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Ants that are dangerous to humans
Among the six thousand varieties of ants, only a few species represent a threat to humans. These may be insects that release especially toxic enzymes when bitten, or those whose numbers in a certain place are very large.
army ants
The first group includes nomadic siafu ants living in Africa and the South American continent. They differ in that they do not acquire anthills, the breeding process takes place in temporary bivouacs formed by the bodies of working individuals, clutching their jaws. The construction has a spherical shape, which to the uninitiated appears to be a random accumulation of ants, but in reality it is subject to a certain order. Most of the time of their existence, the Siafu colonies migrate, looking for food.
Representatives of this subspecies are distinguished by a frightening appearance. With a height of one and a half centimeters, these ants have jaws that exceed the size of their heads. But the female is even more spectacular, her body in length during the period of egg laying can reach 5 cm. It is she who is recognized as the largest and most prolific ant, since she is able to secrete about 130 thousand eggs every day.
It is noted that the bites of this species of ants are extremely painful, they often cause serious allergic reactions, especially if the victim is in the midst of a moving colony. But deaths from attacks by these insects are unknown. The main diet of the siafu is representatives of other insect species, less often they attack small frogs, lizards, bird chicks.
Ant is a bullet
The bites of this insect bring unbearable pain, comparable to the effect of a bullet wound, which is explained by the content of poneratoxin in its poisonous secret, the strongest toxin in all of nature. Hence the definition of this ant. Since the bites remain painful for at least a day, the alternative name for this ant representative is “ant 24 hours”.
If we compare pain sensations according to a special Schmidt scale intended for such cases, then the victim experiences pain of the highest level IV, surpassing burns and lesions by other insects in this.
The length of individuals allows them to be ranked among the largest ants. The size of working insects reaches one and a half centimeters, and females – three. This species is native to South Africa. It is there that the bites of these ants are included in the male initiation ritual, after which the limb, subjected to mass bites, can be paralyzed for several days, be insensitive and turn black.
Ant – bulldog
Although the modest size of this insect does not allow him to become a champion in size, he compensates for this by the number of deaths after his bites. For example, in Tasmania, the number of victims of bulldog ant bites exceeds the number of deaths caused by the combination of poisonous spiders, snakes and sharks.
Their bites cause acute allergies, in three cases out of a hundred it is accompanied by anaphylactic shock. Moreover, even those who, without allergies, endure attacks by other ants or related bees, wasps, risk suffering from these individuals. Therefore, the effect of a bite is always unpredictable.
Red fire ant
It also owes its name to the peculiarities of its bite, but it is considered the most dangerous not so much because of the pain and the poison it contains, but because of the ability to easily adapt to new conditions for it, quickly spread on a global scale and disrupt the stability of biocenoses existing in a new place. Originating in Brazil, the fire ant has made its way to Australia, China, and the southern United States on merchant ships. Today, this insect can be found in Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Philippines.
red ant sting
The bite of a red ant according to the already known Schmidt scale is equated to a fire burn. At the moment of attack, the fire ant injects poison with solenopsin, a harmful toxin, into the wound. Every year around the world, there are several thousand cases of human infection with this species of ant, some of which are fatal due to anaphylactic shock. Almost all bitten people report a severe allergic reaction. Not only people, but also domestic and wild animals can suffer from attacks by fire ants.
Despite the exotic habitats of the listed species of ants, everyone needs to know about them, especially tourists, so that vacations abroad do not turn into harm to health.
But what about domestic and forest red ants?
The species of these insects that are more familiar to us, living in forests and dwellings, can also be dangerous, and therefore deserve careful consideration.
Representatives of red forest and domestic ants belong to various subspecies. They differ in appearance and have individual biological characteristics. Forest insects create structures that are unique in terms of construction and are engaged in the destruction of organisms harmful to the environment. Domestic individuals are interesting in the special organization of their families, which allows them to take root even in very unfavorable conditions for them.
Individual individuals of wood ants can grow up to nine millimeters in size, while their domestic counterparts hardly overcome the 3 mm mark. It is on this basis that they can be recognized and the source of the appearance can be determined. Coloring can also tell which of these insects is in front of you. Ants living next to humans are brown, complemented by light stripes on the abdomen. An individual from the forest has a black body, only the lower segment of the head and chest are painted red.
Bites of domestic and forest red ant
Red house ants and forest ants are 2 different species. They differ not only in size (forest 0,7-0,9 cm, and domestic ones are several times smaller), but also in habits. The bite of a domestic red ant is practically painless, moreover, a domestic ant rarely attacks a person.
The red forest ant begins to sting the one who disturbed him in any way and his bite is quite painful, resembles a mosquito, causes itching, redness and other unpleasant consequences. A single bite is certainly not dangerous, but massive bites can cause an allergic reaction.
Ant bite symptoms
These insects can quickly move around the human body, so the localization of bites can be different, but most often the wounds form on the lower extremities, arms and in the pelvic area. The victim feels a pain syndrome similar to a mosquito bite (unless it is an exotic species of ants, which can cause much more suffering). At the bite site, a small red spot is formed, which can be supplemented by skin edema, cause an inflammatory process and itch.
In allergy sufferers, ant stings can turn into nausea, sensations of severe itching that spreads to the whole body, headaches, increased heart rate and lower blood pressure, as well as swelling of the face and limbs. The severity of the symptoms will depend on the number of bites, the more there are, the more pronounced the manifestations.
The condition of the victim from ants can be complicated by such side effects as urticaria and Quincke’s edema. The first is the body’s reaction to the ingestion of a toxin from an ant secretion into a person. It is manifested by specific rashes on the skin of red color. The blisters that occur with this form of allergy are of different sizes, sometimes they can combine into a single formation, which delivers constant discomfort with burning, itching and inflammation.
If many edemas of different sizes begin to appear on the body at a fast pace, it makes sense to talk about the presence of such a disease as Quincke’s edema. In the affected area is primarily fatty tissue and mucous membranes of the eyes, larynx, lips. If the swelling is located near the larynx, it can lead to difficulty in breathing processes, up to its termination. Therefore, the appearance of the initial symptoms of the described disease indicates the need for immediate medical attention.
Both side effects of ant stings can pose a certain threat to human health and life, therefore, such symptoms require professional treatment.
Consequences of ant stings
Usually, the wound inflicted by this insect does not pose a danger to humans. All side effects are explained by the ingestion of formic acid, which can cause allergies, as well as anaphylactic shock.
The danger increases when this substance enters the mucous membranes, since in this case it begins to spread throughout the body with the bloodstream. The risk of infecting these particular areas is quite high, because the ant can squirt its acid at a distance of up to 30 cm and it is not necessary for it to bite through the skin to introduce a toxic substance. Defeats by some types of formic acid can be fatal.
Another threat is associated with the possibility of infection of the resulting wound when combing. If the bite site remains edematous and pus is released from the center of the damage, you should seek medical help. Bites on the body of a child deserve special attention.
Treatment for ant stings
You need to know the measures that will help to cope with the unpleasant symptoms of an insect attack.
Here is a sequence of actions and measures that will minimize the harm from interactions with ants:
It is necessary to move as far as possible from the source of the appearance of insects, most often it is an anthill or an ant path. This should be done immediately upon discovery of individual individuals or after the appearance of tangible bites.
Then you should try to remove the insects from yourself, this can be difficult, because they pinch the human skin with their jaws. Ants must be torn off and thrown to the ground. At the same time, it is not recommended to crush them, from this they can begin to bite even more intensely.
After getting rid of biting insects, you need to identify the location of the bites. If they are localized on the limbs, the damaged areas of the body should be raised, this will reduce the swelling from the injury.
When you get to your home, you need to wash the bites with soapy water, simultaneously cleaning the skin of any dirt and debris, which can later become sources of infection.
To reduce the manifestation of such symptoms of an ant bite as itching, swelling and numbness, it is recommended to apply a cold compress to the damaged areas for a time not exceeding 10 minutes. For its preparation, ice is placed in a bag, wrapped in a thin cloth and applied to a sore spot. This measure can be resorted to every hour.
You can use the help of antihistamines or hydrocortisone ointment, which are sold in the pharmacy network without prescriptions. They will relieve pain and itching. Before using these products, you need to read the instructions and, if possible, consult a doctor.
A few hours after the bite, the swelling usually subsides, but a blister may form. It must not be scratched, otherwise it may tear and pierce, otherwise the risk of infection increases. If the blister is nevertheless damaged for some reason, it must be washed with soapy water. Damage should be kept under control and at the first sign of infection – loss of color or suppuration – immediately seek medical help.
preventive measures
Avoiding ant bites can be much easier than treating their effects. Since these insects rarely attack without a reason, the main thing is not to disturb them.
Here are some more recommendations:
Going to places where ants live (forest, park, private sector), you need to choose the right clothes. It should have long sleeves, tight-fitting edges. If possible, closed high shoes should be used, under which there will definitely be socks or stockings.
Before a picnic or a halt, you should carefully examine the proposed place of rest. If there is an anthill nearby or an ant trail passes nearby, the rest is unlikely to be pleasant.
No need to ruin anthills or intentionally harm insects.
Fallen fruits in the country can serve as a habitat for ants, so they should be taken with caution, and if possible, not touched at all.
When traveling to other countries, it is recommended to avoid contact with unfamiliar insects, even if they look quite familiar and harmless.
It is important to familiarize children with these rules, for whom the consequences of ant stings may be most dangerous.
How to get rid of house ants?
If insects living in nature rarely affect a person for no reason, then individuals living in dwellings are sources of constant discomfort. And, although they practically do not bite people, they spoil food, spread germs, and cause aesthetic inconvenience, so you can’t call them welcome guests.
In order for the fight against these insects to be successful, three main conditions must be met:
Choose a highly effective means for their destruction.
Apply it in strict accordance with the instructions.
Coordinate destruction with neighbors and carry out the procedure jointly.
If at least one of the points is not observed, the destruction of insects will be ineffective or temporary.
To combat domestic ants, the following means are used:
insecticidal gels;
insect sprays;
crayons and dusts;
mechanical destruction of individual ants and their nests;
seeking help from professionals who specialize in pest control.
Each of the above methods has its advantages and disadvantages, so only practice can reveal the most effective options.
[Video] The most effective and proven way to get rid of ants: