 Each Myrmecia species has different venom components , so people who are allergic to ants are advised to stay away from Myrmecia , especially from species they have never encountered before . Based on five species , the median lethal dose ( LD50 ) is 0 @.@ 18 – 0 @.@ 35 mg / kg , making it among the most toxic venoms in the insect world . The toxicity of the venom may have evolved due to the intense predation by animals and birds during the day , since Myrmecia is primarily diurnal . In Tasmania , 2 – 3 % of the human population is allergic to M. pilosula venom . In comparison , only 1 @.@ 6 % people are allergic to the venom of the western honeybee ( Apis mellifera ) , and 0 @.@ 6 % to the venom of the European wasp ( Vespula germanica ) . In a 2011 Australian ant @-@ venom allergy study , the objective of which was to determine what native Australian ants were associated with ant sting anaphylaxis , it was shown that 265 of the 376 participants taking part of the study reacted to the sting of several Myrmecia species . Of these , the majority of patients ( 176 ) reacted to M. pilosula venom and to that of several other species . In Perth , M. gratiosa was responsible for most cases of anaphylaxis due to ant stings , while M nigriscapa and M. ludlowi were responsible for two cases . The green @-@ head ant ( Rhytidoponera metallica ) was the only ant other than Myrmecia species to cause anaphylaxis in patients . Dogs are also at risk of death from Myrmecia ants ; renal failure has been recorded in dogs experiencing mass envenomation , and one dog was euthanised due to its deteriorating health despite treatment . Sensitivity is persistent for many years . Pilosulin 3 has been identified as a major allergen in M. pilosula venom , while pilosulin 1 and pilosulin 4 are minor allergens . 
