One bite can cause coma and shock! Someone was bitten 7 times in a year. If you see it, please stay away immediately!

It is highly toxic! Severe cases can be fatal! ⚠️⚠️

When friends go out to play

On roadsides, grasslands, parks, hillsides, etc.

Once you find this small pile of red soil

Please stay away

There may be a very aggressive and even deadly poisonous insect hidden here - the red fire ant

Image source: Dajiang.com

Man bitten by fire ants seven times in one year

Recently, a man in Kunming, Yunnan was bitten by red fire ants . He was convulsing all over and fell into a coma . The police rushed him to the hospital. The emergency doctor revealed that this was the seventh time the man had been bitten by red fire ants this year . Thanks to the timely medical treatment, the man is no longer in danger of death.

Man in shock after being bitten by red fire ants

In April this year, Mr. Chen from Guangdong returned to his hometown Shaoguan to visit his ancestors' graves. He was bitten by red fire ants while clearing weeds and dirt. Then he began to develop lumps and rashes on his body. On his way down the mountain, he suddenly convulsed and fainted in the grass . When he was sent to the hospital, he was in shock , but fortunately he was rescued in time and was out of danger.

Source: Nan Fang Daily

Beware of the deadly ants

The red fire ant, originally distributed in the Paraná River Basin in South America, is recognized as one of the 100 most dangerous invasive species in the world .

Image source: Guangdong Centers for Disease Control

It has almost no natural enemies in our country and has invaded 12 provinces

The earliest record of red fire ants invading China can be traced back to 2004. At that time, many people in Guangdong and other places were bitten, and there were even fatal cases in Taiwan.

After a human body is bitten (Photo source: Guangdong Disease Control)

According to statistics released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, in 2016, red fire ants invaded 281 counties (cities, districts) in 11 provinces in China. By 2023, the data changed to 625 counties (cities, districts) in 12 provinces. In 7 years, 344 new counties and cities were invaded , and the spread is still very fast.

Morphology of red fire ant workers under a microscope (Photo source: Institute of Plant Protection, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences)

In addition, red fire ants have extremely strong reproductive capacity. A mature ant nest can contain hundreds of thousands of individuals, and each queen ant can lay thousands of eggs every day. They have almost no natural enemies in China .

Unlike common ants, red fire ants are very aggressive. When they sting, they bite the skin tightly with their upper jaws, while the stinger on their tail penetrates and releases venom. The stung area will feel a burning pain , followed by redness, swelling and suppuration . Some people with allergic constitutions may go into shock or even die .

Is it painful and itchy after being bitten?

Don't scratch it!

Mild symptoms

Cleaning : First wash the bitten area with clean water or soapy water .

Cold compress : You can apply cold water or ice to the bitten area.

Keep your hands under control : Keep the bite clean and do not scratch it to avoid secondary infection.

Available drugs : If necessary, use antihistamines under the guidance of a doctor to relieve allergic reactions.

The marks left after being stung by red fire ants (Source: Guangzhou Daily)

Have a history of allergies or severe symptoms

If you experience more severe allergies, difficulty breathing, fever, dizziness and other symptoms, be sure to go to the hospital immediately for anti-allergic and local debridement treatments.

High energy warning ahead!

How to prevent the notorious red fire ants?

Learn to Identify Red Fire Ant Nests

Pay attention to the terrain. Red fire ants have a more obvious characteristic, which is that they can build ant nests. When you see a small pile of soft soil on the grass that looks like an arched sandbag, don't step on it , as it is likely a nest of red fire ants.

Be prepared for ants

When going out, you should try to wear long pants, long sleeves, high-waisted shoes and long socks . If necessary, you can wear rain boots to prevent red fire ants from biting exposed skin or crawling on your body.

Keep it clean

Avoid eating outdoors or leaving food on the ground, as food is likely to attract red fire ants. Keeping the environment clean can effectively reduce the presence of red fire ants.

When doing outdoor activities

Wear long shirts and long pants as much as possible

Once you are bitten by a mosquito

Urgent measures should be taken immediately

If you experience any discomfort

Seek medical attention promptly

Source: National Emergency Broadcasting, Metropolitan Times, CCTV.com, Science Popularization China, Guangdong Disease Control, Dajiang.com