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The red imported fire ant versus humans

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Date Issued:
2013
Summary:
The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, originally from South America, has become a major pest in the southeastern US. Its painful stings can result in anaphylactic shock and even death. For my thesis research, I wished to examine how and where people are exposed to these stings and what could be done to minimize this exposure. I surveyed ants around and under picnic benches at four sites in Palm Beach and Martin Counties, Florida. I compared the incidence of S. invicta and other ants for picnic benches on artificial substrate (brick, concrete, gravel, or pavement) versus relatively natural substrate (grass or sand). I found that substrate had no significant effect on the occurrence of S. invicta and other ants; in all cases, incidence rates were very low. I found out, however, that ants were being controlled using chemical poisons at some sites. Future research should examine control methods for efficient elimination of S. invicta in areas where people are likely to be expose
Title: The red imported fire ant versus humans.
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Name(s): Estep, Erica
Wetterer, James K.
Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Thesis
Date Created: Spring 2013
Date Issued: 2013
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: pdf
Extent: 19 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, originally from South America, has become a major pest in the southeastern US. Its painful stings can result in anaphylactic shock and even death. For my thesis research, I wished to examine how and where people are exposed to these stings and what could be done to minimize this exposure. I surveyed ants around and under picnic benches at four sites in Palm Beach and Martin Counties, Florida. I compared the incidence of S. invicta and other ants for picnic benches on artificial substrate (brick, concrete, gravel, or pavement) versus relatively natural substrate (grass or sand). I found that substrate had no significant effect on the occurrence of S. invicta and other ants; in all cases, incidence rates were very low. I found out, however, that ants were being controlled using chemical poisons at some sites. Future research should examine control methods for efficient elimination of S. invicta in areas where people are likely to be expose
Identifier: FA00003512 (IID)
Note(s): Includes bibliography.
Thesis (B.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, 2013.
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Sublocation: FAU Digital Library
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00003512
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author, with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Host Institution: FAU

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