Because a fire ant's stinger does not have a barb, it will not become detached after the ant delivers the sting, unlike those of other types of ants. A fire ant may thus pierce the skin of its victims with its stinger seven or eight times in succession, injecting large amounts of an acidic toxin that causes painful swelling and blistering.
由於紅火蟻的螫針沒有倒鉤，不像其他螞蟻叮咬一次螫針就會脫落，紅火蟻可以連續刺入皮膚 7、8 次，而注入大量酸性毒液，引起腫痛起泡。