Do ants bite?

Ants do bite, and getting bit by fire ants can be particularly painful. Carpenter ants can also bite if they feel their nests are being attacked. They will bite out of self-defense, and these ants also spray formic acid into the bite to increase the pain and irritation.

Fire ant bites (also called stings, even though these ants to not have stingers) are especially painful. When fire ants swarm a person and bite, the victim may need medical attention. Symptoms of a fire ant bite include swelling of the bite site, itching and pain. The bites often resemble a rash and can linger up to a week.