How many ants can kill you? It’s a fair question to ask with so many species of fire ant in the world. In addition, would it help if there were 40 million or 4 million ants biting you at once? To answer that question we need to go back to first principles. Ants are insects, like mosquitoes, and as such they have six legs, two antennae and a bunch of little feet that make up an exoskeleton (think Terminator, the movie). If you multiply this together – 2 antennae + 2 legs + 6 legs = 8 legs – then multiply by two (because there are two of them) then add the two feet, you get 16 feet. The reason I’m going over all of this is because it means that each ant has 16 joints. Each joint is a potential spot of weakness. In the United States, fire ants inhabit 11 states, including several in the South and coastal regions. The famed Southeastern red fire ant is prevalent in Texas, Georgia, South Carolina and Florida. It causes an estimated $100 million in medical treatment to people each year. As a kid, you might have been convinced that if you came into contact with fire ants, they would actually kill you. In all actuality, they can be harmless, or even beneficial to humans. They are efficient predators and help to control other insect populations. Fire ants are often called the most dangerous animals in the world, and for good reason. These ants can kill a human and do so more often than you might think. While these ants have done little harm to people since the 1930’s, it is still important to learn about their dangers and how to avoid becoming a victim. If you have ever burnt yourself on the sun, then you have probably heard about fire ants’ ability to kill. The burning sensation from these ants is stronger than any other insect known to man, which is why they have earned their name.

Can Fire Ants Kill You

Can Fire Ants Bite and Kill You?

The short answer is: no, they can’t kill you. But they could hurt you or someone else pretty bad. The way that fire ants attack is by biting, which doesn’t hurt much, and then stinging. The burning sting of a fire ant is felt immediately and may continue to be painful for several hours. If you’re allergic to the venom of these ants, the bite can be even more dangerous, as it could lead to swelling and potentially anaphylactic shock in extreme cases.

If you’ve been bitten by a fire ant or think someone has been stung by one and may have an allergic reaction, call 911 right away or visit your local emergency room if possible!

Fire Ant Symptoms

If you’ve been stung by fire ants, you may experience several symptoms. Fire ant bites cause red welts and itching. Pain may be present, especially if the area is scratched. Pus or fluid buildup can occur at the bite site, causing swelling. Blisters may form, and in some cases turn black or brown and fall off. Fever is possible in someone with a severe reaction to a fire ant sting.

Some people experience an allergic reaction when bitten by fire ants. If so, these symptoms may follow:

• Tenderness of the lymph nodes
• Swelling in the face or throat
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Chest tightness or pain
• Difficulty breathing

Fire Ant Allergy Symptoms

Red fire ant allergy symptoms are common in people who have been stung by fire ants. These reactions can be severe and even life threatening, so it’s important to know what to look for if you’ve been bitten. The most common symptom of a severe reaction is a large (greater than 3 inches) red rash that appears where you were bitten, usually accompanied by itching and burning. Other symptoms include swelling around the bite marks, nausea or vomiting, abdominal cramping, headache, low blood pressure, wheezing or difficulty breathing and rapid heart rate. A severe allergic reaction can cause anaphylaxis, which is a potentially life-threatening condition in which one’s airways swell closed. Call 911 immediately if you experience any of these symptoms after being stung by fire ants.

If you think you might be experiencing an anaphylactic reaction or another serious allergic reaction because of fire ant stings, seek emergency medical attention right away!

Fire Ant Bites

Fire ants have a two-step stinging process. The ant first pinches you with its mouth, and then they sting you with their abdomen. They don’t feel good at all, but the real danger is if you get multiple fire ant bites at once. Some people are allergic to fire ants and can suffer anaphylactic shock which can be deadly.

What makes fire ants different from other types of ants is that they give multiple bites and these bites cause your skin to swell up into a white pustule that last for several days.

Fire ants can kill you with the right conditions.

• As any experienced gardener, nature enthusiast, or small child will tell you, fire ants can be lethal if you are allergic to their bites.
• Fire ants have been known to kill pets such as dogs and cats who stumble into their mounds. They can also kill small animals such as chipmunks that get too close.
• Unfortunately for the chipmunk but fortunately for us, people are rarely killed by fire ant venom because it takes many bites from fire ants to fatally envenomate someone. However, if enough of them bite you at once and they inject venom into your blood stream in large enough quantities (i.e., thousands of bites at a time), then yes there is a chance that you could die from the toxic effects of their venom.*
• Fire ant stings can also be mistaken for bee stings. While both types of stings can cause serious allergic reactions and even death in some cases, it’s important not to mistake one for the other because treatment protocols vary depending on which type of sting the victim was exposed to.