Diversity Of Ponerinae Ants (Hymenoptera: Formiciedae) Using Urban Areas For Reproduction: Their Potential Threat To Human Health

Abstract:
Workers and mainly winged females of Ponerinae ants have been causing painful stings on people in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. The species live in small colonies, comprised from a few dozen to a few hundred individuals with monomorphic workers. Ponerinae ants are predators, although some species feed on plant nectaries, fruits and honeydew. In order to register which are the species that reproduce in the city, a survey was conducted for 13 months with light and Malaise traps that were placed in two different areas with the aim at collecting alate ants. The following Ponerinae ants were registered: Odontomachus haematodus, O. bauri, Pachycondyla laevigata, P. striata, P. unidentata, 10 morphospecies of Hypoponera and one species of Anochetus. Alate specimens were captured throughout the year. Peaks of alate capture are distinct among the species, from 1 to 655 specimens. With the exception of P. striata that reproduces in the dryer seasons, most Ponerinae species show reproductive flights in the warmer and rainy months.