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Most ants are capable of biting, stinging, and spraying irritant chemicals.^[1] However, only relatively few species can harm humans; among which some can cause significant injury or, in rare cases, death. Like wasps, individual ants are capable of stinging multiple times as they do not lose their stingers.^[2]

Fire ants

The fire ants are a group of 20 species of New World ants which are reputed after their aggressiveness and painful stings. Four species are considered of relevant medical importance: Solenopsis invicta, Solenopsis richteri, Solenopsis geminata, and Solenopsis saevissima. The Red Imported Fire Ant S. invicta is the best studied among them, and reputed as the most dangerous species. S. invicta is expanding in range around the world and thus it is most often involved in medical emergencies. A person typically encounters problems with fire ants by inadvertently stepping onto one of their mounds, which causes the ants to swarm up the person's legs, attacking en masse. The ants quickly respond to alarm pheromones that are released by the first disturbed ants, causing a swarm followed by aggressive stinging. Fire ant stings are typically accompanied by burning and urticaria, followed by a welt formation. The welts often develop into white pustules that should not be scratched, as to avoid secondary infections. A few individuals are sensitive to the venom, and can, on rare occasions, die of anaphylaxis.^[3] In a survey of 29,300 physicians in the United States of America (in 1989), reports of 83 fatalities were obtained.^[4] Some fire ant attacks on humans confined to beds have also been noted; in some locations, fire ants can be a particular threat in medical facilities since they can have nesting colonies inside human habitations.^[5]

It has been demonstrated that, whilst the burning sensation and pustule formation is an effect of the sting injecting insoluble venom alkaloids, the more serious allergic reactions are caused by venom protein allergens.^[6]

Other species

Apart from Solenopsis invicta and Solenopsis richteri, serious allergic reactions are known from ants belonging to 6 different subfamilies (Formicinae, Myrmeciinae, Ponerinae, Ectatomminae, Myrmicinae, and Pseudomyrmecinae) and 10 genera (Solenopsis, Formica, Myrmecia, Tetramorium, Pogonomyrmex, Pachycondyla, Odontomachus, Rhytidoponera, Pseudomyrmex, and Hypoponera).^[7]

The Argentine ant, Linepithema humile is found in Argentina, Southern Europe, Southern US and California. They are small and are found in human habitations. They often kill other ant species.^[8] They have been noted as having the potential to carry pathogens in hospital environments.^[9]

The pharaoh ant, Monomorium pharaonis is found around the world. It is not known for its sting, but has been involved in respiratory allergies^[10]

Bulldog ants, from the genus Myrmecia, are native to Australia, with all but one of the ninety or so species found on the continent. Belonging to the ant subfamily Myrmeciinae, they are among the most primitive extant ants in the world. This species is known to cause some fatalities in sensitive humans.^[11]

Bullet ants, from the genus Paraponera, are found from Nicaragua southward to the Amazon Basin. They are and close relatives of the genus Dinoponera, which are New World ponerines known for their painful stings.^[12]

Driver ants, from the genus Dorylus, are found in the Old World, especially West Africa and the Congo Basin. Unlike the army ants of the New World, Old World army ants have a functional sting but rarely use it, preferring their razor-sharp, falcate mandibles for defense instead. Dorylus spp. colonies also reach larger sizes than Eciton.

The Pogonomyrmex maricopa, found in Western US, are bright red myrmicine ants whose venom is the most potent of any ant species.^[13]

References

^ Touchard A, Aili SR, Fox EG, Escoubas P, Orivel J, Nicholson GM, Dejean A (January 2016). "The Biochemical Toxin Arsenal from Ant Venoms". Toxins. 8 (1): 30. doi:10.3390/toxins8010030. PMC 4728552. PMID 26805882.
^ O'Rourke FJ (1956). "The medical and veterinary importance of the formicidae". Insectes Sociaux. 3 (1): 107–118. doi:10.1007/BF02230671. S2CID 27064350.
^ Rupp MR, deShazo RD, Rupp MR, deShazo RD (March 2006). "Indoor fire ant sting attacks: a risk for frail elders". The American Journal of the Medical Sciences. 331 (3): 134–8. doi:10.1097/00000441-200603000-00005. PMID 16538074. S2CID 3005745.
^ Rhoades RB, Stafford CT, James FK (August 1989). "Survey of fatal anaphylactic reactions to imported fire ant stings. Report of the Fire Ant Subcommittee of the American Academy of Allergy and Immunology". The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 84 (2): 159–62. doi:10.1016/0091-6749(89)90319-9. PMID 2760357.
^ deShazo RD, Kemp SF, deShazo MD, Goddard J (June 2004). "Fire ant attacks on patients in nursing homes: an increasing problem". The American Journal of Medicine. 116 (12): 843–6. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2004.02.026. PMID 15178500.
^ Zamith-Miranda D, Fox EG, Monteiro AP, Gama D, Poublan LE, de Araujo AF, Araujo MF, Atella GC, Machado EA, Diaz BL (September 2018). "The allergic response mediated by fire ant venom proteins". Scientific Reports. 8 (1): 14427. Bibcode:2018NatSR...814427Z. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-32327-z. PMC 6158280. PMID 30258210.
^ Klotz JH, deShazo RD, Pinnas JL, Frishman AM, Schmidt JO, Suiter DR, Price GW, Klotz SA (November 2005). "Adverse reactions to ants other than imported fire ants". Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 95 (5): 418–25. doi:10.1016/S1081-1206(10)61165-9. PMID 16312163.
^ Harris RJ (2002). "Potential impact of the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) in New Zealand and options for its control" (PDF). Science for Conservation. 196. New Zealand Department of Conservation.
^ Fowler HG, Bueno OC, Sadatsune T, Montelli AC (June 1993). "Ants as potential vectors of pathogens in hospitals in the state of São Paulo, Brazil". International Journal of Tropical Insect Science. 14 (3): 367–70. Bibcode:1993IJTIS..14..367F. doi:10.1017/s1742758400014879. S2CID 86582422.
^ Kim CW, Choi SY, Park JW, Hong CS (February 2005). "Respiratory allergy to the indoor ant (Monomorium pharaonis) not related to sting allergy". Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 94 (2): 301–6. doi:10.1016/S1081-1206(10)61312-9. PMID 15765749.
^ McGain F, Winkel KD (August 2002). "Ant sting mortality in Australia". Toxicon. 40 (8): 1095–100. Bibcode:2002Txcn...40.1095M. doi:10.1016/s0041-0101(02)00097-1. PMID 12165310.
^ Haddad Junior V, Cardoso JL, Moraes RH (2005). "Description of an injury in a human caused by a false tocandira (Dinoponera gigantea, Perty, 1833) with a revision on folkloric, pharmacological and clinical aspects of the giant ants of the genera Paraponera and Dinoponera (sub-family Ponerinae)". Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Sao Paulo. 47 (4): 235–8. doi:10.1590/S0036-46652005000400012. hdl:11449/30504. PMID 16138209.
^ Meyer WL (May 1996). "Chapter 23: Most Toxic Insect Venom". University of Florida Book of Insect Records. Gainesville, Florida: University of Florida. Archived from the original on 2009-02-08.