 They are capable of stinging, but very rarely do so, relying instead on their powerful shearing jaws.Seasonally, when food supplies become short, they leave the hill and form marching columns of up to 50,000,000 ants, which are considered a menace to people, though they can be easily avoided; a column can only travel about 20 metres in an hour.It is for those unable to move, or when the columns pass through homes, that there is the greatest risk.