Potential of alternative control of leaf-cutting ants using essential oils: A systematic review

Leaf-cutting ants (LCAs) are abundant and cause considerable damage to agricultural and forest crops in the Neotropical region, and are commonly controlled using sulfluramid-based ant baits. However, this active ingredient is a precursor of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), a persistent, human-made pollutant that poses serious environmental and health risks. Several studies have highlighted more natural alternatives to conventional pesticides as a strategic approach for safer management.
In this context, the aim of the present study was to conduct a review through scientific, technological, and molecular mapping of the main plant species and their major compounds used in the alternative control of LCAs using plant essential oils (PEOs).
Seven plant families used for the extraction of PEOs were identified: Aristolochiaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Lamiaceae, Myrtaceae, Piperaceae, Verbenaceae, and Winteraceae. Additionally, 28 patents related to the use of PEOs against pest insects, including..., Literature Review
The process used for the systematic literature review and subsequent systematic review followed the guidelines of the \"Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses\" (PRISMA), which involved the stages of identification, screening/elimination, eligibility, and inclusion of articles (Figure 1).
Scientific Mapping
The review was conducted in March 2024 using the indexing platforms Scopus (https://www.scopus.com/) and Web of Science (https://webofknowledge.com/), based on the Boolean search (Atta OR Acromyrmex OR “leaf-cutting ants” OR “leaf-cutting ant”) AND (“essential oils” OR “essential oil” OR “major compounds”). The search included titles, abstracts, and keywords. Articles published in English were considered, without any specific time frame imposed. The metadata of the scientific publications obtained for each search term in both databases were exported in BibTex format. The datasets were combined into a single set, and duplicate entries were r..., , # Potential of alternative control of leaf-cutting ants using essential oils: A systematic review

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.jdfn2z3nf](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.jdfn2z3nf)

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#### File: Table\_a\_AFE\_2024\_5027\_b.xlsx

**Description:** Leaf-cutting ants (LCAs) are abundant and cause significant damage to agricultural and forest crops in the Neotropical region. Traditionally, they are controlled using sulfluramid-based ant baits. However, sulfluramid is a precursor to perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), a persistent, human-made pollutant that presents serious environmental and health risks. As a result, there has been growing interest in exploring more natural alternatives to conventional pesticides for safer pest management. This study aims to review the current scientific, technological, and molecular understanding of the use of plant essential oils (PEOs) in the alternative control of LCAs. By mapping ...,