The red fire ant can be found almost everywhere in both the Netherlands and Flanders. Myrmica rubra is particularly effective at quickly colonizing new areas, such as gardens and parks. In a typical Dutch garden, you can quickly encounter a large colony. In larger forests, the red fire ant faces competition from the Myrmica ruginodis, also known as the common fire ant. It's not uncommon for the red fire ant to be displaced by the common fire ant. The red fire ant stings with a stinger, much like a wasp or bee. This saber-shaped organ is located on one side of the abdomen. The stinger of the Myrmica rubra is completely hollow. This allows venom from the ant to flow into the sting wound of the victim. This venom is harmless to humans. However, it will cause itching and some irritation for a short time. Some people, however, are allergic, and in these cases, stings can remain visible for up to ten days.