Nesting and reproduction of Pachycondyla striata (Formicidae: Ponerinae) in urban areas: an ant that offers risk of accidents

Abstract

 It was conducted a research, in urban areas, on the nesting habits and reproductive period of Pachycondyla striata, a species of ant that stings painfully. The study was motivated by the frequent reports of accidents in the city of São Paulo. The reports are more common during the reproductive seasons of the species, when the winged females sting the population, since they enter the houses of the people attracted to light. Although anaphylaxis for P. striata has not been reported yet, other close species may cause anaphylaxis, which makes important to understand their biology in order to take management and control measures. Fourteen green areas in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, were monitored in the search for the species and their nests that were found in 64.3% of the areas. The nests are located around the trunk base of the trees, between the roots that protrude from the ground, under the rocks and through the cracks and crevices on the sidewalks. The spatial distribution of the nests is random. The reproductive period of P. striata was monitored from April 2012 to November 2013, through passive collection and laboratory colony. The nuptial flights occur during the cooler and drier months of the year, between July and September.