This tiny Arizona bug has the most toxic insect venom in the world. Hint: It's not a scorpion
Arizona's plants and creepy crawlers are always trying to hurt you. Or at least that's how the joke goes, and it certainly does seem that way sometimes.
Between the rattlesnakes, Gila monsters and scorpions, you need to stay aware to avoid a painful or possibly deadly bite or sting.
However, one insect native to Arizona — you probably didn't even know about — holds the world record for the most toxic insect venom.
Here's everything you should know about the Maricopa harvester ant, including how its venom compares with other insects and what to do if you get bitten.
The Maricopa harvester ant is among the most common ant species in Arizona. But it also lives in parts of Mexico and most of the southwest U.S., including Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, Utah and Colorado.
The reddish-brown ant typically measures 5-9 mm (just a fraction on an inch) and tends to live in areas with sand, rocks or gravel.
This is the most venomous snake in AZ: No, it's not a rattlesnake
The toxicity of insects is measured by its LD50 value, or the lethal dosage required to 50% of a mouse. A Maricopa harvester ant comes in 0.12 milligrams per kilogram, meaning it takes 12 stings to kill a 2 kilogram mouse.
Other bugs have a much higher LD50 level, meaning it takes more venom to kill a mouse. The black widow spider comes in at 0.55 mg/kg, the Arizona bark scorpion at 1.12 mg/kg and the honey bee at 2.8 mg/kg.
Reddit users who were stung by the ant said they experience "unreal" pain from "tiny ant, huge sting."
One user described their experience, explaining how the pain from the ankle bite spread up their calf and down their foot. They advised icing the sting immediately or using a lidocaine cream to dampen the pain.
But don't worry, the ants are more docile and it takes a lot to provoke them to sting.
Harvester ant stings can be quite painful, even if it's not from a Maricopa harvester ant.
Often the severity of your symptoms will depend on how many times you were stung. Often symptoms will go away within several hours, though you may experience moderate or intense pain before it fades, pest control company Orkin notes on its website.
Most sting symptoms are minor and involve moderate or intense pain that will go away within several hours
Some people might also be allergic to the bite and can go into anaphylactic shock if bitten. According to allergy prevention company Curex, signs of an allergy include:
Itchy, red bites
Swelling and hives
Difficulty breathing
Abdominal pain
Nausea and vomiting
Dizziness and fainting
If you've been bitten by a Maricopa harvester ant or another creepy crawler and are unsure what to do, you can call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222 to receive immediate 24/7 assistance.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What is the most toxic insect? This Arizona bug tops the list
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