage of the population who are allergic to their sting. We report a case of anaphylaxis in Tucson caused by a sting of Pogonomyrmex rugosus. In addition, due to the severity of their sting, harvester ants can also become a nuisance pest when they infest urban environments. A field survey and a phone survey of pest control companies in Tucson demonstrated the prevalence of harvester ants in residential areas. Increasing urbanization in the habitat of Pogonomyrmex species will lead to increasing numbers of serious reactions to their stings.",

keywords = "Allergic reaction, Anaphylaxis, Harvester ants, Pogonomyrmex, Stings",

author = "Klotz, {John H.} and Schmidt, {Justin O.} and Pinnas, {Jacob L.} and Klotz, {Stephen A.}",

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T1 - Consequences of harvester ant incursion into urbanized areas

T2 - A case history of sting anaphylaxis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

AU - Klotz, John H.

AU - Schmidt, Justin O.

AU - Pinnas, Jacob L.

AU - Klotz, Stephen A.

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N2 - Over a two-year period in Arizona, there were 237 reported cases of people stung by ants. Most of these cases were caused by harvester ants and native fire ants, which pose a significant health risk to a small percentage of the population who are allergic to their sting. We report a case of anaphylaxis in Tucson caused by a sting of Pogonomyrmex rugosus. In addition, due to the severity of their sting, harvester ants can also become a nuisance pest when they infest urban environments. A field survey and a phone survey of pest control companies in Tucson demonstrated the prevalence of harvester ants in residential areas. Increasing urbanization in the habitat of Pogonomyrmex species will lead to increasing numbers of serious reactions to their stings.

AB - Over a two-year period in Arizona, there were 237 reported cases of people stung by ants. Most of these cases were caused by harvester ants and native fire ants, which pose a significant health risk to a small percentage of the population who are allergic to their sting. We report a case of anaphylaxis in Tucson caused by a sting of Pogonomyrmex rugosus. In addition, due to the severity of their sting, harvester ants can also become a nuisance pest when they infest urban environments. A field survey and a phone survey of pest control companies in Tucson demonstrated the prevalence of harvester ants in residential areas. Increasing urbanization in the habitat of Pogonomyrmex species will lead to increasing numbers of serious reactions to their stings.

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KW - Stings

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