Asian needle ants with a potentially fatal sting have spread across multiple states. Here's what to know

[tulipsandroses]

I think I was bitten by one of these today. It hurts like hell. Never felt that kind of pain before from an ant bite. It felt worse than a bee sting. My skin was on fire hours later, even after washing the area and applying a cold compress.
Be careful out there folks.

By Stephen Smith
Updated on: June 10, 2025 / 9:28 AM EDT / CBS News

The Joro spider, Asian long-horned beetle and spotted lanternfly have company this summer.
A "sneaky" invasive species that has a potentially deadly sting continues to spread across the U.S. and can be found in more than a dozen states, according to experts.

Asian needle ants were first detected in the U.S. almost a century ago, but the species has continued to expand its reach, primarily throughout the Southeast, and this pest could potentially be deadly to humans, according to Dan Suiter, a professor of urban entomology at the University of Georgia.

"It injects venom that can harm you. Its sting can be life threatening," Suiter recently told the university.
Suiter added that people who have adverse reactions to bee and ant stings are especially vulnerable and could go into anaphylactic shock from the needle ant's sting. Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that can occur within seconds of being exposed to something you're allergic to, such as a sting, according to the Mayo Clinic.

"If you suffer from anaphylaxis, you should really know what this ant looks like," Suiter says. "And it might be smart to carry an EpiPen."
Suiter urged people to be vigilant for these invasive species, especially with ant populations peaking later this summer.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/asian-needle-ants-fatal-sting-multiple-states-what-to-know/?ftag=CNM-00-10aab6a&linkId=829463608&fbclid=IwY2xjawLDHNVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFOYkw0MVlhNE5CUHlmZzRGAR7B26CNZfSxM_tZGOc4SB2IfTlSLR74J-Vrvo3zBbpg2ujDiL2iSCsYi5FUGA_aem_xkNy-t1znHIDX013QmV1rg

[bamagal62]

1. Great.

[flvegan]

3. Stay afraid, everyone. That's the message.

Quotes, if I may:
"Asian needle ants were first detected in the U.S. almost a century ago" That's 100 years.

""If you suffer from anaphylaxis, you should really know what this ant looks like," Suiter says. "And it might be smart to carry an EpiPen." So, like with bees 'n stuff, right?

Not what that headline promotes. I'm actually amazed there isn't some bullshit YouTube video with bright yellow capitalized fonts and arrows pointing to zoomed in pics of these ants.

Just stay afraid. Of everything. The media has spoken.

[synni]

4. Those of us with allergies could die

Maybe you don't care, but the rest of us do.

[flvegan]

6. Is that what I said? Be very specific.

[TnDem]

11. re: allergies

If you have wasp/bee allergies you should already be advised of fire ant stings, as they can cause the same issues.

Fire ants are as prevalent in Florida as palm trees. So, yeah....The article does appeal to the handwingers amongst us.

[tulipsandroses]

7. What's wrong with the title? The gist of what I got is that they are being seen more often

In more states. I don’t think they were trying to scare people. I see it as education for the public.

I came across this article after I had been bitten . I started researching because I couldn’t believe how much it hurt and I knew it wasn’t a fire ant and definitely not a “regular” black ant.
If I wasn’t researching, I probably wouldn’t have seen the article at all.

[TnDem]

12. Not "bitten"

Ants don't "bite" you and that's not what causes pain..They grab your skin with their mandibles in the front and they sting you with the bottom of their thorax just like a wasp.

[tulipsandroses]

16. Thanks for the clarification

Yes, sting is actually a better description for what it felt like.

[TexasTowelie]

8. Here is the only YouTube video of the Asian needle ants that I could find with bright yellow capitalized fonts.

They forgot the arrows though.

[yardwork]

9. I disagree with this take.

The OP is a reasonable post. With global warming we're seeing a rapid spread of species into new areas. This one is dangerous to humans.

I live in NC and I appreciate knowing about this, just as I appreciate recognizing the fire ant mounds that now dot my neighborhood in summer.

Nobody said to be afraid of everything, but it's foolish not to be aware of actual threats.

[Incanus]

13. First it was "murder hornets" then "giant flying Joro spiders"

Inflammatory headlines and ignorant comments from reporters convince people that they're in danger which often leads to the murder of native insects and spiders. They use tabloid headlines which frighten people who are already scared of arthropods instead of trying to educate them. Those who advocate for the most hated and feared creatures we share our planet with fight an uphill battle.

[Hekate]

5. Yikes. It's only 1/4 inch long, making it hard to see. But wait there's more...

Suiter says Asian needle ants are "sneaky" because they are less than a quarter of an inch long and are adept at hiding.
"Unlike many invasive species that tend to colonize areas in the wake of natural or human disturbance, Asian needle ants are capable of invading undisturbed forest areas where they nest under and within logs and other debris, under stones, and in leaf litter," the U.S. Forest Service says.

Environmental impacts
According to Suiter, Asian needle ants wreak havoc in native environments. "They outcompete other ant species that are important to the ecology of that area," he says.

Asian needle ants prey on other insects and are capable of displacing ant species that are critical for seed dispersal, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Researchers have documented large decreases in seed dispersal in forests where Asian needle ants are present.

[yardwork]

10. I'm sorry that you were stung. That sounds painful.

I hope you recover soon. Thanks for this OP.

[tulipsandroses]

17. Thank you. Less painful but I broke out in hives and some are still present. But I am used to hives

from getting bitten by mosquitoes. I keep Allegra Hives on hand for that reason.

[Totally Tunsie]

14. THANK YOU so much for this post!

My adult son lives in South Carolina and happily spends many hours each weekend manicuring his property. He is also highly susceptible to anaphylactic shock and has carried an epi pen since he was a child. Without being overly dramatic, you may have saved a life by your post, despite what the poopoo-ers in previous posts may have said.

Allergic responses of this type are nothing to joke about.

Your post and further info have been forwarded and appreciated. Again, many thanks!

[tulipsandroses]

18. You are welcome. I am a novice gardner, this happened after I finished tending to my little garden on my patio

So he should be careful out there.

[Oneironaut]

15. "Potentially deadly," while true, is way over the top.

Honey bee stings are "potentially deadly" if you have an allergy. Stories like this are completely pointless and sensationalized to scare people and get clicks. It's why people also think every spider or snake is venomous and needs to be killed.