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AN invasive species of carnivorous ants has been spreading in several states, leading to fears of attacks on humans.
Asian needle ants will reach their yearly peak numbers in July and August; however, spotting them is easier said than done.
The bugs are small and blend in well with their surroundings, with most people noticing them after being stung.
“Imagine somebody inserting a needle directly into your flesh,” Benoit Guénard, a professor of ecology and entomology at the University of Hong Kong, told USA Today.
“It’s a very sharp, acute pain, but it’s quite local.”
Tracking the ants is difficult, but researchers say the spread shouldn’t be ignored.
“They’re pretty widespread on the East Coast,” said Daniel Suiter, professor of urban entomology at the University of Georgia.
“If you live in an area which is dominated by hardwood trees, there’s a good chance there are Asian needle ants underfoot.”
While the sting is quite painful for most people, for some, it can be life-threatening.
Others can have pain that takes hours to subside.
Brachyponera chinensis, loosely translated as “short, wicked ant from China, is actually native to China, Japan, and the Koreas.
The ants were first discovered in the US in 1932 in Decatur, Georgia, but were only recognized as a pest within the past two decades after they began to spread in the southeast.
Now, the bugs can be found as far north as Connecticut and as south as Florida, according to the website AntMaps.
The ants look for prey such as flies, beetles, grasshoppers, and termites.
Unlike other ants, they don’t lay down scent trails, which makes it harder to track them back to their colonies to eradicate them.
“Most ants are in-your-face invasive, they lay a pheromone trail to get to food. You can’t miss an ant trail that’s half an inch wide,” said Suiter.
Symptoms of anaphylaxis
- Skin reactions include hives, itching, and flushed or pale skin.
- Low blood pressure (hypotension).
- Constriction of the airway, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.
- Swollen tongue or throat.
- Weak and rapid pulse.
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
- Dizziness or fainting.
- Psychological symptoms, such as a feeling of impending doom.
Source: US Department of Agriculture
“These remain hidden.”
The ants live in colonies in dead leaves, rotten logs, firewood, and mulch.
They can live near residential areas, including parks, and even urban areas, under railroad ties, logs, bricks, and pavers.
“People are most often stung when they’re working in their garden,” said Theresa Dellinger, a diagnostician at the insect identification lab at Virginia Tech.
“Nobody likes to be putting in their bedding plants and then suddenly have unexpected pain.”
If you’re sensitive to bug bites, Delliinger recommends carrying an EpiPen.
