Does your kitchen have a trail of crawling little black ants? You are not alone! Small black ants are an exceedingly frequent species that enter every spring in the Pacific North-West.
These troublesome insects, called sugar ants, stir chaos in Washington’s kitchens. Apart from being annoying, do sugar ants bite?
What do sugar ants look like?
Before discovering the question “Do sugar ants bite,” you need to know what the ants look like. Sugar ant is a popular term that many people use to describe a tiny ant.
- Size: Sugar ants’ size ranges from 2 to 15 mm.
- Color: Male sugar ants have a black body, while female workers have an orange body.
What are sugar ant’s habits?
Sugar ants are attracted to nectar-secreting plants, bringing them near a house to find a constant food source. The ants could become a problem for us once they have set foot in the house.
When the pests detect food traces, they will enter your home to find fruits and sweets. Check your cookware, pantry, and food containers if you suspect a sugar ant infestation. They are also attracted by spills, spots, and other signs of food.
Workers go on designated paths for food at dusk, and at dawn, they return to their nests. Due to their nightly habits, it can be difficult to find a sugar ant nest. As they make nests in soil, you can recognize them by huge dirt hills at the colony’s entrance.
Do Sugar Ants Bite?
So, do sugar ants bite? Well, these ants do bite. However, they only bite when disturbed to protect themselves. A normal bite leaves small red bumps on the skin, but it can turn into huge welts or blisters if you have an allergic reaction or infection.
Are Sugar Ants Dangerous?
Having resolved the question “Do sugar ants bite?”, you might wonder if they are dangerous. In most cases, no, they are not dangerous. Their bites do leave a mark, but unless the person is extremely allergic to sugar ants, the bites are not unpleasant, nor do they leave any symptoms.
If allergic symptoms do appear, use an antibiotic cream to ease the bite wound, keep a close eye on the bitten person, and contact a medical expert if symptoms worsen.
And harmless as they may seem, sugar ants can be a nuisance if they get into a household. These pests can gnaw through paper, cardboard, and plastic containers to feed on and pollute the contents within. They also attract other pests, such as spiders and centipedes, into the home.
How To Treat A Sugar Ant Bite?
Besides the question “Do sugar ants bite?”, many people also wonder how to treat a sugar ant bite. Although everyone’s reaction to a fire ant bite is different, one thing is apparent: the more you get bitten, the more pain you will feel.
Many bites begin as a tiny bump and can quickly develop into a blister filled with pus. Left untreated for too long, these blisters will inflame and turn into scars after healing.
If you get bitten by fire ants, wash the affected area with soap and water to treat the bites. You can also use ice, topical steroid, or aloe vera-based treatments to ease the swelling and discomfort. Antihistamines can reduce itching and quicken the healing process.
Difficulty breathing or swallowing, nausea, and sweating are signs of a severe allergic response. These symptoms emerge soon after sugar ants bite. If you or your family show these signs, contact a doctor immediately.
How to Get Rid of Sugar Ant
Accurate identification of the species is essential to managing an infestation effectively. When ants enter a house, you should contact pest control companies immediately to identify what types of this ant and plan an effective approach.
Conclusion
Do sugar ants bite? Yes, sugar ants do bite. Although they are not harmful, they may annoy you and your family. Unfortunately, if you are attacked by a swarm of ants or bitten by an ant repeatedly, you should contact a doctor to receive the right medical treatment.
Moreover, when you notice a strange subspecies of ants entering your house, you should contact pest control to plan an appropriate strategy if the situation worsens.
We hope this post will give you some helpful information about sugar ants and the approach to getting rid of them. Many thanks for your attention, and we wish you a good day.
