Invasive species are never a welcome sight anywhere. After all, who WOULD be excited upon learning that critters more than capable of thriving in Indiana and, as a result, decimating native flora and fauna, have arrived? Other times, instead of total decimation, they bring threats that did not previously exist to the table, like the likelihood of a severe bite with truly nasty consequences, much like the invasive little beast we’re going to cover today. It’s a species of invasive ants in Indiana causing a lot more problems than the ants we’re all used to. It’s called the Asian Needle Ant, and it’s been detected in Evansville this year – which means it will soon be everywhere… if it isn’t already.

Indiana is a lovely state without a huge number of dangerous insects.

Greg Derylo/Flickr Sure, we have a few, like brown recluse spiders and “cow-killer” wasps, but even those aren’t as creepy-crawly-scary as the Asian Needle Ant.

The needle ant is unique in many ways; firstly, unlike most species of ants, they’re more than happy to live in and establish nests inside homes, which places them a lot closer to us than we like to think about.

trevorklatko/Flickr It’s even more damning if the house has termites, as termites are a favorite snack for this tiny terror.

The ant poses multiple threats to the unfortunate souls who may happen upon it.

Animal Diversity Web/Flickr Its sting - not its bite, its sting - is venomous, not to mention intensely, horrifically painful. Its venom is incredibly potent, and you have a much higher risk of having a bad reaction to it than to, say, the average bee sting.

Unlike other ants that decide to invade your kitchen during the summer months, you won’t see the Asian Needle Ant munching on crumbs on the floor.

Animal Diversity Web/Flickr No, these insidious little monsters prefer to hide out of the sight of humans - though they are more than happy to apply several brutal stings to anyone who happens upon them even by accident.

Finally, these little guys are incredibly dangerous to ants and insects native to the Hoosier State.

harum.koh/Flickr They can - and will - outcompete other ants for food and resources, and they’ve been known to take over entire nests, slaughtering the residents before taking control.

Indiana is beautiful. Its amazing outdoors well-worth exploring.

Kelly Verdeck/Flickr But when you head out, always make sure to wear protective pants and boots. You do NOT want to suffer a sting from an Asian Needle Ant; it will be one of the most painful, unpleasant experiences of your life. Oh… and check your house, too. Everywhere you don’t normally touch or attend to is on the menu for the Needle Ant.

What do you think? Are you going to keep an eye out for these invasive ants in Indiana? To learn more about these itty-bitty terrors, check out this fascinating write-up from North Carolina State.

Greg Derylo/Flickr

Sure, we have a few, like brown recluse spiders and “cow-killer” wasps, but even those aren’t as creepy-crawly-scary as the Asian Needle Ant.

trevorklatko/Flickr

It’s even more damning if the house has termites, as termites are a favorite snack for this tiny terror.

Animal Diversity Web/Flickr

Its sting - not its bite, its sting - is venomous, not to mention intensely, horrifically painful. Its venom is incredibly potent, and you have a much higher risk of having a bad reaction to it than to, say, the average bee sting.

No, these insidious little monsters prefer to hide out of the sight of humans - though they are more than happy to apply several brutal stings to anyone who happens upon them even by accident.

harum.koh/Flickr

They can - and will - outcompete other ants for food and resources, and they’ve been known to take over entire nests, slaughtering the residents before taking control.

Kelly Verdeck/Flickr

But when you head out, always make sure to wear protective pants and boots. You do NOT want to suffer a sting from an Asian Needle Ant; it will be one of the most painful, unpleasant experiences of your life. Oh… and check your house, too. Everywhere you don’t normally touch or attend to is on the menu for the Needle Ant.

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