What type of acid is secreted by red ants and stinging nettles?
Formic acid ants from the genus "Formica" can spray formic acid on their prey or to defend the nest. It is also found in the trichomes of stinging nettle ("Urtica dioica"). Formic acid is a naturally occurring component of the atmosphere due primarily to forest emissions. In 2009, the worldwide capacity for producing formic acid was 720,000 tonnes/annum, roughly equally divided between Europe (350,000, mainly in Germany) and Asia (370,000, mainly in China) while production was below 1000 tonnes/annum in all other continents. It is commercially available in solutions of various concentrations between 85 and 99 w/w %. , the largest producers
Ants of medical importance Ants of medical importance Most ants are capable of biting, stinging, and spraying irritant chemicals. However, only relatively few species can harm humans; among which some can cause significant injury or, in rare cases, death. Like wasps, individual ants are capable of stinging multiple times as they do not lose their stingers. The fire ants are a group of 20 species of New World ants which are reputed after their aggressiveness and painful stings. Four species are considered of relevant medical importance: "Solenopsis invicta", "Solenopsis richteri", "Solenopsis geminata", and "Solenopsis saevissima". The Red Imported Fire Ant "S. invicta" is the