 Myrmecia ants are frequently encountered by humans , so avoiding them is difficult . Wearing closed footwear such as boots and shoes can reduce the risk of getting stung ; these ants are capable of stinging through fabric , however . There is also a risk of being stung while gardening ; most cases of stings occur when someone is gardening and is unaware of the ants ' presence . Eliminating nearby nests or moving to areas with low Myrmecia populations significantly decrease the chances of getting stung . 
