Latest news with #AsianNeedleAnt
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Ant species with deadly sting rises across 17 U.S. States including GA and SC
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)- Sightings of a potentially deadly invasive species are spreading across the United States. They've been spotted in at least 17 states including Georgia and South Carolina. This ant species has been around since the 1930s, but now it's becoming known as a 'medical pest'. It is the Asian Needle Ant, and it could be your next stinging nightmare. The Asian Needle Ant looks just like a regular ant, but a professor from UGA says there is one thing that makes it different. 'But it makes them a little bit different is that some people get stung by it. They can. They can incur. They can experience anaphylaxis, which can be a life-threatening condition. So we thought, you know, last year I had numerous cases of people who had contacted me as an extension entomologist, and numerous people who had contacted me who had been stung by this and suffered anaphylaxis and wound up in the hospital,' said Dr. Dan Suiter, UGA Orkin Entomologist. And he says that they mainly live in hardwood places. 'And they live in logs. So, if you've got firewood, for instance, keep the firewood up off the ground, because if that wood gets in contact with the ground, ants will actually move up into the wood and you'll bring them inside and maybe get stung by them. If you're gardening and you're picking something up that's been laying there for a few days. Pick it up and look underneath it. See ants on it, just kind of brush them off. Get them identified.' Dr. Suiter says if you think you have some in your yard, put a couple in your jar and send them to Richmond County Extension Coordinator, Campbell Vaughn, who can identify 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
4 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
Asian needle ants with a potentially fatal sting have spread across multiple states. Here's what to know.
The Joro spider, Asian long-horned beetle and spotted lanternfly have company this summer. A "sneaky" invasive species that has a potentially deadly sting continues to spread across the U.S. and can be found in more than a dozen states, according to experts. Asian needle ants were first detected in the U.S. almost a century ago, but the species has continued to expand its reach, primarily throughout the Southeast, and this pest could potentially be deadly to humans, according to Dan Suiter, a professor of urban entomology at the University of Georgia. "It injects venom that can harm you. Its sting can be life threatening," Suiter recently told the university. Suiter added that people who have adverse reactions to bee and ant stings are especially vulnerable and could go into anaphylactic shock from the needle ant's sting. Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that can occur within seconds of being exposed to something you're allergic to, such as a sting, according to the Mayo Clinic. "If you suffer from anaphylaxis, you should really know what this ant looks like," Suiter says. "And it might be smart to carry an EpiPen." Suiter urged people to be vigilant for these invasive species, especially with ant populations peaking later this summer. What are Asian needle ants? Asian needle ants are technically known as Brachyponera chinensis – roughly translated as "short, wicked ant from China" – but their native range also includes Japan and the Koreas, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The insect was first discovered in the U.S. in 1932 in Georgia, but has only recently started to "cause problems in North America after being relatively unnoticed for many years," the U.S. Forest Service says. Asian needle ants were first detected in the U.S. almost a century ago, but the invasive species has continued to spread, experts say. U.S. Department of Agriculture The pest has now been detected all the way from Washington state to Florida, according to the site as well as Mississippi State University, and the ant is recently getting more attention in Texas. Suiter says Asian needle ants are "sneaky" because they are less than a quarter of an inch long and are adept at hiding. "Unlike many invasive species that tend to colonize areas in the wake of natural or human disturbance, Asian needle ants are capable of invading undisturbed forest areas where they nest under and within logs and other debris, under stones, and in leaf litter," the U.S. Forest Service says. Environmental impacts According to Suiter, Asian needle ants wreak havoc in native environments. "They outcompete other ant species that are important to the ecology of that area," he says. Asian needle ants prey on other insects and are capable of displacing ant species that are critical for seed dispersal, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Researchers have documented large decreases in seed dispersal in forests where Asian needle ants are present. "Thus, this invasive species could have dramatic, long-term negative effects on forest understory," the service says. What should people do if they see Asian needle ants? Asian needle ants are about 0.2 inches in length, and dark brown or black with the end of the antennae and the legs being a lighter orange-brown, the U.S. Forest Service says. Other ant species can look similar, "so it takes an experienced eye to positively identify them," the service says. Suiter says that you can send a photograph or a specimen to a local University of Georgia Extension office, which can help with identification. The public can also contact a professional to come out and bait for the ants, he says. The U.S. Forest Service advises people to avoid the pest and to be especially vigilant in areas with logs and rotting or rocks were the ants can nest. "Unfortunately, as with many invasive species, it appears Asian needle ants are here to stay," the service says.
Fox News
15-05-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Invasive insect poses health threat in 19 states, expert warns
Print Close By Khloe Quill Published May 15, 2025 An invasive species spreading across America has created a "medically important" and "life-threatening" threat, according to experts. Originally found in places like China and Korea, the Asian needle ant was first introduced to America in the 1930s, but was overlooked for nearly a century, according to Dan Suiter, a Georgia-based entomologist. "It never really garnered a lot of attention," Suiter, a professor of urban entomology at the University of Georgia, told Fox News Digital. INVASIVE FISH COMPETITION RETURNS WITH ANGLERS MAKING 'REEL REWARDS' The species has now spread to 19 U.S. states, and its bites sent three people to the hospital with anaphylactic shock last year, the expert warned. While it has spread mostly to southeastern states, researchers have also identified it in Washington. There is also a report from Texas, but it needs verification, according to "This is something I thought needed to be brought to people's attention because it's just a hidden little critter," Suiter said. "You know, it's down in the leaf litter. It's in shaded areas with hardwood trees." The U.S. Forest Service stated in a research report that the sting of the Asian needle ant is its "most troubling characteristic." MAN FINDS 'CANDY-LIKE' DIAMOND WHILE EXPLORING ARKANSAS STATE PARK: 'CHANCE OF A LIFETIME' "The sting ... it's odd," Suiter told Fox News Digital. "I've been stung by it … the pain will go away and then it comes back … there have been cases where the pain will come back days later." "The pain will go away and then it comes back … [sometimes] days later." While only three cases last year have been traced back to the Asian needle ant, the professor said it's possible there are more. "I suspect there are people who have shown up in emergency rooms where physicians just didn't know what happened ... and it was an ant sting," he said. Environmental concern While most ants follow a "trail," the Asian needle ant comes on its own, and is "mostly predatory." "It's a cryptic ant," said Suiter. "You'll just see a single ant kind of wandering around, almost looking lost." Unlike other ant species, the Asian needle ant infests undisturbed forests, where it nests under logs, stones and leaf litter. The Federal Register defines invasive species as those that are nonnative (or alien) to the ecosystem and whose introduction causes, or is likely to cause, economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "Of great concern is the apparent ability of Asian needle ants to displace ant species that are critical seed dispersers," writes the Forest Service. According to Suiter, the Asian needle ant has "decimated" ant populations in native habitats all over American forests. When Asian needle ants invade forests, they can also impact native plants' ability to grow appropriately. They can also be found near homes and businesses under mulch, pavers, landscape timbers and other objects, according to the Forest Service. What to do if you've been stung People who are hypersensitive to other stinging insects may be at increased risk of anaphylaxis from Asian needle ant stings and should exercise caution, according to the Forest Service. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER If possible when stung, collect the insect and bring it with you when being treated by a medical professional so they can confirm the cause. For more Health articles, visit If you haven't been stung but suspect you've come across the invasive Asian needle ant, it's recommended to contact your local county extension agent, who can connect you with appropriate resources to identify the bug. Print Close URL
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Warning as venomous insect imported from China invades 19 US states... is your hometown at risk?
Officials are sounding the alarm as venomous Asian needle ants are invading more parts of the US. These insects, native to China, have a sting that can trigger severe allergic reactions, and in extreme cases, death. This invasive species was first spotted in the US more than 90 years ago, but its population has recently surged and is now spreading up the East Coast, experts say. They are now found in 19 states: Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, the Carolinas, Kentucky, Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, Wisconsin and Washington state. The Asian needle ant is a small-to-medium-sized ant, with workers and queens measuring up to one fifth of an inch in length. They are shiny, dark brown to black, with the end of the antennae and the legs being a lighter orange-brown. Their stings cause 'intense pain' at the site that 'comes and goes over the course of several hours,' but some people have also reported pain away from the sting site, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Some people may also experience anaphylaxis — a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction — as a result of an Asian needle ant sting. These ants prefer damp areas beneath stones or rotting logs, but have also been found in parks, lawns, potted plants, under wood piles and hiding in construction materials such as logs, bricks and pavers. They have also been reported foraging inside homes and buildings and may pose a problem as residential invaders in the future. 'We are now considering it a medically important pest,' Dan Suiter, a professor of urban entomology at the University of Georgia, told Fox Weather. 'It gets a little bit more serious when the sting of an insect can be life-threatening to people who suffer anaphylaxis,' he added. Last year, Suiter responded to three cases of anaphylaxis in Georgians who had been stung by an Asian needle ant. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include skin rashes, low blood pressure, constriction of the airway, swelling of the tongue or throat, weak and rapid pulse, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, dizziness or fainting, and psychological symptoms such as a sense of impending doom. While cases of anaphylaxis have been reported in the US, the percentage of Americans who have experienced this extreme reaction remains unknown. But people who are hypersensitive to other stinging insects, such as bees, red ants or mosquitoes, could be at greater risk of severe reaction to an Asian needle ant sting. A study conducted in the native range of this ant — which spans China, Japan and Korea — showed that 2.1 percent of people stung exhibited anaphylaxis. This species isn't known to be aggressive, but it will sting to defend themselves when frightened. Their stingers can pierce through clothing to reach skin. Asian needle ants are most likely to appear inside homes during 'swarming' season — the period during which insects emerge from hibernation to begin mating — which typically begins in spring and lasts through August. This species is highly adaptable, and can thrive in both warm and cool climates as well as urban or rural areas. 'This behavioral versatility is allowing the Asian needle ant to move into forests, rural areas, and urban environments at the same time,' explained biology PhD and science writer Mary Bates in a 2013 article for the American Association for the Advancement of Science. 'Because it can tolerate cooler temperatures, it could spread into a broad range of territory,' she wrote. And indeed it has. The Asian needle ant has established a vast population in the US, and scientists expect it will continue to spread. This not only poses a threat to human health, but to the environment as well. Studies have shown that this invasive species is displacing native ant species, causing their abundance and diversity to decline in areas where Asian needle ants are established. Some of these native ant species are critical seed dispersers, carrying seeds away from their mother plant and ensure proper dispersal of the plant species. 'Researchers have demonstrated substantial decreases in seed dispersal where Asian needle ants have invaded forest areas,' the USDA states. 'Thus, this invasive species could have dramatic, long-term negative effects on forest understory.' Researchers are studying and developing strategies to control this booming ant population. But 'unfortunately, as with many invasive species, it appears Asian needle ants are here to stay,' the USDA states.
