Some species produce irritating chemical secretions.

And certain ants have defensive mechanisms that can cause substantial pain.

The danger also depends on the individual person's circumstances.

Someone who is allergic to insect venom can potentially experience a much more serious reaction than someone who has no allergy.

Children and pets may also be more vulnerable simply because they are more likely to touch, step on, or investigate insects.

This is why identifying an insect before handling it is important.

The insects shown in the viral photograph may look frightening, but appearance alone cannot tell us how dangerous they are.

A large-looking abdomen doesn't automatically mean an insect is venomous or unusually aggressive.

Likewise, a small insect isn't necessarily harmless.

The safest rule in an unfamiliar forest environment is much simpler:

Don't touch an unknown nest.

Observe from a distance.

If you accidentally disturb it, move away rather than trying to investigate further.

And if ants begin crawling onto your clothing or body, calmly leave the immediate area and brush them off once you are safely away.

There's no benefit in standing directly above a disturbed colony just to get a closer photograph.

Chapter 3: Why Some Ants Look So Unusually Large

The most eye-catching feature in the photograph is the insects' strange body shape.

Their abdomens appear dramatically enlarged compared with the rest of their bodies.