What are the dangers of ant stings and what to do about it
Miscellaneous / / May 21, 2022
Some insect bites can kill you.
Why ants can be dangerous to humans
Scientists considerA. Touchard, S. R. Al, E. G. P. Fox, P. Escoubas, J. Orivel, G.M. Nicholson A. Dejean. The Biochemical Toxin Arsenal from Ant Venoms / Toxinsthat wasps had the same ancestors as ants. Therefore, 71% of the latter have a sting. With its help, ants can inject toxins, holding on to the victim due to their jaws.
The composition of poisons varies greatly among different species. It is usually based on formic acid and peptides that destroy red blood cells and other cells, and also prevent the transmission of nerve impulses. This allows you to protect yourself from predators. But in the wild, the main enemy of the ant is another colony. So poisons arose in the process of evolution not as a weapon against man.
Therefore, death from ant bites is most often caused not by toxins, but by a strong allergic reaction - anaphylaxis. It is believed that 50% of the proteins in ant venom can cause allergies in humans.
What types of ants are dangerous to humans
In Russia liveWITH. BUT. Belokobylsky, K. G. Samartsev A. WITH. Ilyinskaya (ed.). Annotated catalog of hymenopterous insects of Russia. Volume II 260 species of ants out of 14,000 existing in the world. Almost all of them are safe for humans. For example, red woods bite, but there is no evidence of anaphylactic shock or death after encountering them. Therefore, in our culture, the ant is a hardworking hard worker.
But when you travel abroad may face with its aggressive counterparts, from which people die every year.
Red fire ant
Solenopsis invicta
This view 100 years ago by chance broughtImported Fire Ant / USDA to the USA from South America. Since then, ants have proliferated in the southern states and ledAmerican College Of Physicians‑American Society Of Internal Medicine. Fire Ants Can Attack Humans In Homes Or Health Care Facilities / Science Daily to the death of at least 80 people.
An unpleasant feature of Solenopsis invicta is that they clamp the victim with their jaws and sting several times in a row. At the site of bites appear itchy red blisters that can get germs. This leads to inflammation. Poison sometimes causes an allergic reaction.
There are no red fire ants in Russia. Only occasionally them by chance importOn recommendations on how to protect a dwelling from house ants / Rospotrebnadzor travelers.
Maricopa Reaper Ant
Pogonomyrmex maricopa
Several species of reapers live in the USA, but Pogonomyrmex maricopa has a special position. He has the most toxicW. L. Meyer. Chapter 23 - Most Toxic Insect Venom / Book of Insect Records poison in the world among insects. Just 12 bites can kill a large rat, and a stung person will experience severe pain for at least 4 hours. An allergic reaction and anaphylaxis may also occur.
The only good thing is that these insects are not very aggressive and rarely attack. People usually notice anthills because of the large size of the reapers. This is allowsH. C. Reid, P. J. Landolt. Chapter 22 - Ants, Wasps, and Bees (Hymenoptera) / Medical and Veterinary Entomology (Third Edition) bypass them and do not put yourself in danger.
bullet ant
paraponera clavata
These insects inhabitv. b. Gerritsen. Princess Bala's sting / Protein Spotlight In South America. They are called bullets because of their extremely painful bites. In their place arisesv. H. J. J. Louis, C. C. Roberto, H. P. Moraes. 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 São Paulo severe swelling, inflamed nearby lymph nodes, heartbeat quickens, blood appears in the stool. Blame for this special nerve agent - poneratoxin, which can kill even a person. Scientists have calculated that 30 bites per kilogram of body weight are enough for a vertebrate to die.
Ant Bulldog
Myrmecia gulosa
Also known as the bull ant, it can grow up to 4 centimeters long and livesBulldog ant / AEPMA in Australia. There it is well known for its aggressive behavior and painful bites.
Myrmecia gulosa seize the victim with large jaws and sting, injecting poison. The latter causes severe allergic reactions up to anaphylactic shock. A person can die if help is not provided in time.
Ant Jumper Jack
Myrmecia pilosula
Relatives of bulldog ants are much smaller, but also liveJack Jumper Ant Allergy/ASCIA only in Australia they sting, holding the victim with their jaws. Place bite reddens and swells, sometimes very strongly, and the condition does not return to normal for several days. According to surveys, 2-3% of those affected had anaphylaxis, which was life-threatening in half of the cases. Several people have died in recent years.
siafu
Dorylus mushrooms
These ants live in huge colonies in Africa. When food runs out, they roam to a new place in a giant marching mass. Such a column moves slowly but furiously defendedb. Holldobler, E. Oh wilson. The Ants from any attacks or their threat. So it's better not to get in her way, especially those who can't move.
Siafu poison is not very dangerous to humans. But these ants rarely sting anyway. Instead they biteb. Holldobler, E. Oh wilson. The Ants, leaving behind two stab wounds from large jaws. It is very difficult to remove the latter, so some tribes useJ. Schiappa, R. Van Hee. From Ants to Staples: History and Ideas Concerning Suturing Techniques / Acta chirurgica Belgica them as natural seams. Ants are forced to bite the edges of the wound, and then they are torn off so that only the jaws remain.
army ant
Eciton burchellii
Looks like a siafu, but dwellsBrian V. brown. Encyclopedia of Insects in South America and in the south of North. The bites can also be very painful and itchy due to the venom. Fortunately, the columns of Eciton burchellii move slowly. Therefore, it is usually easy to avoid meeting with them if the path of the ants does not lie through human houses.
When to See a Doctor
Whoever bit you, you need callFirst aid for fire ant stings / Healthy WA go to the doctor as soon as possible if convulsions or manifestations of anaphylaxis are observed: difficulty breathing, stomach ache, pallor, loss of consciousness. The hospital will provide anti-shock treatment that could save a life.
You will also need medical attention if:
- bites very lotFirst aid for fire ant stings / Healthy WA;
- SufferedMedical Problems and Treatment Considerations for the Red Imported Fire Ant / TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE child, elderly or person with neurological impairment;
- affected areas inflamedInsect Bites / MSD Manuals: pus appeared and the temperature has risen.
What can you do yourself if you are bitten by an ant
First aid can be provided on your own (the actions are the same for bites of different types of insects). For this:
- RinseFire Ant Bites/AOCD sores with soap or just cool water.
- Cool the bite site, such as with an ice cube, to relieve pain.
- Apply an anti-allergic ointment. For example, based on steroids or antihistamines.
- Take an over-the-counter paracetamol or ibuprofen pain reliever if needed.
How to protect yourself from ant stings
If you are going to nature, it is better in advance. get ready:
- Before you travel, learn about the dangers at your holiday destination, including ants and other insects. So you will be alert and react faster if something goes wrong.
- Don't stand stillMedical Problems and Treatment Considerations for the Red Imported Fire Ant / TEXAS A & M AGRILIFE on anthills or on the path of a column of ants.
- Wear protective clothing and footwear. For example, to prevent fire ants from getting to the body, in Texas it is advised to wear boots.
- Treat clothes with special insect sprays.
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