History Main / AntAssault

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS4E19TheFront The Front]]", in response to a mediocre episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheItchyAndScratchyShow'', Bart and Lisa decide to write their own episode of the show called "Little Barbershop of Horrors", where Itchy gives Scratchy a haircut. Bart writes that instead of shampoo, Itchy covers Scratchy's head with barbecue sauce, then opens up a box of flesh-eating ants. The ants eat Scratchy's flesh, and Scratchy screams in pain as his head is reduced to a skull.

* ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'': Ant Troopers, debuting in ''VideoGame/SuperMario3DWorld'', are bipedal ant enemies that are commonly seen marching on ground or platforms, and are capable of walking on the walls and ceilings. They are impervious to the GoombaStomp, but can be defeated by any other means, such as GroundPound. They also have two other variations, such as Horned Ant Troopers, which wear spiked helmet [[TheSpiny that prevents them from getting stomped on]] (as long as their spikes are above them, at least), and [[GiantMook Big Ant Troopers]], which are [[InvincibleMinorMinion completely indestructible]].

* ''VideoGame/{{Earthbound}}'' features robotic ant enemies called Antoids that attack in big groups. The boss of the first Sanctuary is Titanic Ant, a giant bipedal ant that can use PSI attacks, lower Ness' defense, drain his minimal PP, and is accompanied by two Black Antoids that can heal him. Gold Mine also features Gigantic Ants, which are stronger [[GoldColoredSuperiority golden]] regular enemy counterparts of the Titanic Ant.

* ''Film/AntMan'': Unsurprisingly, since one of Ant-Man's powers is to control ants. Just when Darren Cross is about to shoot the heroes, an army of ants crawls onto his hand and starts biting it. In the sequel, when the heroes are captured, Hank Pym tricks Bill Foster into opening an Altoids tin, releasing several giant ants, allowing them to escape.

* ''WesternAnimation/RoswellConspiracies'': One episode has the Alliance dealing with hybrid ants that have begun attacking a small town. [[spoiler:Turns out the ants are so large and aggressive because they've been crossed with Shadoen DNA]].

[[folder:Newspaper Comics]]
* ''ComicStrip/TheFarSide'': Subject of gags in a few strips, such as picnickers who are attacked by army ants who deploy artillery, or an even more luckless couple who are LostAtSea in a raft and get attacked by [[FromBadToWorse navy ants]].
[[/folder]]

** Reptilia, the second level, features army ants as common enemies, with [[GiantMook a giant one]] appearing as a MiniBoss. They wear soldier helmets, attack by [[ThrowDownTheBomblet throwing bouncy grenades]] and drop via flower parachutes, making them ''[[VisualPun literal]]'' army ants.

* ''VideoGame/{{Bugdom}}'': Fire ants led by King Thorax are the main antagonists in the game. They kidnapped the ladybugs, inhabitants of Bugdom, and kept them locked in cages. The main character's goal is to defeat their king and free the ladybugs from their captivity.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Vectorman}} 2'', the sixteenth level, "Recycle or Die" has giant fire ants as enemies, which attack by shooting fireballs. When Vectorman defeats them, they leave behind power-ups that temporarily allow him to shoot fireballs as well.

* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'': In "Not Quite Famous", Heather reads Gwen's diary out loud to the whole world on stage during the talent contest challenge. In retaliation, Gwen dumps Harold's red ant farm into her bed.

* ''ComicBook/RulahJungleGoddess'': In "Bloodstained Fangs" (''Zoot Comics'' #12), the evil Mava disposes of those who cross her by [[SandNecktie burying them up to their neck]] and then coating their head and honey and leaving them to be devoured by ants. She is HoistByHerOwnPetard when she trips over the skull of her latest victim while fleeing from Rulah and lands on the anthill, where she is devoured herself.

* Creator/HGWells: "Empire of the Ants" depicts a new species of intelligent poison-wielding ant taking over the Amazon, with the expectation that they will eventually conquer the world.

* ''Series/OneThousandWaysToDie'': One story involves a pair of rich SpoiledBrat tourists on an African safari who decide to separate from the tour guide despite the latter's warning to stay in the jeep. The two eventually get tired and fall asleep under a tree, unaware that a colony of driver ants was nearby that wind up making a new nest inside one of the tourist's body while he slept, killing him. The other tourist was spared because the aloe ether in her perfume managed to keep the ants away from her.

** When they travel back in time to the Cretaceous, they encounter the hostile [[InsectoidAliens Nesk]], which resemble ants forming TheWormThatWalks.

* ''ComicBook/RulahJungleGoddess'': In "Bloodstained Fangs" (''Zoot Comics'' #12), the evil Maya disposes of those who cross her by [[SandNecktie burying them up to their neck]] and then coating their head and honey and leaving them to be devoured by ants. She is HoistByHerOwnPetard when she trips over the skull of her latest victim while fleeing from Rulah and lands on the anthill, where she is devoured herself.

* ''ComicBook/RulahJungleGoddess'': In "Bloodstained Fangs" (''Zoot Comics'' #12), the evil Maya disposes of those who cross her by [[SandNecktie burying them up to their neck]] and then coating their head and honey and leaving them to be devoured by ants. She is [[HoistOnHisOwnPetard Hoist on Her Own Petard]] when she trips over the skull of her latest victim while fleeing from Rulah and lands on the anthill, where she is devoured herself.

* ''ComicBook/RulahJungleGoddess'': In "Bloodstained Fangs" (''Zoot Comics'' #12), the evil Maya disposes of those who cross her by [[SandNecktie burying them up to their neck]] and then coating their head and honey and leaving them to be devoured by ants. She is HoistOnHerOwnPetard when she trips over the skull of her latest victim while fleeing from Rulah and lands on the anthill, where she is devoured herself.

* ''ComicBook/RulahJungleGoddess'': In "Bloodstained Fangs" (''Zoot Comics'' #12), the evil Maya disposes of those who cross her by [[SandNecktie burying them up to their neck]] and then coating their head and honey and leaving them to be devoured by ants. She is HoistOnHerOnPetard when she trips over the skull of her latest victim while fleeing from Rulah and lands on the anthill, where she is devoured herself.

Among humans, ants are often known as the source of trouble. They are common pests, showing up whenever there is food to be found and appearing uninvited in the hapless person's house or picnic [[TheSwarm in large numbers]]. Some ant species build their nests inside the walls and foundations, damaging their structure. And lastly, ants, much like [[BeeAfraid bees]] and [[WickedWasps wasps]], can sting. Depending on species, these stings may hurt ''a lot'', especially when they sting en masse, with [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_ant fire ant]] stings being the most infamous.