Electric Fire Ants
MYSTERY BITES
When I first arrived in Costa Rica I wasted no time in looking for a low tree branch, monkey bars, random playground equipment or a metal carpet beater that could be used as a crude pull-up bar. Luckily (or not so luckily) I found a great big Mango tree right outside my accommodation. A small branch extended slightly overhead, too low to be of a perfect height but high and wide enough to serve the purpose – I would just have to bend my knees a bit to keep myself off the ground.
THE BITE & PAIN
But a strange thing would happen – after each workout the skin of my upper body turned red and a painful, and a nagging sensation pulsed through the affected areas for half an hour, sometimes longer. The red blotches were several centimeters wide with a very rough oval shape.
This was not limited to the mango tree workouts – similar issue started to arise after brushing against certain plants around the property. Thinking it must be a reaction to a plant toxin or some kind of irritation I tried my best to ignore the strange red blotches, pain and itching. Yet the problem relentlessly persisted.
MYSTERY IS SOLVED
The mystery was solved on a hot day when, covered in sweat from the afternoon sun I decided to bust out a set of push-ups to failure. I walked to the outside patio shirtless and completed the pushups, hitting the floor with exhaustion. I stood up and almost immediately experienced the familiar pain. Looking down at my torso, everything became clear: dozens of tiny ants, nearly invisible, were stuck to my skin – and I could see they were stinging me. I brushed them off and, as happens, my skin turned red with the familiar blotches. The culprit has been identified!
I walked to the Mango tree and, unsurprising, noticed that the tiny ants were using my pullup branch as a highway. Hundreds could be seen walking across the branch in opposite directions – so every time I used the branch to exercise, I was knocking dozens of them right onto my body. Luckily, there is a second branch right beside the infected one and it is clear of ants – so this became my new pullup station.
ELECTRIC FIRE ANTS
A quick search revealed the culprit. These ants go by many names: Little Fire Ant, Electric Ant, or Little Electric Fire Ant. They have a nasty reputation. The species is Wasmannia auropunctata. Each ant measures just 1 to 2 millimetres. Their light brown color helps them blend in. They come from South and Central America. Now they spread worldwide as invasive pests.
Their name fits. They deliver a strong sting for their size. They often bite in packs, which makes it worse. Some say the pain lasts for hours. In my case, it fades after 30 minutes. Still, I feel it on and off for hours—especially after multiple bites.
STRANGE ATTRACTION
One theory links the name to electricity. These ants follow electric fields. When one gets shocked, it releases a chemical signal. That signal draws more ants to the spot. Scientists proved this in lab tests. You also see it in real life. Ants clog electric gates. One gets shocked, more arrive, and soon a pile blocks the system. I saw this in our bodega. I unplugged the water heater and found dozens of ant bodies jammed into the grounding hole.
FLOATING MATS OF PAIN
I learned the hard way. These ants fall into the pool but don’t drown. They float on the surface and wait. Anyone who jumps in without checking gets bitten. I now spray the surface with a garden hose. That breaks the tension and sends them packing. Then I run the pool filter. It works well, but a few stragglers always remain—ready to sting.
ANNOYING NOMADS
Electric Fire Ants live under rocks and leaf litter. They don’t build underground colonies like other ants. They also hide in homes, wardrobes, carpets, and other indoor spaces. Stay alert. These ants don’t harm humans, but they may cause blindness in animals. Cats, dogs, cows, and horses can develop a condition called Florida Keratopathy.
Dead ants pile up in brown heaps around walls and corners. Still, their numbers keep growing. I hope the wet season will flush them out. For now, we live with them and take small precautions. I still get bitten under the Mango tree, but the new branch cut the bites from dozens to just one or two.
We live in the jungle, and the jungle is full of creatures. The macaws, monkeys, toucans, brilliant butterflies and colorful tree frogs share the forests with the kinds of creatures we would like to forget, like these little stinging ants. But the balance of nature must be understood and every animal has a role to play. The ants can be a nuisance, but their presence does make our life interesting! Life in the jungle is full of natural wonder – if you would like to experience it first-hand, it all starts with an email or phone call to RE/MAX We Sell Paradise – or maybe you want to start by browsing our library of hundreds of hot area properties?
