Phobias are constant, irrational fears that afflict some people. Their fear should be taken seriously. The person should never be made fun of or belittled because of their fear. But as writers, we can bless (or curse) our characters with phobias and make the story so much more interesting.
ants, wikipedia.org
What happens if someone encounters the object of his fear? Dread, nausea, or breathlessness could be experienced. The person could sweat excessively or lose the ability to think or speak clearly. Control could be lost and she could become angry. Detachment from reality is always a possibility, as is a full-blown anxiety attack.
Ants are everywhere. Okay, almost everywhere. Unless you live in Antarctica, you have to deal with their presence. There are a few places that don’t have any native ant species, but thanks to how the world is connected through air travel, ants now live in them.
Myrmecophobia is the fear of ants. A person could fear ants crawling all over his or her body and being bitten by them. I can understand that. Or the fear could be that his or her food supply will be contaminated by ants. I can even kind of understand that one. Some people with this phobia can’t even look at pictures of ant without freaking out really bad. And there is no way that one afflicted with myrmecophobia could watch a movie about ants or a show in which ants are featured.
Is there any reason that people would be so afraid of such a tiny creature? I mean, you can easily step on ant and squash it, so why be afraid of one?
Bulldog Ants
There is only one place in the world where this ginormous species of ant if found: Australia.
One of the most venomous ants in the world, this ant is a dark reddish brown color. On its abdomen, there is a metallic blue or green sheen. A worker ant is 15mm to 21mm long. A queen is 19mm to 23mm long.
Its diet consists of small animals and other breeds of ants. They have teeth, so chewing wouldn’t be a problem.
Their nests are usually built underground in sandy soil, or they could be under a rock. It is a good idea to avoid their nests, especially since their venom is dangerous to animals as well as humans. As few as thirty stings from these aggressive creepy crawlies have the potential to send a human into anaphylactic shock.
Bullet Ants
The rainforests of Central and South America are home to these ants whose sting has been compared to being shot with a bullet. The pain from one of their stings can last up to twenty-four hours.
A tribe of indigenous Indians from Brazil, the Satere-Mawe, have a use for these ants and their painful sting. They will catch a bunch of these ants and dip them in something to dull their senses, and then they use them for a ceremony. Guys, it’s time to cringe now. They are used in a ceremony to initiate young men into adulthood. A bunch of these ants are put inside a glove. The youth being initiated must place his hand inside this glove, not for just a few seconds, but his hand must stay inside the ant-filled glove for at least ten minutes. The pain is so excruciating that the boy’s hand will become paralyzed, and he will shake for days after the glove is removed.
Having to go through that ceremony once would be bad enough, but more than once is required. The youth will go through this painful ceremony about twenty more times in the course of the year before his initiation is complete.
African Driver Ants
You really should avoid approaching African driver ants, also called army ants, if at all possible. Typically, a column of these ants contain about a million individual creepy crawlies, and they are hungry. They will eat just about anything: insects, scorpions, spiders, snakes, reptiles. They have also been known to devour chickens and cows, stripping them of all flesh and meat.
Instead of making underground burrows, these ants live in temporary nests or bivouacs. These could be made inside places such as hollow logs, or they could be out in the open. The bivouac is made when the ants in the colony link themselves together to make a hammock for their queen.
When these ants go on the march, everyone in their path tries to get out of the way. These ants have the ability to climb trees, and they have been known to go through people’s houses. I think I would keep lots of bug spray handy just in case, but the residents just get out of their way and try to get their animals to safety. The only benefit to the ants going through your house would be that if you had a bug problem of any kind, it would be gone once you could return. The driver ants would get rid of it for you.
Fire Ants
These feisty little things came to us compliments of Brazil. They didn’t send them here intentionally, but fire ants are invaders worth avoiding. These ants will attack anything in their path.
These critters are in the southern and southeastern states. They flourish in these areas because they have no natural enemies to kill them off. Their mounds are usually found outdoors in open fields or even in vegetable gardens, but they are also attracted to electrical currents. Air conditioners and traffic lights have also been found with fire ant nests in them.
Their normal diet consists of branches, tree sap, ripe fruit, and pests. So we’re not in any danger from them, right? Wrong. If you end up in their pathway or threaten their home in any way, you are fair game for them. They will attack. Their stings burn and are excruciating. Livestock, humans, pets, small mammals, and birds have been victims of angry fire ants.
Conclusion
So, do you still think that those who experience a breathless fear of ants or go into an anxiety attack when one or more is seen are crazy? I only gave four examples of the bad ants in this world, but there are more.
girl writing, etc.usf.edu
Writing Prompts
The bulldog ant is one of the most venomous ants in the world, and it is huge. What if this species of ant decided that world domination was their goal? First, they would conquer the other ant species, next the animals, and finally humans.
The bullet ant is one type of ant I’m really glad I don’t have living anywhere near me. What if a teenage boy is kidnapped and taken to live with the Satere-Mawe tribe in Brazil? All in the tribe decide they must make this wimpy white boy (no offense intended to white boys) into a man. The first ceremony to initiate him into manhood is set to begin in two days, and he is scared. What happens?
What would you do if you came across a bivouac of African driver ants as you were strolling through your property? Would you turn and slowly go back the way you came? Or would you be brave and try to get a closer look? If they can strip cows to the bone, what could do they do to a human? This story should have lots of suspense and tension in it.
Pretend you are one of the first in Southern America to discover just what a fire ant is and how painful it can be if attacked by a bunch of them. Where did you see these ants? What led to them attacking you? How did you get them off you? Were you rescued? Did you survive?
You and your children should watch the 1998 movie Antz 😉 It’s a very fun movie about ants and an ants life from their perspective, and how a worker ant thinks for himself. The ants in this movie are not realistic so you won’t be afraid if you see them. I have Myrmecophobia as well , and after watching this movie it didn’t cure my phobia but it helped me see things from the ants’ perspective. I was less afraid of them after that (i was able to go in my kitchen without the constant fear of being near an ant.) I know this is more of a kid’s movie but it helped my phobia for sure!
I’m so glad the movie Antz helped you with your phobia! My children, who are now grown, and I saw that movie back in 1998 when it was first released. I’m not sure whether or not my grandchildren have seen it yet, but I’ll recommend it to them if they haven’t.
One common sign of fire ant activity is the worker and swarmer ants. Other signs can be their sandy earthen mounds, which are usually more visible after recent rainfall, or the complaints of customers who are being stung by ants.
I developed a phobia for ants after encountering 3 nests in 3 years. It looks like I will be depressed for life coz ants are everywhere. I don’t know why I am so afraid of them, but possibly because of my child, i don’t want her to sleep on a bed full of ants. Parents can go extreme over children. I desperately need help, but no support group at all for my phobia. I am going crazy.