Farmers' Perceptions of the Agricultural, Economic, and Health Impacts of Fire Ants in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.

Fire ants are known for their aggressive behavior, omnivorous diet, and construction of mounds on the soil surface. Their dispersal is facilitated by trade and habitat fragmentation, which have led to negative impacts on biodiversity, public health, and agriculture in many countries. In Brazil, information about their impacts is scarce and mostly limited to reports from the North Region. In the Atlantic Forest, a biome where most of Brazil's population resides, there are no records of impacts associated with fire ants. This study examined farmers' perceptions of the impacts of fire ants in the Atlantic Forest. A questionnaire was administered to collect information on respondents' profiles, property characteristics, perceived impacts of fire ants, management practices, and health-related issues. Most respondents reported the regular presence of fire ants on their properties, although the perceived impacts on agricultural productivity were generally low to moderate, and control costs were typically less than $17. Widespread use of pesticides for fire ant control is reported by most farmers. Regarding stings, 85.1% of farmers reported having been stung, but only 0.6% required hospitalization. The most common reaction was itching. This pioneering study revealed that, although fire ants are present on many properties within the Atlantic Forest, the reported economic and health impacts are lower than expected, with most farmers experiencing minimal losses. Overall, the results for our sample suggest that the presence of fire ants does not result in significant economic losses for farmers. Nevertheless, fire ants are not overlooked, as non-conservationist control methods are employed. Such practices may lead to colony fragmentation, increasing their abundance and potentially negatively affecting local biodiversity.