Red ant sting - feelings?

In the Southern US we have fire ants and their sting can be quite painful - a sharp burning sensation, not quite up to the level of a honey bee sting. However, it's rare to be stung by only one - they're very aggressive and tend to attack by quickly swarming the victim. Multiple stings are typical. It can be life threatening if the victim is allergic.

I've felt a period of numbness once the pain subsides, but not for more than a day. The following day the spot is red and sore to the touch and a blister can rise. Within a few days the spot can itch (sometimes intensely, but scratching it makes it worse) but by then you know it's healing. Some folks are more sensitive to the stings and the healing process can take longer.

I've been bitten by fire ants too... never just one. No numbness. LOTS of burning. Iron mike describes it well. They don't sting, they bite. They are, by the way, small black ants. I don't know about red ants.

Fire ants have caused burning pain and various other unpleasant sensations, but I've never felt numbness after being bitten by them.

I agree. I don't know why people associate fire ant stings with numbness. Some may compare the swarm of bites or stings to the sensation of, say, your foot falling asleep. Just a lot more painful.

Fire ants bite the hell out of you. And it hurts. A lot. I would never associate the word 'numb' withe the feelings that come after. It's more of a 'burning' sensation. Lingering. Painful.

ironmikezero said:

In the Southern US we have fire ants and their sting can be quite painful - a sharp burning sensation, not quite up to the level of a honey bee sting. However, it's rare to be stung by only one - they're very aggressive and tend to attack by quickly swarming the victim. Multiple stings are typical. It can be life threatening if the victim is allergic.

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Ah, the Solenopsis Boogie: The dance someone does when they find that fire ants have swarmed up his jeans and he's scrambling to drop his drawers to get the ants off him. Funny as hell when it's not you.

As others have said, I don't recall any numbness after being bitten. Black flies, however, would sometimes make my lips go numb when they bit them, but never ants.

Interestingly, I've known a few people to get bitten by a sole fireant at the edge of a mound. I was one and it stung like someone shot a hot iron deep under the skin and instantly electrified it. No numbness. Big scar.

I don't remember ever feeling 'numbness' after fire ant bites. Stinging, itching, burning sensations, but never numbness.