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the area around the sting. For those of us not allergic to Asian
needle ants, that’s the worst part of Asian needle ant stings. I’ve
been stung innumerable times since then, and it’s almost always
the same.
Photo Gallery - The amazing termite predator
While Asian needle ants have pricked me many times over the
last few years, I don’t blame any of them for doing it. Unlike the
war-mongering fire ants, which eagerly attack en force, stinging
anything they can get their angry little tee-hineys on, Asian needle
ants prefer a more peaceable lifestyle and sting only in selfdefense
as a last resort. Every one of my stings occurred when I
put pressure—whether on purpose or by accident—on the
worker, so she poked me with her stinger to get away.
What’s for Dinner?
Most of the time, Asian needle ants use their stingers to subdue
their favorite food: termites. Watching an Asian needle ant around
termites is like watching me at an all-you-can-eat buffet. She gets
very excited, running around grabbing every one she can.
Practically defenseless, termites have thin, soft exoskeletons and
are juicy treats for any meat-loving insect. When an Asian needle
ant stings a termite, she grabs it in a bear hug and jabs her
stinger deep inside. Her venom paralyzes the termite but does
not kill it. By keeping the termite alive, she can stockpile it in her
nest without worrying about it rotting before she and her
nestmates get a chance to eat it.
The Asian needle ant captures a termite and delivers a wallop of a sting.
- © Alex Wild
Asian needle ants love termites, but they aren’t picky eaters. If
you see one out and about, she is probably scavenging the
ground for other ants, dead and dying insects, or even human
garbage. Unlike other ant species, Asian needle ants do not
follow foraging trails. If one finds food too big to bring back to the
nest, she will run home and tap one of her sisters imploringly on
the head. Her sister responds by folding up in the fetal position.
The forager then picks her sister up, tucks her under her body,
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