Carpenter Ant Bites and Treatment

Why Carpenter Ants Bite

Carpenter ants are not aggressive toward people. They bite when they believe their colony is under attack. Most bites happen when someone moves firewood, breaks apart a rotting stump or opens a wall void where workers are nesting. In much of the state, the Florida carpenter ant is the species people run into most, and it is quick to defend its nest when bothered.

What a Carpenter Ant Bite Looks Like

Carpenter ants have no stinger. They bite with large, strong jaws built for shaping soft wood, so a bite feels like a hard, sudden pinch. Big workers can break the skin. Many carpenter ants can also spray formic acid from the tip of the abdomen into the bite, which adds a burning feeling that may linger after the pinch. The spot usually becomes a small red bump. Mild swelling and itching may last several days. Carpenter ants are not known to spread disease, and a bite hurts but is rarely dangerous. Unlike fire ant stings, these bites do not usually form white pustules.

Caring for a Carpenter Ant Bite

Brush off any ants still hanging on and step away from the nest. Wash the bite with soap and water. If the skin is broken, a thin layer of antibiotic ointment and a bandage help keep it clean. A cold pack wrapped in a cloth eases pain and swelling. Try not to scratch, since open skin can get infected. See a doctor if redness spreads or the area turns hot and painful, and get help right away for hives, facial swelling or trouble breathing.