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Goddard J, de Shazo RD. Envenomation From Flood-Related Fire Ant Rafting: A Cautionary Note. Am J Med 2023; 136:937-940. [PMID: 37355195 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2023.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Imported fire ants aggressively sting humans, leading to a variety of local and systemic effects. Fire ants display a behavioral adaptation to survive flooding, called "rafting," bringing humans into even more contact with fire ants. METHODS To assess frequency of encounters with fire ant rafts, duck hunters on the website "Duck Hunter's Forum" were asked about their experiences with the ants while wading or boating in flooded areas. All members of the group received a brief explanation and asked to respond directly if they had had such an encounter. They were then asked to fill out a short 6-question survey. RESULTS There were 2021 views of the thread about fire ant raft encounters, with 35 (1.7%) responses. Twenty-four (68.6%) said they had experienced encounters with fire ant rafts. Six responders described purposely or inadvertently physically touching the rafts with their body parts, boat, or a paddle, causing the ants to enter their boat or to climb directly onto the hunter(s). Five respondents were stung (number of stings from "a few" to 50), describing reactions to stings as "small pustules," "whelps," and "pimple-like, puss-filled whelps." CONCLUSIONS These results confirm that fire ant rafts formed during flooding present a potential hazard to persons walking, wading, or boating in those areas. We suggest that these rafts are an under-appreciated health hazard. It is reasonable to assume that people in flooded areas occasionally contact these floating rafts and are stung multiple times. We provide preliminary prevention/protection recommendations for health professionals, to be shared with their patients and the general public.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerome Goddard
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State.
| | - Richard D de Shazo
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Asthma, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson; University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham
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Lin CH, Liu YH, Huang RN, Lin CC, Liu HKH, Wen TH. Modeling geographical invasions of Solenopsis invicta influenced by land-use patterns. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11733. [PMID: 35918367 PMCID: PMC9345980 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15399-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Research into geographical invasions of red imported fire ants (RIFAs) by anthropogenic disturbances has received much attention. However, little is known about how land-use change and the characteristics of roads with different land-use types are associated with the risk of RIFA successful invasion or remaining at the highest level of invasion (RIFA SIRH). Furthermore, it was often assumed in prior studies that the risk of RIFA SIRH had a linear association with the independent variables. However, a linear relationship may not reflect the actual circumstances. In this study, we applied linear and nonlinear approaches to assess how land-use types, distance from the nearest road, different land-use types, and spatial factors affect the risk of RIFA SIRH. The results showed that agricultural land, land for transportation usage, and areas that had undergone land-use change from 2014 to 2017 had greater odds of RIFA invasion than natural land cover. We also identified land for transportation usage and the area of land-use change from 2014 to 2017, had more than 60% of RIFA SIRH within 350 m and 150 m from the nearest road. This study provided important insights into RIFA invasions in an isolated island and the areas of control strategies implemented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Hsien Lin
- Department of Geography, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, 10617, Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC.,Department of Health Promotion and Health Education, National Taiwan Normal University, No. 162, Sec. 1, Heping E. Road, Taipei City, 10610, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yi-Huei Liu
- Department of Geography, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, 10617, Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Rong-Nan Huang
- Department of Entomology, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei City, 10617, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chung-Chi Lin
- Department of Biology, National Changhua University of Education, No. 1, Jinde Road, Changhua City, 50007, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Helen Kang-Huey Liu
- Department of Political Science, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei City, 10617, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Tzai-Hung Wen
- Department of Geography, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, 10617, Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC.
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Rippel TM, Tomasula J, Murphy SM, Wimp GM. Global change in marine coastal habitats impacts insect populations and communities. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2021; 47:1-6. [PMID: 33610775 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2021.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Salt marsh and mangrove coastal ecosystems provide critical ecosystem services, but are being lost at an alarming rate. Insect communities in these ecosystems are threatened by human impacts, including sea level rise, habitat loss, external inputs including nutrients, metals, and hydrocarbons, as well as weather events, such as hurricanes. While some disturbances are felt throughout the food web (e.g. hurricanes), others are mediated by impacts on the dominant plants (e.g. nutrient subsidies). The impacts of these disturbances on insects/spiders and their rate of recovery is dependent on trophic level, life history, and diet breadth. While we understand impacts of single disturbances relatively well, we have very little understanding of how multiple disturbances interact to affect insect communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler M Rippel
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, 3700 O Street NW, Washington, D.C., USA.
| | - Jewel Tomasula
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, 3700 O Street NW, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Shannon M Murphy
- Department of Biology, University of Denver, 2190 E. Iliff Ave, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Gina M Wimp
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, 3700 O Street NW, Washington, D.C., USA
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