Hearth ants are among the many few kinds of ants in america that steadily sting individuals. There are two varieties: a purple hearth ant, Solenopsis invicta, and a black hearth ant, Solenopsis richteri.
Each varieties are imported, coming from South America initially. However right this moment, purple hearth ants are discovered primarily within the South and generally in California and Puerto Rico. Black hearth ants, alternatively, will not be as widespread and are restricted to northern Arkansas, Mississippi, and southern Tennessee.
It’s a typical false impression that fireplace ants chunk. “Hearth ants don’t chunk. They ship a sting through their tail,” says Michael Service provider, PhD, professor emeritus of entomology at Texas A&M College in Dallas. “Solely the females sting, and their stinger may be very sharp and delivers venom.” Dr. Service provider says hearth ants are properly named as a result of their sting causes a scorching, fiery sensation on the pores and skin.
When hearth ants are disturbed, they act shortly and aggressively, typically swarming the intruder. They’ll even run up vertical surfaces.
It’s potential to be stung by a lone hearth ant. “Chances are you’ll be exterior working in a backyard and get only one in your arm or leg,” says Service provider. “However generally individuals make the error of stopping and standing on a mound with out realizing it, in order that they find yourself lined and so they get a whole bunch of stings.”
Different Signs
“Bites begin out as small, purple spots, and, after a day or two, a white pustule kinds that’s itchy and just a little bit painful,” Service provider says. These signs usually resolve inside three to eight days.
A hearth ant’s stinger isn’t barbed, so it could actually sting a number of instances. “You may even see a row of purple marks, and that’s the place one ant has grabbed on and stabbed its stinger down in a semicircle,” he says.
Some individuals might develop a big welt that swells and itches.
What to Do About Them
Service provider says that, most often, hearth ant stings don’t require any medical therapy. You possibly can wash the stings with cleaning soap and water and apply ice to the affected space to maintain the swelling down. You should use over-the-counter antihistamines or topical steroid lotions, akin to hydrocortisone, as wanted to cut back the itching.
If the sting continues to swell or develop bigger after a day or two, you’ll have a secondary an infection. Name your physician straight away, particularly when you even have a fever, muscle aches, or flu-like signs.
When to Search Medical Consideration
In uncommon instances, a fireplace ant sting may cause anaphylaxis. It is a extreme, life-threatening allergic response. The indicators of anaphylaxis usually current inside 5 to half-hour of contact and are life-threatening if not handled correctly or straight away.
Head to your nearest emergency room when you discover any of the next signs, which may point out an anaphylactic response:
