Stinging, invasive Asian needle ants found in Ohio. Here's where, why they're a problem
A species of invasive stinging ants is on the rise as they hit peak season in the summer. Asian needle ants deliver a painful and venomous sting capable of causing allergic or even life-threatening reactions.
Native to Asia, the insects are known as Brachyponera chinensis (roughly translated as "short, wicked ant from China") and have since spread to the U.S. with documented sightings in 20 states, including Ohio. While tiny, the ants can also infest homes and disrupt natural environments by excluding native ant species and termites.
Asian needle ants reach their yearly peak activity in June and July. Here's what to know before they arrive.
Asian needle ants are a species of carnivorous ants native to China, Japan and the Koreas, according to USA TODAY. These dark brown ants have been found to live in colonies in leaf litter and rotted logs but can also be found inside potted plants, underneath wood piles, and in lawns. The "needle" part of its name refers to its stinger.
While they are difficult to track, Asian needle ants have been found in Ohio with at least four reported sightings, per antmaps.org. More than a dozen other states have reported Asian needle ant sightings.
Ohio State University's Buckeye Yard and Garden confirmed the non-native stinging ant species in Southwest Ohio. The ants can nest inside landscape mulch, compost bins, homes, kitchens and dumpsters.
No. Unlike fire ants, Asian needle ants are smaller, less aggressive and will try to avoid humans, however, most stings occur when someone accidentally places their hands in nests or on the ants, according to NC State University Entomology. The pressure causes them to deliver a defensive sting that can last for hours or even days.
Experts recommend wearing thick gloves when handling outdoor items like mulch to help prevent stings. Eliminating nesting sites is also advised, including reducing moisture-heavy areas in and around your home and sealing entry points, according to Orkin.
Should you encounter a colony of Asian needle ants, protein-based insecticide baits can also be used, though the method isn't foolproof.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Asian needle ant stings can include the following symptoms:
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.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Stinging Asian needle ants spotted in Ohio. Here's why it's a problem
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
RFK Jr. fires entire CDC vaccine advisory panel
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has fired all 17 members of a committee that advises the federal government on vaccine safety and will replace them with new members, a move that the Trump administration's critics warned would create public distrust around the government's role in promoting public health. At issue is the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices, which makes recommendations on the safety, efficacy and clinical need of vaccines to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It comprises medical and public health experts who develop recommendations on the use of vaccines in the civilian population of the United States. 'Today we are prioritizing the restoration of public trust above any specific pro- or anti-vaccine agenda,' Kennedy, who has a history of controversial views on vaccines, said on June 9 in announcing the overhaul. 'The public must know that unbiased science – evaluated through a transparent process and insulated from conflicts of interest – guides the recommendations of our health agencies.' More: Many said RFK Jr. would launch a war on vaccines, medicine. Is it here? Kennedy's decision marks a reversal from what a key Republican senator said the Trump Cabinet member had promised during his confirmation hearings earlier this year. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, said Kennedy had promised to maintain the advisory committee's current composition. "If confirmed, he will maintain the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices without changes," Cassidy said. The Biden administration appointed all 17 sitting committee members, with 13 of them taking their seats in 2024. According to Trump's HHS, those appointments would have prevented the current administration from choosing a majority of the committee until 2028. "A clean sweep is necessary to reestablish public confidence in vaccine science,' said Kennedy, adding that the new members "will prioritize public health and evidence-based medicine" and "no longer function as a rubber stamp for industry profit-taking agendas." The Advisory Committee for Immunization Practice is scheduled to hold its next meeting June 25-27 at CDC headquarters in Atlanta. An HHS source familiar with the details told USA TODAY that the new members of the panel will attend the session. More: Emotions fly high behind the scenes at RFK Jr.'s Congressional hearings Critics of the Trump administration warned that Kennedy's move was not necessary, undermines the government's role in vaccine safety and could lead to more deadly disease transmissions. Dr. Paul A. Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a member of the Food and Drug Administration Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, told USA TODAY that Kennedy was "fixing a problem that doesn't exist." Picking members for the committee generally involves a three- to four-month vetting process by the CDC. "Now he's just going to pick people he likes," Offit added. "Presumably people who are like-minded, and I think that will shake confidence in this committee." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Kennedy and the Trump administration are "taking a wrecking ball to the programs that keep Americans safe and healthy." The New York Democrat added that wiping out an entire panel of vaccine experts doesn't build trust – it shatters it. "Worse, it sends a chilling message: that ideology matters more than evidence, and politics more than public health," he said. Dr. Bruce Scott, president of the American Medical Association, warned that Kennedy's work has undermined trust and "upends a transparent process that has saved countless lives." "With an ongoing measles outbreak and routine child vaccination rates declining, this move will further fuel the spread of vaccine-preventable illnesses," he said. A measles outbreak recently killed two unvaccinated children in Texas. The CDC said the deaths were the first from measles in the United States since 2015. Kennedy has backed vaccination as a preventive tool during a measles outbreak but also said that vaccines should be left to parents' discretion. As of June 5, a total of 1,168 confirmed measles cases were reported by 34 jurisdictions. The CDC also reported three deaths due to the outbreak. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: RFK Jr. fires all 17 members of CDC vaccine advisory panel
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘The Pitt's' Noah Wyle to make push for health care workers at Capitol
Noah Wyle is heading to the pit of political power, with a visit to Capitol Hill to push for funding for programs aimed at improving mental health services for health care workers. 'The Pitt' and former 'ER' star will touch down in Washington on Thursday to lead a panel discussion at the Cannon House Office Building focused on the 'daily mental health, financial, and bureaucratic challenges for doctors and nurses today.' Wyle will be joined by his mom, Marjorie Speer, a retired nurse, along with more than a dozen health care professionals. The 54-year-old actor, who's coming to the nation's capital with the health care apparel company and advocacy group FIGS, will press lawmakers to reauthorize the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act. Proponents of the bipartisan legislation say it would help support the mental health of frontline health care providers through federal programs and training and would reduce the risk of suicide and burnout. 'These aren't partisan issues. They're practical ones. And they're urgent. Because when our health care professionals are burned out, buried in paperwork or forced to leave the field altogether, we all pay the price,' Wyle wrote in a USA Today op-ed on Tuesday. 'Our message is simple: Without a supported, protected and fairly treated workforce, there is no patient care. Whatever other important issues are being debated, this has to be a priority,' he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Invasive ants with potentially fatal sting found across Southeast. Are they in Louisiana?
Asian needle ants are an invasive species that are continuing to spread throughout the U.S., and these ants can now be found in over a dozen states. The venomous ants, which are native to China, Japan and the Koreas, have a sting that can potentially be deadly. While Asian needle ants were first discovered in the U.S. in 1932, the ants have been on the move and are now being found throughout the Southeast and other regions. When Asian needle ants sting, the venom it injects could be life threatening in some cases. Individuals who experience allergic reactions to bee and ant stings are particularly vulnerable and could go into anaphylactic shock after being stung, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The ants will reach their peak numbers in July and August, although, they can be hard to spot, as they are incredibly small and blend in well with their surroundings. Oftentimes, stings occur when someone unknowingly disturbs them, such as while gardening or moving objects they might be underneath like wood or mulch, USA Today reported. When stung by an Asian needle ant, it can feel like somebody inserting a needle directly into your flesh and, if the ant's venom triggers an allergic reaction, it can lead to difficulty breathing, swelling and can be fatal. The ants are becoming more and more widespread, but they are mostly being found in areas with hardwood trees and undisturbed forest areas, where they nest under logs, stones and leaf litter. In residential areas, they can be found under mulch, pavers and landscape timbers, says the U.S. Forest Service. Asian needle ants were first discovered in Georgia, and they are still predominantly found within the Southeast, however, the ants have been expanding their reach northward and westward. Currently, there have been no official sightings of Asian needle ants in Louisiana, but they have been found in the nearby states of Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. Therefore, it's likely that the ants could soon infiltrate Louisiana. Other states where Asian needle ants have been spotted include North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Connecticut, New York, Wisconsin, Washington and Ohio, according to iNaturalist. Presley Bo Tyler is a reporter for the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@ This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Are Asian needle ants in Louisiana? What to know about venomous ants
