By Felipe Cooper — July 16, 2025 – A new invasive pest is stirring up serious trouble in parts of the U.S., and it’s not your average backyard ant. The Asian needle ant (Brachyponera chinensis)—a venomous species known to cause painful stings and even life-threatening allergic reactions—has been rapidly spreading across multiple states. While it hasn’t yet been confirmed in Utah, this aggressive invader has already made its way into Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, and nearly 20 states total. And experts warn it’s only a matter of time before it hits more of the western U.S. 🐜 What