# I think I just ate a few fire ants **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 20, 2004, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-just-ate-a-few-fire-ants/255951 "2004-07-20T04:58:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-just-ate-a-few-fire-ants/255951/1 "2004-07-20T04:58:05Z")
Returned home in a somewhat zombie-like state this eve. and poured myself a small plate of Chex Mix for sustenance while I perused the SDMB. About halfway through, looked down and realized that the damn fire ants had gotten to the bag before me. I probably gulped some down without noticing. Now, I know some people have had rather severe reactions to the bites (or is it stings?) of these creatures, so just wondering, have I perhaps done myself harm? If not, how many ants would I have to inadvertently consume before I should worry? Bonus question: How can I keep the little bastards out of my snacks? ---
**Author:** ![RandomLetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@RandomLetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandomLetters)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-just-ate-a-few-fire-ants/255951/2 "2004-07-20T05:25:22Z")
I wouldn’t worry too much - the hydrochloric acid in your stomach should take care of them. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-just-ate-a-few-fire-ants/255951/3 "2004-07-20T05:33:09Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > . Now, I know some people have had rather severe reactions to the bites (or is it stings?) of these creatures, so just wondering, have I perhaps done myself harm? If not, how many ants would I have to inadvertently consume before I should worry? Well…don’t eat any more :D. Really if you had been stung on the way down, you’d probably know it immediately. Since you ( presumably ) feeling fine, I’d just dump the chex and remember to look before you leap next time. The danger would most likely come from a sting to the tongue or in the throat that swelled badly enough to block the windpipe - _that_ would be VERY dangerous and life-threatening. I know a guy ( an idiot, actually ) that thought it would be neat to try sticking his tongue in an anemonae and very nearly expired as a result ( apparently the nematocysts that can’t penetrate the skin on your hand will get through a mucous membrane just jim-dandy ). As to avoiding them in the future - proper storage helps :). Don’t leave bowls of food sitting out if you have an ant problem. Or you could always resort to the method sometimes used by proper British families stationed in India - place the legs of your table on bowls of water, so they can’t make it over and climb up ( but beware bridging capable Army Ants 😉 ). - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-just-ate-a-few-fire-ants/255951/4 "2004-07-20T05:35:10Z")
That should be place the legs of your table IN bowls of water, obviously. Not that I think such a severe solution is usually warranted. - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-just-ate-a-few-fire-ants/255951/5 "2004-07-20T05:56:22Z")
Every year the city of Marshall, Texas holds a Fire Ant Festival. One of the highlights of this celebration is a chili cook-off, with a rather unusual rule: at least one fire ant must be included as an ingredient in each recipe. If nobody’s died at the festival yet, I guess it’s not deadly poison to eat a fire ant. Then again, one fire ant per mess of chili is a pretty low ratio. In any case, if you’re not dead yet, you’ll probably survive. ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Scene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Bob\_Scene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Scene)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-just-ate-a-few-fire-ants/255951/6 "2004-07-20T23:35:34Z")
If you did swallow any ants, it hurt them a lot worse than it hurt you.