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Red fire ants may be native to South America, but recently they have been wreaking havoc in Australia. After torrential rains caused huge colonies of red fire ants to head above ground, there has been a dramatic spike in the number of people hospitalized with bites.
Although most people have a mild reaction to red fire ant bites and can treat their symptoms at home, some people have a (much) more serious reaction. Curious? Check out this gallery to find out more.
In March 2025, the number of people stung by red fire ants has increased significantly in Australia.
According to national broadcaster ABC, over 20 people have required hospital treatment since the beginning of March 2025.
Red fire ants are originally from South America, but people in the state of Queensland, in northeastern Australia, have been battling them for years.
Now the number of attacks on people has exploded, as torrential rains have caused the insects to move above ground and build rafts to move to new areas.
Red fire ant bites are painful and itchy, and, in rare cases, they can cause a life-threatening reaction in humans.
Red fire ants are small insects that range from one millimeter to five millimeters in size. They have six legs and two pinching mandibles that protrude from their heads.
As previously mentioned, red fire ants are native to South America. However, they have been imported to various countries worldwide and are a very invasive species.
In general, red fire ants live in large numbers in nests or colonies under the ground. They tend to lash out and bite when someone accidentally steps on their nest.
When a red fire ant bites you, it first attaches its mandibles to your skin. It then curves back and inserts its stinger, injecting venom.
Red fire ants can sting multiple times at once, and they generally will do so unless you kill them or remove them from your skin.
Since March 1, 2025, the National Fire Ant Eradication Program has received at least 60 reports of extreme reactions to fire ant stings.
All those 60 some people required medical attention, and over 20 of them had to hospitalized while they were treated for their bites.
One construction worker told ABC Rural, for example, that his feet were covered in sores after repeated fire ant bites.
Another Queensland local reported that she had found her puppy dead on top of a fire ant nest.
In a bid to deal with the outbreak, the Queensland state government has announced that it will invest AU$24 million (US$15 million) in fire ant suppression measures.
If you think you may have been bitten by a fire ant, there is a progression of symptoms to look out for. First, you will experience a burning or stinging sensation.
Then, within about an hour, itchy bumps or welts will develop. These generally appear in a circular or semi-circular pattern.
After several hours, blisters will start to develop where the bumps were located. They are generally very itchy.
About a day or so later, those blisters will start to fill with a yellow or white pus-like fluid. They tend to stick around for seven to 10 days.
As we have seen in the Australian news reports, some people have a more serious reaction to stings from these insects. Serious reactions can be local, systemic, or anaphylactic.
A local reaction involves symptoms in the same region of your body that the bites appear, but extending beyond the initial bite location.
For example, a single sting in your ankle may cause swelling in your entire lower leg. Local reactions tend to last a couple of days.
A systemic reaction is when your whole body reacts to the sting. Symptoms can include stomach cramps, diarrhea, and/or trouble breathing and swallowing.
In rare cases, fire ant bites can cause anaphylaxis, which is a severe and life-threatening allergic reaction.
Symptoms of anaphylaxis include dizziness, a drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness, and/or cardiac arrest.
It is usually quite easy to diagnose a red fire ant bite based on the skin’s appearance during the first few hours, as well as characteristic symptoms.
Mild bites are usually treatable at home using a combination of antihistamines, hydrocortisone cream, and cold compresses.
However, more serious reactions may require other treatments such as oral corticosteroids, or even emergency medical treatment, such as IV antihistamines.
As a rule, it is best not to pop the blisters that appear as the result of a red fire ant bite, since doing so can increase the risk of scarring.
Bear in mind, too, that if the blisters break, they may become infected and require treatment using antibiotics.
Sources: (CNN) (Cleveland Clinic)
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Red fire ants and health: the alarming rise in hospital cases
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HEALTH Stings
Red fire ants may be native to South America, but recently they have been wreaking havoc in Australia. After torrential rains caused huge colonies of red fire ants to head above ground, there has been a dramatic spike in the number of people hospitalized with bites.
Although most people have a mild reaction to red fire ant bites and can treat their symptoms at home, some people have a (much) more serious reaction. Curious? Check out this gallery to find out more.