The weather is getting hotter
Outdoors, all kinds of bugs are active
If you're not careful, you'll get stung
And some bugs are extremely aggressive
A sting can even be fatal!
The woman was bitten several times
The wound was sore and itchy
Recently, Ms. Xia from Hubei
Walking in the neighborhood in slippers
The community is rich in greenery
She was accidentally stung in her right leg by a red fire ant
Then went out a few times
Even though she was wearing socks and trousers
But it's still one after another
Bitten on the left leg, ankle and back of the hand
Ms. Xia described it this way
How I feel after being stung by a red fire ant
↓↓↓
"On the night of the bite, it was red, swollen and hot, bulging up the size of a palm, like another knee on the leg, and it itched so much that I couldn't sleep at all.
Later, during that time, the process of blood scabs and scratching was repeated, and it was not only itchy but also painful. At the worst time, the scalp is numb and the whole person is dizzy.
It's been a month and a half now, and it's not completely healed, and the bite area is still itchy. "
Wounds after being stung by red fire ants. Source: Courtesy of the interviewee
Ms. Xia also said
I will use a hair dryer to blow hot air
to relieve itchy skin
But the effect is short-lived, and in the end, it can only be boiled
↓↓↓
"Being bitten by a red fire ant once is 'fatal', not to mention that I have been bitten several times in a row, and now I still have marks everywhere on my body."
Marks left after being stung by red fire ants. Source: Courtesy of the interviewee
How scary are red fire ants?
Red fire ants are aggressive
In severe cases, it can lead to shock and even death
Red fire ants, native to South America, are reddish-brown in color and resemble common ants in appearance, about 3 mm to 6 mm long. It has been described as "recognized as one of the 100 most dangerous invasive species in the world" and has been listed as a national agricultural, forestry and phytosanitary pest.
According to reports, red fire ants can threaten the health and even life safety of humans and animals. Red fire ants are very prone to high-density colonies in newly invaded areas, and once a person or livestock steps on an anthill, they will dump out of their nests and crawl on their bodies in swarms to bite.
Unlike ordinary ants, red fire ants are very aggressive. When a red fire ant stings, it will bite the skin with the upper jaw forceps, pierce and release venom with a tail needle, and the sting will have a burning pain, followed by redness, swelling and suppuration, and a few people will be severely allergic to the protein in the venom, and will have fever, temporary blindness, vomiting, shock and even death.
Wary! Dangerous!
October 2020
A young man in Nanning, Guangxi, was curious
Kicked the arched ant's nest
Being bitten by red fire ants can cause systemic allergies
Recently, Shixing County, Shaoguan, Guangdong
A man comes home to visit a grave
Accidentally bitten by red fire ants
On the spot, the limbs were weak and it was difficult to walk
Fortunately, it was found by the passing town and village cadres
The man was in shock when he was taken to the hospital
Fortunately, the rescue was timely
Now the man has recovered and returned to work
Diagram
There are almost no natural predators on the mainland
Invaded 12 provinces
The biggest feature of red fire ants is their nests, which often appear in grass, farmland, wasteland, roadsides, parks and other places, and pile up the fine particles of soil chips dug from the ground into mound-like ant nests, which are honeycomb-shaped inside, while the nests of ordinary ants will not rise; If you peel off the surface, there will be many dark red ants gushing out, large and small, among which the large is a soldier ant, and the small one is a worker ant, all of which can bite and sting.
Nest morphology of red fire ants in the wild. Source: Xinhua News Agency
Some netizens said that they had also found the nest of red fire ants by the lake↑
Red fire ants are extremely fecundive, the number of individuals in a mature ant nest can reach hundreds of thousands, and an ant nest often has multiple queens, each queen ant can lay thousands of eggs per day, and ant mounds can be built on the ground in a short time, which has a great competitive advantage in the ecosystem, and has almost no natural enemies in the mainland.
According to the statistics released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, in 2016, red fire ants invaded 281 counties (cities and districts) in 11 provinces, and by 2023, the data will change to 625 counties (cities and districts) in 12 provinces, and 344 counties (cities and districts) will be newly invaded in 7 years, and its spread rate is still very fast.
Hit a small mound like this on the side of the road
Be sure to stay away
Experts remind
At present, the red fire ant has entered the active stage
If you find a nest of red fire ants around your home
Try to walk around and avoid being near the nest
It is also recommended to report to the Department of Gardens and Forestry immediately
by the relevant technical department
or professional prevention and control institutions and companies to prevent and remove
The nest of red fire ants is relatively easy to identify, generally 30 cm ~ 40 cm high, and it is easy to highlight after rain
Other than that
A red fire ant bite should not be taken lightly
If the degree is mild
It can be handled like this
↓↓↓
(1) Wash the bite area with water or soapy water;
(2) Apply cold compresses to the bitten area with cold water or ice;
(3) Pay attention to keep the bite wound clean, and do not scratch it with your hands to avoid secondary infection;
(4) If necessary, use the corresponding medicine under the guidance of a doctor to relieve allergic reactions.
If there is a history of allergies
or those who have a more severe reaction after being bitten
It's important to get to the hospital quickly
Anti-allergy and local debridement are performed
However, rest assured
Red fire ants are less likely to be found in residents' homes
The most seen is
Small yellow house ants, rhombic knot big-headed ants, Indian big-headed ants, etc
Little Yellow House Ant
Xiaofang reminds
Except for ants
Poisonous insects are active outdoors during this season
If you are accidentally bitten, you are susceptible to a variety of diseases
In severe cases, it can be life-threatening!
Put this away
The most complete insect control manual and how to deal with it
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Source: Yangtze River Daily, CCTV Finance, Guangzhou Daily, Jiupai News, Xinhua News Agency
Editor: Sheng Li (trainee)
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