It ’s a fine summertime afternoon . You ’re kneeling in your garden and pull weeds , or sitting on a blanket and enjoying a picnic . abruptly you feel a sharp-worded , heat - filled sting on your leg — and then another and another . You look down and see dozens or even hundreds of red ants swarming over your body .
Without realizing it , you kneel or fructify down your blanket on top of a fire ant mound , and now you ’re pay a sore damage for your trespass .
“ They ’re really a miserable ant species , ” saysMichael Merchant , PhD , a professor of entomology at Texas A&M University in Dallas .
Dr. Merchant say that when he and his wife move to Texas many years ago , they had a hideous , picnic - queer blast ant experience like the one described above . And as the species has spread across much of the southern one-half of the continental United States , many people have had exchangeable trial - ins with firing ants . ( 1 ) “ In Texas and a band of the Southwest , they ’ve made go outside and sitting on the ground a pleasance of the past , ” he tell .
It ’s suppose that fire ant arrived in the United States in the 1930s via cargo ships traveling from South America . ( 2 ) And since then , they ’ve become an “ bionomical disaster , ” Merchant says . “ Wherever they go , they lower biodiversity and attack other ants and animals . ”
Unfortunately their prey includes humans . flaming ant are among the very few types of domestic ants that frequently bite hoi polloi .
But say that these ants “ sharpness ” is actually inaccurate . “ Fire ants do n’t bite , they give up a sting via their tail , ” Merchant say . “ Only the females sting , and their stinger is very sharp and delivers malice . ”
blast ants are n’t a problem in most places that get freezing temporary during winter . But there are other mintage of emmet that live in northern states that do now and then bite or sting . In some typeface , those attacks can be quite serious .
Fire Ant Bites (or Stings) Make Your Skin Feel Like It’s Burning
Merchant allege fire ants are well mention because their stinging make a hot , fiery sensation on the skin .
How You Know It’s a Fire Ant Bite or Sting
“ It starts out as a small , ruddy spot , and , after a Clarence Shepard Day Jr. or two , a white pustule forms that ’s itchy and a small bit painful , ” Merchant says .
It ’s potential to experience just a single confidence trick from a lone ardour ant . “ You may be alfresco working in a garden or something and get just one on your weapon system or branch , but commonly people make the mistake of stopping and standing on a agglomerate without agnise it , so they end up covered and they get hundreds of stings . ”
A fire pismire ’s cut is not barb , so it can prick a someone multiple clock time . “ You may see a row of carmine Mark , and that ’s where one pismire has grabbed on and stabbed its stinger down in a semicircle , ” he says .
Of course , if you ’ve picked up multiple fire ants , you ’ll know what ’s burn you because you ’ll see and palpate them on your skin . But if you ’re stung just once and do n’t see the flak ant , you ’ll know it by the fiery sensation and thewhite pus - filled blisterthat organize a daylight or two later on .
What to Do About Them and When to Seek Medical Attention
Merchant suppose that , in most font , fire ant confidence trick do n’t need any medical treatment . They ’ll spoil for a few days , but they ’ll go away within a hebdomad to 10 daylight . “ But some people — about one in 100 — will have a more serious reaction , ” he say . ( And in rarefied character it can be deadly if the allergic reaction is not treated instantly . ) ( 3 )
steer to the atomic number 68 if you find any of the follow symptoms , which indicate an allergic response or other complications :
Otherwise , wash the stings with liquid ecstasy and water and apply internal-combustion engine to keep the swelling down . you may use OTC pain in the neck or hydrocortisone creams as needed ( 6 ) , but do n’t apply rubbing alcoholic drink — which can make the confidence game more painful .
If you notice the sting continuing to swell or uprise larger a day or two after you ’re stung , that may be a sign of a secondary infection . Fever , musculus hurt , or flu - similar symptom can also be cause for fear , and you should call your physician .
Red Ants Can Both Bite and Sting — Although They Don’t Often Do So
A few other types of domesticated ants — namely red harvester and carpenter ants , but also some less common character — are also capable of either edged or “ biting . ” But , compared with ardour ant bunco game , onslaught from these ant are relatively rare , Merchant says .
Red Harvester Ant Stings
Harvester emmet are less common today than they once were . They be given to know mostly in the Southwest and Texas . But because of their large sizing — usually one - quarter to one - half inch in length — they ’re still a popular choice for ant farms . ( 7 ) Like fire ants , they sting rather than snack . But unlike flak ants , they ’re reluctant to attack .
A ruby harvester ant ’s hustle often feels and wait like a bee bunco . A painful , swollen , red welt may imprint , which may itch after a few mean solar day and could take a week or more to go by .
Carpenter Ant Bites
Carpenter ants do n’t prick — they bite . But when confronted by people , they lean to endeavor to get away — not to swarm and attack . ( 8) If they do raciness , the result and potential complications are similar to the confidence game of harvester ant . That is , the dupe may experience a stab of pain and a flushed weal . ( 9 )
Both carpenter ants and red harvester ants are virulent , so their bite or sting can cause serious reaction . If you remark any signs of an allergic response or serious knottiness — job breathing , a racing middle , flu - like symptoms — head to the emergency elbow room . And again , if you notice any pronged swelling or influenza - like symptom — both of which could indicate a secondary bacterial transmission — call your doctor .
How to Avoid Getting Ant Bites or Stings
Merchant says fire ant like to build up their nests in open , sunny areas away from vegetation . The same is true of harvester ants . The unspoilt way to avoid bites is to keep your eyes on the ground and avert sit down down , squatting , or standing on their moundlike nest ( ant pitcher’s mound ) , he say .
Carpenter ants , on the other hand , show up inside homes and other wooden structures . They tend to bite only if cover or touched — for example , if a person tries to squash them or swipe them away . Use spray or other form of pest control if you trip onto these wood - bang ants , and you should n’t have to worry much about being bitten .
Common Questions & Answers
The Takeaway
When enjoying out-of-door activities , it ’s essential to be mindful of fire ant mounds to avoid painful sting , which cause a blistering , fervid sensation . While most case do n’t require medical attending , it ’s important to supervise for signs of allergic reaction like swell or breathing difficulty . To prevent ant stings and bites , watch for their moundlike nest and use pest control inside your home .
Mohiba Tareen , MD , is a nationally acclaimed board - certify dermatologist . She practices aesculapian , surgical , and enhancive dermatology at her Minnesota medical drill , Tareen Dermatology . Dr. Tareen assume pleasure in providing comprehensive dermatological tutelage to the full family — from acne , to skin cancer , hairsbreadth loss , and anti - senescent , she render her expertness to patients at all stages of their life . Cosmetically , Tareen believes in pernicious and natural aesthetic enhancements .
in person , she is gallant of her husband , a fellow caring physician , and her active brood of five children .
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