Tiny Venomous Ant From China Spreads Through U.S.

A small but dangerous ant native to China is spreading through the United States, and public health officials are watching it closely. The Asian needle ant, known to scientists as Brachyponera chinensis, has now been documented in more than a dozen states, with sightings stretching from the Southeast into the mid-Atlantic and as far north as New England.

The species earns its name from a thin, pointed body and a sharp sting that injects venom strong enough to cause severe allergic reactions in some people. Most stings produce only mild swelling. A small percentage of victims experience anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening without treatment.

From Cargo Holds to Backyards: How This Ant Took Over the Eastern U.S.

The Asian needle ant is believed to have arrived in the United States in the early 1900s through shipments of plants, soil, and timber. For decades it remained obscure, often overshadowed by the more visible imported fire ant. That changed as the species began outcompeting native ants, displacing fire ants in some forested habitats and appearing in suburban yards.

Researchers at the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and university extension offices have been mapping the spread, and the picture is not reassuring. Cases have been confirmed in Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Alabama, Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. Climate models suggest the ant will continue expanding north as winters warm.