Make room, Joro spiders. There’s another invasive species taking over Georgia yards this summer.
The Asian needle ant is becoming infamous as a “medical pest.” That means the ant is not only capable of disrupting the environments they’re occupying but also the people who live in them.
Although this type of ant has been around in the U.S. since the 1930s, its spread through the Southeast marks a significant danger for those with allergies to other insects like wasps or yellowjackets, said Dan Suiter, an Orkin Distinguished Professor of Urban Entomology in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and UGA Cooperative Extension.
And with ant populations peaking in July and August, Suiter wants people to be ready to identify this risky pest. Here, he answers some of the most pressing questions about the latest invasive species to pop up on your newsfeed.
What are Asian needle ants?
Brachyponera chinensis, or the Asian needle ant, is a sneaky ant. They’re 3/16 of an inch long and like to hide.
Asian needle ants are an oddity in that they can establish themselves in kind of old pristine hardwood habitats. They like big oak trees, leaf litter and dead logs lying on the ground like the firewood piles near your house or any tree bark. The ants also congregate under rocks, stones and areas high in moisture.
People don’t typically notice them. Unlike, say, fire ants, which build a mound, the Asian needle ant doesn’t establish foraging trails — those lines of ants you can see.
These ants also wreak havoc in native environments. They outcompete other ant species that are important to the ecology of that area.
Should we be concerned?
The native ants we’re used to aren’t aggressive. They’re just looking for food.
The needle ant stings, though, so it’s not just a nuisance. It injects venom that can harm you. Its sting can be life threatening.
And the pain from this ant’s sting can come back days later, so the spread of the needle ant is an important issue.
Where are Asian needle ants found?
The species was first detected in Georgia in the 1930s, but it wasn’t really studied until about 20 years ago after it spread. The ants are all up and down the East Coast now.
If you live in an area where your backyard backs up into hardwoods, being able to identify these ants is important to keep yourself safe.
Some ants elbow their way into new environments, and they establish themselves at the expense of other native ant species. And that’s what we’ve seen with the Asian needle ant.
Who is at risk if stung?
You may be thinking, “It’s just an ant.”
But if someone has reacted adversely to a bee or ant sting in the past, they may be at risk of going into anaphylactic shock from the needle ant’s sting.
If you suffer from anaphylaxis, you should really know what this ant looks like. And it might be smart to carry an EpiPen.
What can people do to get rid of them?
Identification is critical because many ants out there aren’t going to negatively impact your health. They’re just doing their thing.
You can send a photograph or a specimen to a local UGA Extension office, whose agents can help with identification.
Then you can contact a professional to come out and bait for the ants.
The needle ant’s peak activity is also when people are outdoors the most. We all want to be healthy outside and enjoy the summer, so reach out to your county Extension agent with identification questions.
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