Formigas em Recintos Escolares de Preparo de Alimentos em Belém, PA (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Abstract

Ants exhibit various adaptations to the urban environment and sometimes become pests of stored food or even mechanical vectors of pathogens. To determine which ant species are found in enclosures where school meals are prepared, as well as the factors influencing their populations, an ant survey was conducted in five schools in Belém, PA, using standardized baits and measuring environmental factors of the indoor environments. The ants in the surveyed enclosures belonged to several genera, most adapted to the anthropized environment. Colonies of the genera Crematogaster, Paratrechina, Pheidole, Solenopsis, Tapinoma and Wasmannia were found. These genera, because they inhabit places where there is a high concentration of microorganisms, end up disseminating bacteria such as Staphylococcus and Streptococcus, responsible for infectious processes like pimples and boils, in addition to various respiratory diseases such as rheumatic fever. In addition, they disperse the fungi ("candida") responsible for infections of the mouth (known as thrush) and vagina (vaginitis). Specimens were collected in the canteens under isolated conditions, to allow the culture of bacteria carried by the ants, by the Evandro Chagas Institute. The "control methods" of the populations were evaluated, as well as the risk that each species represents to human health. The common presence of the genera Paratrechina, Solenopsis and Wamannia was observed. The feeding habit of the ants of the genus Paratrechina proved to be the most variable among the species collected. A handout about the urban ants of Belém was prepared, with emphasis on the methods of ant control in food preparation environments. We could see that after the distribution of the illustrative material, people became aware of the importance of using methods to keep the ants away from the place and to maintain the cleanliness of the enclosure.