Overview
- Researchers and agencies report the invasive ant across roughly 20 states, with heavy presence in the Southeast and detections as far north as New York and Wisconsin.
- The USDA says stings cause intense pain and can trigger anaphylaxis, and Georgia documented three fatal reactions in 2024.
- The species pushes out native ants that move seeds, which risks long‑term damage to forest understory plants.
- Colonies hide under stones, rotting wood and mulch rather than in mounds, and a 2025 study linked community mulch piles to local spread.
- There is no proven eradication method, so experts recommend protein baits for control, gloves during yard work and cleaning up rotten wood and landscape debris.