One of our evil ants. Bulldog ants. These are the red variety, amongst the smallest but still an inch long. The sting is still insane pain. The blacks are the worst though.
They cover the small nest with twigs and plant matter to increase the nest heat, kind of ant solar. Easy to miss as they are just small mounds maybe 6 inches high and camouflaged by the covering.
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They send out a few to investigate when the ground is disturbed near them, agro as! I was very very careful getting these pictures as even just 1 ruins your day.
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They are considered the most venomous insect on earth leaving bees and wasps for dead.