Are Ants Poisonous?

2 days ago

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Updated: 1 day ago

Ants can bite, sting and spray, so it is a fair question: are ants poisonous? The short answer: almost all ants have some kind of chemical defence, but very few are dangerous to people. To understand why, it helps to know the difference between poisonous and venomous. Not sure whether an ant bites or stings? Read do ants bite or sting?.

Red wood ants, Formica rufa, on a tree trunk — Red wood ants (Formica rufa) use formic acid instead of a sting.

Poisonous or venomous?

An animal is poisonous when it harms you if you eat or touch it. It is venomous when it actively injects or sprays a toxin, for example with a sting. Ants are mostly venomous: they use their chemicals as a weapon, not as a protection against being eaten.

Formic acid: the spray of the Formicinae

Ants of the subfamily Formicinae, such as Lasius, Formica and Camponotus, do not have a working sting. Instead they have a gland that produces formic acid. They bite and then spray the acid into the wound, or shoot it at an attacker from a distance. That is why a bite from a wood ant stings a little. Read more in our post about formic acid in red wood ants.

Venom: the ants with a sting

Many other ants do have a sting, just like wasps and bees. Their venom works in different ways:

Fire ants (Solenopsis) inject venom that consists mostly of alkaloids. A sting burns and often leaves a small white pustule. Fire ants are also a poor choice to keep: read why Solenopsis is not a good idea.
Bull ants and jack jumpers (Myrmecia) have protein-rich venom that is very painful and can cause allergic reactions. Read about the bull ant sting.
The bullet ant (Paraponera clavata) has one of the most painful stings in the world. Read about the bullet ant sting.

Are ants poisonous to eat?

In general, no. In many parts of the world ants are eaten as a snack or ingredient, such as weaver ants in Southeast Asia, honeypot ants in Australia and leafcutter queens in Colombia. Formic acid gives some ants a sour, lemony taste. Of course you should never eat ants that may have been in contact with pesticides, and people with an insect allergy should be careful.

Are ants dangerous for pets?

Most garden ants are harmless to cats and dogs. In regions with fire ants, many stings at once can be a problem for small animals, and some pets are allergic. Keep an eye on swelling or breathing problems after a sting.

So, are ants poisonous?

Almost all ants have chemical weapons, but for most people an ant bite or sting is just a short, painful moment. Real danger only comes from allergy or from very many stings at once. Read more in can an ant sting kill you?.