Ant stings can be painful. Here’s how to avoid getting stung this summer (and what to do if it happens)

The beginning of summer is just a few days away, and many of us will be looking forward to long, radiant days spent at the beach, by the pool, camping or having a picnic in the park.

Insects love summer too. Most of them right then grow and feed. However, this shared appreciation of the season can sometimes lead to conflict.

Insects have long been preyed upon by many species, including birds, mammals, amphibians, and other insects. Accordingly, a variety of defense mechanisms have evolved – perhaps none more familiar to humans than the sting.

Many ants have a stinger on their rear end which they operate to deliver venom. It is not the sting itself that causes pain, but rather venom. Ant venom contains a mixture of different chemicals, some of which have evolved specifically to manipulate the nerve endings in our skin to cause pain.

Let’s take a look at the different ant stings you may experience this summer in Australia and how to respond.

Bull ants

Bull ants (also known as bulldog ants, jumper ants, or jumper ants) are vast for an ant. Some species reach a length of approx 4 centimeters. They are easily identified by their vast eyes, long mandibles (jaws), and aggressive nature.

Their sting is immediate, scorching, acute and unambiguous, similar to that of a honey bee. The intense pain will only last a few minutes before being replaced by redness and swelling around the sting site.

Green-headed ants

Green-headed ants are also called green ants (but not to be confused with green ants). green tree ants northern Australia, which do not sting). Green-headed ants are common and love our lawns.

About Length 6 millimetersthey are much smaller than bull ants. They can be recognized by their shiny green-purple exoskeleton.

Green-headed ants are usually less aggressive than bull ants, but they can still deliver a significant sting. The pain from a green ant sting can build up gradually and cause intense, sticky pain.

Fire ants

Fire ants (or imported red fire ants) are native to South America. They were detected first in Brisbane in 2001it probably moved in containers and has since spread across south-east Queensland.

Fire ants are reddish brown and black and range in size from Length 2–6 millimeters.

You will most likely encounter fire ants in their nests, which look like a pile of loose dirt. A fire ant nest has no obvious entrance, which is a good way to distinguish it from other similar ant nests.

Disturbing a fire ant nest will awaken an livid mass of hundreds of ants and expose you to being stung.

The initial pain from a single sting feels like an intense, scorching itch, although it can be controlled. However, fire ant stings rarely occur in the single digits. One ant can sting multiple times, and many ants can sting one person, which can lead to hundreds of stings. A fire ant sting can lead to pus-filled ulcers and scarring in the following days.

If you live in an area where fire ants are present, it’s worth taking a few minutes to learn how to do this recognize and report their.

Electric ants

Electric ants is another nasty random import, coming from Central and South America. Currently constrained to Cairns and surroundingsthese are minuscule (1.5 millimeters long) yellow ants.

Like fire ants, these ants tend to defend themselves Veryso many sting at once. Their sting is more painful than you would expect from such a minuscule creature. I compare it to being showered with red, scorching sparks.

If you think you see electric ants, please report it Biosecurity in Queensland.

Australian ants are not the worst

You may be surprised to hear that Australian ants don’t even make it to the podium when it comes to the most painful ant stings. The winners include: harvester ants (North and South America), which cause severe, sticky pain, comparable to a drill slowly rotating in a muscle – for up to 12 hours.

The gold medal goes to the sting of the South and Central American bullet ant, which has been described How:

Pure, intense, brilliant pain. It’s like walking on burning charcoal with a 3-inch nail stuck in your heel.

How to avoid getting stung (and what to do if you do)

Fortunately, the solution is usually very plain. Look around before you sit on the ground or spread out a picnic blanket, avoiding places where you see ant nests or lots of foraging ants.

The choice of footwear may also be essential. In my experience, perhaps unsurprisingly, most stings occur on the feet of those wearing thongs.

If you get stung, in most cases the situation will improve on its own. The pain usually subsides after a few minutes (sometimes a little longer in the case of a green ant sting). The redness, swelling and itching that usually follows may last for several days.

In the meantime, if necessary, ice pack it will assist with the pain. If it’s particularly bad, a topical numbing cream containing lidocaine may provide transient relief. You can get it over the counter at a pharmacy.

A compact proportion of people may experience an allergic reaction to ant stings. In very severe cases this may include breathing problems or ingestion. If you or a loved one experiences these symptoms after an ant sting, you should seek urgent medical attention.