The Asian needle ant is native to Asia, given its name, but has been established in the Southeastern U.S. since 1932, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

The pest is present in Georgia, as well as in other Southeastern states along the Eastern Seaboard.

“We are now considering it a medically important pest,” said Dan Suiter, an Orkin distinguished professor of Urban Entomology at the University of Georgia.

Ants are typically seen as a nuisance, especially when they invade homes or businesses. But the Asian needle ant poses a more serious threat – one that goes beyond inconvenience.

“It gets a little bit more serious when the sting of an insect can be life-threatening to people who suffer anaphylaxis,” Suiter said.

In addition to serving as an Orkin professor of entomology at UGA, Suiter is also an extension entomologist, working closely with homeowners and pest control professionals to identify various insect species.

In 2024, Suiter said he received three calls from people who suffered anaphylaxis after a sting from an Asian needle ant.

The professor said when he starts seeing trends like this, it starts getting attention.

Suiter said the Asian needle ant isn’t aggressive by nature, but it will sting if it gets under your clothing.

If someone gets stung by an Asian needle ant and suffers symptoms such as the ones listed below, they may experience anaphylaxis, according to the USDA.

There’s no scientific way to predict who will experience anaphylaxis after an Asian needle ant sting and who won’t.

Suiter said if you’ve reacted adversely to another insect’s sting, like a yellow jacket or a honeybee, and carry an Epipen at doctor’s recommendation, you should be aware of the Asian needle ant.

Asian needle ants live in logs or firewood, but they can also be found under stones and within leaf litter.

Suiter said if you’ve reacted adversely to another insect’s sting, like a yellow jacket or a honeybee, and carry an Epipen at doctor’s recommendation, you should be aware of the Asian needle ant.

Suiter said the ants love hardwood environments.

They’re very small, only about three-sixteenths of an inch, according to Suiter. Their peak activity is in the summer months, mainly in July and August.

He said the ants stick to the ground and don’t trail like other ants. They walk chaotically and typically are alone.

“This critter kind of wanders around,” Suiter said. “It looks lost.”

He stressed the importance of having the Asian needle ant properly identified by an entomologist.

“You can collect it, get a picture of it,” Suiter said. “Send it to an extension agent.”

He said your nearest university extension agent can get it to an entomologist to be identified.