Millions of acid-spraying ants overrun Wendell Park, prompt research response

Millions of native mound ants have turned Wendell Park into an unusual public-use problem, with insects visible in parking lots, soccer fields, wooded areas and especially around the disc golf course. Visitors have reported colonies near several holes, and local officials have brought in pest-control crews and NC State entomologists as the infestation keeps spreading through Wendell’s largest park.

The ants are Formica integra, also known as the Eastern mound ant. They do not sting, but Christopher Hayes, the NC State entomologist leading the response, said they can spray acid that may irritate skin and leave redness or blister-like welts. That has made the issue more than a nuisance in a park used by walkers, families and recreation users. Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Polaski said the infestation has not reached playgrounds or ballfields, but it remains a significant concern for the town.

Wendell’s Project Antenna began March 13, 2026, and the town says NC State and town staff are expected to be on-site for nearly 30 weeks this year. The work includes sampling from 27 colonies in the Wendell Park trail system and placing bait stations off trails and around ballfields and structures. The town says the plan is meant to reduce the ants, not eliminate them, and that results will be presented to the Town Board in October 2026.

The response reflects a balancing act between ecology and day-to-day park use. NC State Extension says Formica ants are common in open, sunny turf and can become persistent when they occupy the same area year after year. Their mounds can disrupt turf, especially in warm, bare or pavement-adjacent spots, which helps explain why the ants have shown up around paths, parking areas and the disc golf course. At the same time, the species feeds on other insects and honeydew-producing pests, which means it is ecologically useful in reasonable numbers.

The infestation has likely been building for years. An April 15 update said the ants may have been present in the park for nearly a decade, and town officials are now treating the outbreak as a research project as much as a pest problem. Wendell Park’s trail system is also scheduled to close in late spring and summer 2026 for phase one of the Buffalo Creek Greenway construction, adding another layer of disruption while the bait-and-monitoring effort continues. The town says residents should not disturb the colorful plastic bait stations if they see them, as officials try to keep the park usable while the ant population is brought under control.