Brachyponera chinensis (Asian needle ant)

Introduction

• small, shiny, dark brown to black
• end of the antennae & legs are lighter orange-brown
• workers are ~0.2 inches in length.

Epidemiology

• native to China, Korea & Japan
• invasive species in U.S.
  • eastern & south eastern states, Washington state, Wisconsin
  • invasion may be boosted by climate change

Pathology

• envenomation results in:
  • intense pain at the site of the sting that comes & goes over the course of several hours
  • some people experience pain away from the sting site
  • erythema & urticaria reported as symptoms
  • anaphylaxis can occur ;

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Management

• epinephrine for anaphylaxis (see epinephrine or Ana-Kit)
• local reactions treated with antihistamines & cool compresses
  • topical glucocorticoids may be useful
  • oral prednisone in severe cases

More general terms

• Formicidae (ant)