Wasmannia auropunctata,_ also referred to as the electric or little fire ant, is a small, golden-brown ant species native to Central and South America.

It has made its way to five continents, including North America. In warmer regions, it invades the wild, outcompeting native ants, preying on native insects and sometimes small animals. The ant can disrupt ecosystems by reducing populations of native species. It’s been called one of the top 100 worst invasive species on the planet, because of the widespread ecological damage it causes.

Its bites are painful, described as feeling like an electric shock or burn, hence their nicknames.

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The ants are also an agricultural menace. By protecting agricultural pests like aphids from natur

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