Which ant bites are known to produce pain and swelling that can develop into pustules?

Fire ant bites are well-known for causing a significant immune response that often results in pain and swelling, which can progress to the formation of pustules. The venom of fire ants contains alkaloids and proteins that trigger a strong inflammatory reaction in the body. This reaction leads to localized pain and irritation at the bite site, and in many cases, it can evolve into pustular lesions due to the body's response to the ant's venom.

In contrast, while other types of ant bites can also cause local reactions, they typically do not lead to pustules as commonly as fire ant bites do. Carpenter ants and field ants may cause some local inflammation, but the symptoms are generally milder and do not result in pustule formation. Therefore, the distinctive reaction of fire ant bites, characterized by painful, swollen areas that develop into pustules, makes them the correct answer in this scenario.