Asian Needle Ants Are Spreading in Florida and They Could Be Deadly

We hope you’re not having a good day, because if you are, we’re about to ruin it.

A new invasive species with a potentially deadly sting is spreading across the U.S. and can be found in more than a dozen states already, according to CBS News. 

Asian needle ants were originally detected in the United States almost 100 years ago, but the species continues to expand its reach — primarily in the Southeast. The pests could be potentially deadly to humans, according to Dan Suiter, professor of urban entomology at the University of Georgia.

“It injects venom that can harm you. Its sting can be life-threatening,” Suiter told the university recently. He added that people with adverse reactions to bee and ant stings are especially vulnerable and could go into anaphylactic shock from the needle ant’s sting.

“If you suffer from anaphylaxis, you should really know what this ant looks like,” Suiter said. He added that it might be a good idea to carry an EpiPen if you’re able.

Suiter also urged people to be vigilant for the Asian needle ant, especially with ant populations peaking later this summer.

Asian needle ants are technically known as Brachyponera chinensis — which roughly translates to “short, wicked ant from China” — but they are also native to Japan and North and South Korea, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

It was first discovered in the U.S. in Georgia in 1932, but has only recently started to “cause problems in North America after being relatively unnoticed for many years.” It has now been detected all the way from Washington state to Florida, according to the site antmaps.org.

While we haven’t witnessed any Asian needle ants at Disney World, they have been reported in Florida — so make sure you stay vigilant on your next visit!

If you’re looking for a travel agent to help with your vacation, we recommend our friends at Mouse Fan Travel. They’re experts in the field with over 20 years of vacation planning experience, and they can help take a bunch of the stress out of the entire booking process for you!

This is a bug blog now. Sorry, we don’t make the rules. We’ll be on the lookout for more news, so stay tuned to AllEars.

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Have you ever seen the Asian Needle Ant? Let us know in the comments. 

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