Harmful ant stings

Dr. Eric Paysen, Technical Services Manager, Syngenta Professional Pest Management

In addition to being nuisances in kitchens across America, ants also can cause painful encounters. While ants can bite with their mandibles, they’re usually too small to be harmful.

Ant stings, however, can inject pain-inducing venom similar to bee or wasp stings. Fire (Solenopsis spp.), harvester and Asian needle (Brachyponera chinensis) ant species are well known for their painful stings, which can induce anaphylactic shock in sensitive individuals.