It is well known that fire ants can be dangerous for human beings, especially if someone stepped on their nest. Besides having firm bites, their venom is also strong enough to cause a big amount of discomfort. People who are allergic to this venom can be seriously endangered and should attend immediate medical treatments. They might be small beings, but fire ants can cause severe damages. However, there’s a question arising if black ants have the same power.
Well, there are several species of black ants that can actually bite. Although their venom and bites are way less dangerous, this is how they protect themselves. Usually, if you’re bitten by a black ant, you won’t be required to consult a doctor. Nevertheless, they can also cause itching and welts.
Have in mind that a fire ant doesn’t have to be red or brown. Although they’re not so common, there’s a species of black fire ants that have venom as strong as the one red and brown ants possess. Therefore, be sure to avoid these insects regardless of their color.
Carpenter Ants
These ants vary from ¼ to ½ inch long and can be found in a lot of households. Because of their size and ability to cut through wood, carpenter ants can easily be mixed up with termites. But, the difference is that carpenter ants do it only to make a pathway to their nest.
Although they’re usually black, these ants can be also red or brown, since there are many varieties existing within the group. Their ability to cut through wood indicates the fact that they have a strong bite and can dig deep into the skin. Their jaws also deliver a small amount of formic acid. This means that your wound might burn for some time, so make sure to treat it as if it’s the bite of a fire ant.
Pavement Ants
These ants are a little bit smaller, reaching the size of 1/8 inches. They’re called pavement ants because they are usually found in building foundations, cement slabs and along sidewalks. A common place to find them could also be underneath stones boards and wood.
Pavement ants are rather black but can be found with a brownish body as well. Although they don’t have a tendency to be aggressive, they’re sometimes capable of biting and stinging. Therefore, it is not recommended to handle them without any protection.
Interesting fact about pavement ants is that they can rarely be baited. The only way to conquer them is to find their nest and thoroughly exterminate the colony. This could be done either by hot water or ant killers. If you have trouble with such species, make sure to inform yourself of how to effectively get rid of them.
Black Imported Fire Ants
Very similar to red fire ants, this species is able to do severe damage as well. They are as small as red fire ants and can reach the size of 1/8 inches. The main difference between these two species is aggressiveness. While red fire ants are known to be pretty aggressive, the black ones are not. Common places where you can find these ants are grassy areas like pastures and lawns.
Besides that, every other characteristic is nearly the same. Fire ants attack by using their stinger to implement their venom into the predator. This venom can be quite dangerous for some. It can cause allergic reactions to susceptible victims that should be treated right away. This venom also creates a white pustule at the bitten spot.
Symptoms of Black Ant Bites
Symptoms of black ant bites can vary, depending on the species and human reaction to their venom. Since black fire ants are the most dangerous of them all, we will be talking about symptoms that can occur from their bites.
Fire ant venom contains a mixture of over 40 proteins which causes the itching. Besides proteins, their venom also contains poison. Recent studies showed that this poison can affect the human nervous system. As they attack usually in groups, the amount of poison can reach a high level. This is the reason why hallucinations are one of the symptoms for people who become victims of black ant bites.
Blisters that occur due to a bite are kind of an allergic reaction. These reactions can be quite severe for some people. They feel sensations of itching, burning and swelling way stronger than people who can endure the bites well.
One of the most severe symptoms for people who face strong allergic reactions to ant bites is anaphylaxis. Although this case isn’t so common, the symptoms may appear within minutes. Fortunately, we are informed of which symptoms can lead to such states, so here’s the list:
- Confusion
- Tongue and throat swelling
- Dizziness
- Troubles with inhaling
- Loss of consciousness
If you are a victim of an ant bite and you feel some of these symptoms within few minutes of the bite, there’s a big chance that you’ll need immediate medical assistance in order to save your body from going into the state of shock.
Other symptoms that are more common include:
- Pain
- Redness
- Itching
- Swelling
- Allergic reactions
However, these symptoms usually don’t require medical assistance since they are not life threatening. Nevertheless, there are people with weak immune systems that aren’t capable of fighting against ant’s venom. People who already use epi-pens in order to prevent allergic reactions should take a shot as soon as they are bitten.
If you’re bitten by an ant and feel some of the symptoms above, be sure to inform yourself about remedies that can help you treat the affected site with ease. There’s a bunch of remedies that could be found in every household. Some of them are:
- Raw Honey
- Baking Soda
- Cucumber
- Onion
- Pepper
- Lemon juice
- Toothpaste
