Some ant "bites" are really stings from pinchers.
Ranging in size from mere millimeters to inches long, ants are viewed as industrious workers, annoying pests and interesting scientific study topics. Perhaps one of the only insects to be regularly invited into homes as pets (via ant farms), ants have long fascinated humans with their organized community and way of life. However, ants can also be mighty little pests, despite their relatively minute sizes. With fierce biting and stinging capabilities, these little insects of the family Formicidae can cause much irritation and frustration during the warmer months. Does this Spark an idea?
Fire Ants
Perhaps best known for their fiercely frustrating (and painful) "bites," fire ants are common in regions with warm climates and often build their nests close to rivers, lakes or other water sources. Fire ants do not actually bite their victims. Instead, these pests use their pinchers to establish a firm grasp on their subjects and use their abdomen to sting their victims, thereby injecting a venom by the name of solenopsin. A fire ant may continue to sting its victim many times; the resulting welt is usually the result of a circular area that has been stung. Usually not lethal (unless perhaps under rare extremely allergic conditions), an estimated 20 million people are bitten each year by fire ants.
Bullet Ant Bites
Bullet ants are another species of ant that also stings (rather than bites) its prey. Named after the sensation of pain caused by the sting, bullet ants cause their victims to feel as if they've just been shot by a bullet. These ants reside in both Central and South America, and according to the Shmidt Sting Pain Index, the sting delivered by these ants is thought to be the most painful sting in the insect world.
Bull Ants
Bull ants, native to Australia, are also infamous for their biting tendencies. Again, while the bites of bull ants are not usually overly threatening to most individuals, victims who are allergic to the bite of these insects may need to seek immediate medical attention, as bull ant bites account for several deaths each year. Reaching lengths up to about four centimeters, bull ants are larger than many other ants. The bites of bull ants can usually be treated with antihistamines.
Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants are known to bite humans only when these ants feel threatened in some way. Unlike other bites and stings, carpenter ant bites do not inject any venom into their subjects, and because of this, they tend to be far less painful and heal much faster.
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