The red stinging ant can be found almost everywhere in both the Netherlands and Flanders. Myrmica rubrais is particularly effective at quickly colonizing new areas, such as gardens and parks. In an ordinary Dutch garden you can quickly encounter a large colony. In the larger forests, the red sting ant has competition from the Myrmica ruginodis, or: the forest sting ant. It often happens that the red sting ant is displaced by the forest sting ant. The red stinging ant stings with a sting, just like a wasp or bee. This organ has the shape of a saber and is located on one side of the abdomen. The sting of the Myrmica rubra is completely hollow. This allows poison to flow from the ant into the sting wound of the 'victim'. This poison is harmless in humans. However, it will cause itching and some irritation for a short time. However, some people are allergic. For them, the stitches will remain visible for about ten days.