These Painful Stinging Ants Are Now in 20 States—Is Michigan Next?

Did you know there are more ants on Earth than stars in the Milky Way? It’s true. Scientists estimate there are around 20 quadrillion ants crawling around the planet.

Most of them are harmless, but one invasive species with a nasty sting is spreading fast and getting uncomfortably close to Michigan.

With that many ants crawling around, it’s hard to believe there’s a species that hasn’t made its way into the state yet. Let’s hope it stays that way, because these suckers are nasty.

This Painful-Stinging Ant Is Spreading Fast Across the U.S.

The species we’re talking about is the Asian needle ant. While the name might sound harmless, it’s anything but.

According to WESH, native to China, Japan, North and South Korea, Asian needle ants have established themselves throughout the Southeast and along the East Coast in roughly 17-20 states, including Indiana and Ohio. They’ve been plotting total domination since they were first discovered in Georgia roughly 100 years ago.

Okay, so what’s so dangerous about these tiny little creatures?

Alright, here’s the deal. These little guys don’t just bite, they sting. And their sting hurts like crazy. We’re talking sharp, burning pain that can last for hours. For most people, it’s just super annoying and painful, but for some, it can trigger serious allergic reactions that send them straight to the ER. Yeah, these ants aren’t messing around.

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While they’re not in Michigan yet, it’s only a matter of time before these nasty little ants show up.