Unlike the rest of the world, in Australia the main problem ants are not fire ants but rather the large and infamous bulldog and jumper ants. These 2 centimetre ants have an extremely painful sting. One sting sends waves of pain coursing through the body and lasts several days.
Results indicate that the venom contains histamine-like activity.
In addition the venom has been found to cause the release of cyclooxygenase products and to contain a heat-sensitive haemolytic factor. Myrmecia pyriformis venom had significantly greater phospholipase B, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase activities than Myrmecia pilosula venom. No detectable quantities of phospholipase C, esterase or phosphodiesterase activities were found in either venom. However, the life threatening effect comes from IgE mediated anaphylactic shock rather than direct venom action.