Map Shows States Invaded by Ants That Can Cause Life-Threatening Reaction
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Asian needle ants, an invasive species capable of causing life-threatening allergic reactions, have now been detected in at least 21 U.S. states.
This species, first found in the U.S. in the 1930s, has established a significant presence from the Southeast to the Northwest, raising alarm among public health and environmental officials.
The ants have been reported in states such as Wisconsin, Texas and Washington, according to ant tracking website antmaps.org.
Why It Matters
The expanding presence of Asian needle ants poses a dual threat: immediate health risks due to their potentially deadly stings and long-term environmental disruption. In some individuals, Asian needle ant stings can cause anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction requiring emergency intervention, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Simultaneously, these ants compete with and displace native species, altering local ecosystems essential to agriculture and natural environments in the U.S.
What To Know
Widespread Detection in the United States
The Asian needle ant, whose scientific name is Brachyponera chinensis, has now been verified in at least 21 states, largely concentrated in the northeastern and southeastern regions.
Identification and Danger of Stings
The Asian needle ant is a small, shiny, dark brown to black insect measuring about 0.2 inches in length, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The end of its antennae and legs are a lighter orange or brown color. The ant can be confused with similar species in the eastern U.S., making it more challenging to positively identify.
The sting can cause intense localized pain, redness and hives.
In a study in the native range of the Asian needle ant, 2.1 percent of people stung suffered from anaphylaxis. The U.S. Forest Service said the percentage of people in the U.S. who have developed hypersensitivity, or an allergic response that can lead to anaphylaxis, to Asian needle ant stings is unknown.
Behavior, Ecology, and Spread
Asian needle ants nest under logs, debris, stones, landscaping timbers, pavers, and mulch.
The ants do not form easily visible foraging trails, University of Georgia urban entomology professor Dan Suiter told ABC News. While the species' population usually grows in warmer months, they often appear as early as March.
The ants threaten native ant species, which play crucial roles in seed dispersal.
Solitary ant.
Solitary ant.Recommended Precautions and Control
Suiter recommended wearing gloves while working outside and removing nesting materials, such as stacked firewood, from properties.
Professionals use bait-based controls that are not available to consumers. The care and precision required in the application of the bait aim to protect native species from collateral harm.
What People Are Saying
Dan Suiter, Orkin Distinguished Professor of urban entomology at the University of Georgia, in comments to ABC News: "In 25 years, I've had one phone call from an individual who was stung by a fire ant and suffered anaphylaxis, another one by something called a twig ant. When I start getting calls annually about people who have been stung by an Asian needle ant, it says to me that there's a trend there."
Benoit Guénard, a professor of ecology and entomology at the University of Hong Kong who studied the ants in North Carolina, in comments to USA TODAY: "Imagine somebody inserting a needle directly into your flesh. It's a very sharp, acute pain but it's quite local."
What Happens Next
Researchers and environmental officials are continuing to track the range and impact of the Asian needle ant.
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