Many people find Azteca ants colonies in large trees which can be dangerous for humans. Their scientific name is Liometopum xanthochroum, and has 13 different types.
Are Azteca Ants Dangerous? Azteca ants are dangerous due to their aggressive behavior, are carnivores, affect immune-compromised people, have challenging colony control, and are territorially dominant.
They live in colonies and cause painful rashes on human skin. You can find them on the Cecropia trees because they have a symbiotic relationship with this tree.
Why are Azteca ants dangerous?
Their bite is non-toxic because of their harmless bites. These are dangerous for humans, trees, and insects due to the following reasons.
Aggressive behavior
Azteca ants are aggressive towards humans because they do not like interruption in their nests. They make nests in Cecropia trees and protect their colonies.
However, they attack humans when they touch their nests. Humans are a significant threat to these ants, and they come in attack position instantly.
They are aggressive according to their standard nature. In such circumstances, they bite the human skin and irritate it.
Their bites cause painful rashes on the skin. They attack humans to defend their colonies and nests.
You cannot touch their colonies because it threatens them, and they start biting. They are naturally aggressive, which makes them dangerous for all individuals.
Also, they grab the skin and release formic acid, which causes allergic reactions.
Predators of other insects
They are carnivores and predators of different insects. They can eat all the insects that enter their nests. Also, these ants attack and bite these insects to kill them.
Their favorite insect is beetles, and they depend on them. Azteca ants are predators of those insects which eat Cecropia trees.
They have specific predatory techniques and particular skills. Also, they can kill, grab and eat these insects within minutes and are dangerous for their colonies.
They can eat adult and fully grown insects through predatory techniques and specific skills. They grab the adult and fully grown beetles that live on specific trees.
Also, they can kill these beetles and eat them because they are carnivores and predators of insects.
Affect immune-compromised people
These ants are dangerous for immune-compromised people because they bite and cause infections. Their bites produce painful rashes on the skin.
Furthermore, fungus and microbiomes surround their nests. The immune-compromised individuals cannot touch these nests because it leads to sudden infection.
They can cause painful infections and allergies in people with compromised immune systems. These people are susceptible to more infections and allergies because their bodies cannot fight against their bites.
However, their bite is non-toxic because they do not have a stinger. But, they can cause fungal and bacterial infections in people with low immunity.
Challenging colony control
You can find several Azteca ant colonies on the Cecropia tree. They live and survive in territories according to their natural behavior.
Their colony size varies according to the tree size and their growth. They protect their nests and colonies from external attackers.
As a result, their colonies grow fast and safely. They have specific nests with 11 to 13 queens according to their living style.
These queens have more strength to fight against external individuals and insects. They scatter when you break their nest.
Their colonies spread, and you cannot kill or control them. They are dangerous because their colony control is challenging after their scattering.
In such circumstances, they bite more people and animals and cause painful skin rashes.
Territorial dominant
These ants are territorial dominant and protect their living area. A territory is their specific living space where they survive without fear.
They protect their territory and do not like the interference of other insects. Furthermore, they bite and kill the insects which enter their nests and disturb their colonies.
Also, they enter the territories of other insects and show their specific behavior. They kill those insects on their territories because they have a dominant behavior.
In addition, they can make their nests in their territories and survive.
How to get rid of Azteca ants?
You can get rid of Azteca ants with different techniques. They have several colonies which can threaten and affect people.
In such circumstances, you can sprinkle borax around their nests. Borax is dangerous and toxic for these ants.
The borax can break down their digestive system. You can sprinkle it directly on their colonies.
Also, making a circle of borax powder around the Cecropia tree reduces their growth.
However, borax has a slow mechanism of action and can kill them in 1 to 2 days. The time varies according to their numbers and colonies.
You can remove them by using peppermint plants. Peppermint has a specific odor that repels them.
You can utilize the essential oil of peppermint to kill them within hours. Also, mixing a few drops of this oil with water is better for repelling them.
Then, you can directly spray it on their colonies. Growing a lemon plant is better near their nests.
Lemon has a specific odor that repels them. Also, it prevents their growth on the Cecropia trees.
You can cut a lemon and peel it to expose its inner part. Squeezing lemon on them can kill them within hours.
Also, lemon juice can break down their colonies, and its smell is repellent for them.
How to identify Azteca ants?
Azteca ants have a size of less than 3 mm (0.11 inches). They are orange-brown with dominant orange color on the head.
Furthermore, their antenna is 12 segmented and is 1/3 of the total length. They have specific funicular with 2 to 3 segments.
The first and second funicular has barrel shape. Their 3rd and 4th funiculars have specific segments with straight shapes.
Furthermore, they have abundant hair on their bodies, which makes their identification easy. They move in colonies and have orange-brown bodies which make them distinct.
You can identify them through their large-sized segment antennas. However, their nectar is not toxic for people and animals.
Queen Azteca ants have large bodies and more power because they are workers. They protect a similar nest or colony from humans and other predators.
They are insect predators and aggressively respond to humans and beetles and bite when threatened.
Their larvae have a transparent or yellow appearance. They shed their skin 3 to 4 times during their growth.
Their larvae can eat liquid and solid food while growing into adults.
Do Azteca ants sting?
Many ants sting because they have a specific stinger. However, Azteca ants do not sting because they bite.
Their bites are painful, which leads to various skin allergies. They use their specific jaws to bite the human skin.
Also, they can bite other insects through the pinchers and jaws. They can bite aggressively and cause various infections.
Furthermore, they bite when humans threaten them or disturb their colonies. Their pinchers are sharp to grab your skin.
They release formic acid from the jaws, which enters the skin and causes irritation and pain. They do not comprise stingers for attacking humans and other insects.
Therefore, they are non-poisonous because their nectar is harmless. However, it can cause pain and severe irritation on the spot of the bite.
What do Azteca ants eat?
Azteca ants live inside the stems and trunks of the Cecropia trees. However, it is a particular tree that produces a substance.
The animals produce glycogen that comprises excessive energy. Furthermore, they eat this glycogen and plant-produced protein-containing material because they are carnivores.
Cecropia produces particular nectar and is one of their favorite food items. In addition, they protect the tree and kill the dangerous insects.
Their food includes Cecropia-eating insects. Also, they eat beetles and other insects. Their biting skills can make the insects helpless, and the ants eat them within hours according to their body size.
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