It's hard to get unhinged about those tiny black ants looking for sweet treats in the kitchen.
Sugar ants don't have pincer jaws that sting bare limbs. They don't have any aggressive attitudes toward man and beast.
On the other hand, California red ants--sometimes called fire ants--aren't easy prey for finger smashes. They fight back when threatened.
Shove a stick down their anthill entrance and hordes of angry defenders rush out to do battle.
Pouring and igniting gasoline in their front door won't deter them permanently.
Stick around to immolate suvivors with a focused magnifing glass and you risk painful welts from suicide warriors.
Red ants thankfully don't live in the Northwest. Oregon's varieties, all black, are either sugar fiends or carpenter ants that eat houses. (2 JUNE 2013)
