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