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Bit by an alate?

Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2016 12:08 am
by dinoman9877
Earlier today, I got into my car to head to my classes when I noticed I had a winged hitchhiker. Now the thing was small, and flying around quickly, and I didn't get a good chance to look at it because, well, watch the road, not the bug.

It looked an awful lot like an ant though, and I think it was a male, could have sworn I saw a thin abdomen. He was trying to use me as a landing pad so I shook and swatted. A few minutes later, I felt an itch below my wrist and, lo and behold, I had a bug bite.

So do even the alates bite if they feel threatened?

Re: Bit by an alate?

Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2016 7:08 am
by Jacco2010
dinoman9877 wrote:Earlier today, I got into my car to head to my classes when I noticed I had a winged hitchhiker. Now the thing was small, and flying around quickly, and I didn't get a good chance to look at it because, well, watch the road, not the bug.

It looked an awful lot like an ant though, and I think it was a male, could have sworn I saw a thin abdomen. He was trying to use me as a landing pad so I shook and swatted. A few minutes later, I felt an itch below my wrist and, lo and behold, I had a bug bite.

So do even the alates bite if they feel threatened?
Your days are numbered...




(This is a joke, obviously. I don't actually know)

Re: Bit by an alate?

Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2016 8:38 am
by Batspiderfish
You're thinking about a sting, in the case of an ant/wasp, and a bite in the case of a fly. Male ants can do neither.

Re: Bit by an alate?

Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2016 9:15 am
by Martialis
Batspiderfish wrote:You're thinking about a sting, in the case of an ant/wasp, and a bite in the case of a fly. Male ants can do neither.
Most of the time. My crematogaster queen bit me.

Re: Bit by an alate?

Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2016 9:26 am
by Batspiderfish
Yeah, ants can bite, but unless it is a leaf-cutter/Camponotus major or Polyergus, a bite is barely going to be noticeable. A sting is what would leave a mark like that.

Re: Bit by an alate?

Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2016 3:23 pm
by Martialis
Batspiderfish wrote:Yeah, ants can bite, but unless it is a leaf-cutter/Camponotus major or Polyergus, a bite is barely going to be noticeable. A sting is what would leave a mark like that.
To me, I barely notice Camponotus bites. They tickle. :lol:

Re: Bit by an alate?

Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2016 3:24 pm
by dinoman9877
I think I'd know if I've been stung. I mean it was like a mosquito bite, just an itchiness that made itself known after a bit. But there was no mosquitos, just this little thing that looked awfully like an ant.

Re: Bit by an alate?

Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2018 5:49 pm
by AntsDakota
dinoman9877 wrote:
Tue Sep 20, 2016 12:08 am
Earlier today, I got into my car to head to my classes when I noticed I had a winged hitchhiker. Now the thing was small, and flying around quickly, and I didn't get a good chance to look at it because, well, watch the road, not the bug.

It looked an awful lot like an ant though, and I think it was a male, could have sworn I saw a thin abdomen. He was trying to use me as a landing pad so I shook and swatted. A few minutes later, I felt an itch below my wrist and, lo and behold, I had a bug bite.

So do even the alates bite if they feel threatened?
My Camponotus queen bit me and.... Owwwwww

Re: Bit by an alate?

Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2018 12:38 pm
by AntsDakota
Martialis wrote:
Tue Sep 20, 2016 3:23 pm
Batspiderfish wrote:Yeah, ants can bite, but unless it is a leaf-cutter/Camponotus major or Polyergus, a bite is barely going to be noticeable. A sting is what would leave a mark like that.
To me, I barely notice Camponotus bites. They tickle. :lol:
Camponotus pennsylvanicus bites hurt, and the other Camponotus species around my house just tickles.

Re: Bit by an alate?

Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2018 5:33 am
by antnest8
Batspiderfish wrote:
Tue Sep 20, 2016 9:26 am
Yeah, ants can bite, but unless it is a leaf-cutter/Camponotus major or Polyergus, a bite is barely going to be noticeable.
When i went to coasta rica 3 years ago i accidentally stepped on a leaf cutter trail. A median bit me and when i looked down i had a nice sizable cut on my toe