If the name “Asian needle ant” sounds slightly ominous, it should.
The Brachyponera chinensis, or Asian needle ant, is only 3/16 of an inch long, but its bite can cause anaphylactic shock, which can be deadly.
According to an article from the University of Georgia, the Asian needle ant has been around since the 1930s, but it has spread throughout the U.S. Southeast, causing risk for those with allergies to similar stings, like wasps or yellowjackets.
Last year, at least three cases of life-threatening anaphylactic reactions were reported in Georgia, according to USA Today, which said “Brachyponera chinensis” roughly translates to “short, wicked ant from China.”
The invasive insect (pictured above in an image from AntWeb.org) was first found in the U.S. in Decatur, Georgia, in 1932, but it’s only become a serious pest in the past 20 years, as it spread from Connecticut to Florida along the East Coast, USA Today reports.
The populations of the little-known pest peak in July and August, even though people don’t typically notice them because they like to hide in oak trees, leaf litter and dead logs or under rocks and stones.
According to multiple reports, the ants aren’t as aggressive as fire ants, but will sting if they feel pressure, and the pain from needle ant stings can come back days later.
The bites can also be life-threatening because the tiny, dark brown insect packs a wallop of venom in its sting.
Anyone who has had an adverse reaction to a bee or ant sting in the past could be at risk of anaphylactic shock. These folks should carry an EpiPen, especially if they live in Georgia or Florida.
The worker ants’ bodies are about 0.2 inches long, small, dark and shiny but with lighter orange legs and antennae, a long jaw and a big stinger “on the business end,” Theresa Dellinger, a diagnostician at the insect identification lab at Virginia Tech told USA Today.
According to Orkin, you can help avoid ants by sealing entry points, eliminating food sources and reducing moisture in your home.
Store food in airtight containers, fix leaks and remove debris, leaf litter and mulch from around your home’s perimeter.
